Kathmandu, September 12
Thamel, the country’s busiest tourist hub, is beginning to feel the strain of the ongoing Gen-Z movement. By Thursday afternoon, the area bore signs of uncertainty; some shutters were down while others remained open. A few scattered foreign tourists were seen, along with rickshaw pullers, Gandharva musicians, and street vendors. Yet, the usual crowds, traffic, and bustle that define Thamel were conspicuously absent.
On Tuesday, protesters had set fire to the residence of Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakash Man Singh in Chaksibari, Thamel. Although the protests did not directly paralyse Thamel for two days, the incidents left behind a sense of unease in one of Nepal’s key tourist area.
Unlike in Baneshwor and other areas where soldiers were stationed, no army presence was visible in Thamel. Locals, however, said security forces occasionally made appearances. Small groups of people could be seen chatting at crossroads or under the pretext of shopping conversations revolving around both personal concerns and the nation’s uncertain state.
Cancellations are pouring in
Sahadev Dhama, Vice-President of the Thamel Tourism Development Council, said the destructive incidents have cast a shadow over the peak tourist season.
“June, July, and August are off-season, but September, October, and November are peak tourist months. At the very start of the season, violent incidents are sending the wrong message about Nepal abroad,” said Dhama, who also runs a hotel. “Bookings are being cancelled in large numbers.”
Punya Ram Lagesu, Council Secretary and a clothing store owner, echoed the concern. He noted that Thamel typically enjoys two peak seasons—April-May and September-October. “But the protests at the start of the season have already caused a 20–25 per cent drop in business within days,” he said, adding that the unrest risks tarnishing Nepal’s reputation internationally.
Still, he remained cautiously optimistic. If an interim government is quickly formed and peace restored, the losses might not be as devastating, he suggested.
Rickshaw pullers and street vendors hit hard
Outside Kathmandu Guest House, street vendor Hiralal Yadav, originally from Saptari, was selling fast food from his cart. He said he had been out on the street for an hour but had barely managed to serve three or four locals, far fewer than usual. He also complained of frequent hassles from security personnel.
Nearby, 39-year-old rickshaw driver Hari Gopal leaned on his rickshaw, scrolling through his phone. “On normal days, I rarely get free time like this. But since the protests, tourists have dropped sharply,” he said.
For daily-wage earners like him, the downturn has been severe. “We never had fixed earnings, but at least the crowds ensured someone or the other would take a ride. Now, there are days I don’t get a single passenger,” he said. He also noted that tourists who usually hired rickshaws for short trips to Boudha or Swayambhu were no longer venturing out due to the unrest.
The silence of the Sarangi
The Gandharva community, known for playing the traditional sarangi, has also been hit hard. “Most shutters are down, hotels and restaurants are closed, and the streets are nearly empty. How are we supposed to survive?” asked Suresh Gandharva, who was with a few fellow musicians outside Chhayadevi Complex.
He said they can no longer roam freely with their instruments as before, and wished only for peace to return soon.
Tourists reconsidering their stay
While locals spoke freely, many foreign tourists were reluctant to comment publicly on the protests. A local guide, however, facilitated conversations with two visitors.
Hana, a 29-year-old from Japan who arrived just last Wednesday, said she had planned to travel to Pokhara but had to cancel her trip after curfews were imposed there. She has since been stuck in Thamel.
Lukas from Canada, who has been in Nepal for over two weeks, originally planned to stay for a month. But citing political instability and recent unrest, he is now considering returning home sooner. “The situation doesn’t feel safe. In recent days, I’ve seen people acting violently on the streets,” he said.
Indeed, during reporting, two such incidents unfolded, one man shouting profanities in the middle of the street, another picking a fight with a shopkeeper. Surprisingly, no security personnel were present, leaving tourists visibly uneasy and trying to avoid the commotion.
As Thamel, the face of Nepal’s tourism, grapples with cancellations, declining footfall, and visible tension, it appears to be gradually caught in the tightening grip of the Gen-Z movement.
