Aerial pictures of Nepal 1986
A selection of aerial shots of the southern Nepali Himalaya.
Taking photos of Nepal from an aeroplane was not allowed (not sure if that has changed). Exactly how the rule worked, I am not sure, but I have to wonder if taking a picture of Nepal while over India was permitted. Even so, it is hard to understand why, since spy-planes fly much higher (and generally used stealth - I guess that's what they were worried about), and it's not like a spy would bother taking pictures from a passenger airline.
Anyway, since it was not allowed, these pictures must have been taken from a hot air balloon, or a very tall person, or something. One thing I do know is that I was not the photographer, and I do not know who - if anyone - was in control of the camera.
Unfortunately, I do not know the names of any of the mountains in these photographs, and I have not been able to recognise them from other photographs. If you know, please get in touch.
From the air we get our first view of the Himalaya, as we approach Kathmandu.
Ridges of foothills marching off into the distance, eventually giving way to snow-capped peaks.
Foothills. Each of these are taller than anything we have at home, and even dwarf many of the Alps; the tallest Himalayan foothills are over 5000 metres high.
The foothills themselves show a few interesting features. However, the important part of the picture is the fuzzy shape obscuring the bottom of the photo - it looks like the edge of an airliner window, making the photo look like it was taken with the camera tucked out of sight. Of course, it must just be the edge of the hot air balloon basket.
Kathmandu is located in a flatter part of Nepal, though still surrounded by smaller mountains.