---
title: "Rediscovering Nepal: Trekking the Himalayas through forgotten film negatives"
description: "Photographer and Daily Maverick subeditor Ian Wolstenholme trekked across Nepal’s Himalayas with a film camera in hand. Decades later, he digitised the forgotten negatives — revealing a vivid, time-capsule view of Kathmandu, Pokhara and the iconic mountain trails of Langtang and Everest. All photographs were taken by Ian Wolstenholme."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "MAVERICK LIFE"
author: "Ian Wolstenholme"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/ian-wolstenholme-2/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-16-rediscovering-nepal-trekking-the-himalayas-through-forgotten-film-negatives/"
published: "2025-05-16T11:00:14"
updated: "2025-05-15T17:44:11"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 116
---

# Rediscovering Nepal: Trekking the Himalayas through forgotten film negatives

> Photographer and Daily Maverick subeditor Ian Wolstenholme trekked across Nepal’s Himalayas with a film camera in hand. Decades later, he digitised the forgotten negatives — revealing a vivid, time-capsule view of Kathmandu, Pokhara and the iconic mountain trails of Langtang and Everest. All photographs were taken by Ian Wolstenholme.

By Ian Wolstenholme · Published 16 May 2025, 13:00 SAST · Updated 15 May 2025, 19:44 SAST

## Content

![A general view of Kathmandu from Swayambhu temple.](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/w8py3xR5De9IYaB-C1OuHvcXNDo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1.jpg)

*A general view of Kathmandu from Swayambhu temple.*

![Inside Swayambhu temple](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/YCGY_BN1leOYdE3e1bn_k5dWJF0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2.jpg)

*Inside Swayambhu temple.*

![Sleeping man, Kathmandu (Photo: Ian Wolstenholme)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/uWKr5i5EILkQKCBIO0lzDEmodqQ=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/3.jpg)

*Sleeping man, Kathmandu.*

![Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu (Photo: Ian Wolstenholme)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/sJZANHR3NDdWx_y1iWTMemkNhes=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/4.jpg)

*Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu.*

![Public bathing area](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/WCz9fq6wmziawwB72-c5xsIXnBU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/5.jpg)

*Public bathing area.*

![Street scene, Kathmandu](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Ac9ET-EKP_o_bP8h8FK8KHD8TF4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/6.jpg)

*Street scene, Kathmandu.*

![Phewa Lake, Pokhara](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/0jxullmuikrpxxPgM5p8jfNLgVs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/7.jpg)

*Phewa Lake, Pokhara.*

![Caulking a boat, Phewa Lake, Pokhara](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/mjkudA2mQdB8XMH5tR0QBTRZlKU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/8.jpg)

*Caulking a boat, Phewa Lake, Pokhara.*

![Boat rides, Phewa Lake, Pokhara](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/-4CxJvShEIHgnPqHjRy7-GC1-VM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/9.jpg)

*Boat rides, Phewa Lake, Pokhara.*

![Soccer, Pokhara](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/CLEq0vWcg6IejAilpivgMjqd7k8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10-1.jpg)

*Soccer, Pokhara.*

![Annapurna Circuit](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/ePNoSkIeX_e4i4VH0t_3ByTDCsM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/11.jpg)

*Annapurna Circuit.*

![Annapurna, just before sunrise](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Ai6n1rvnyJOZXIHyqtyyy_xcKr0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/12-1.jpg)

*Annapurna, just before sunrise.*

![Taken on a day trip to a monastery on the Annapurna Circuit, somewhere between the Kali Gandaki Valley and Jomsom](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/FcKLcKce-nlTaz1v0Xr6UJXLq3A=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/13.jpg)

*Taken on a day trip to a monastery on the Annapurna Circuit, somewhere between the Kali Gandaki Valley and Jomsom.*

![Marpha, Mustang District](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/YIPXNxACi3HSegt-8gBVTZXq8DE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/14.jpg)

*Marpha, Mustang District.*

![Firewood stored on roofs in Marpha](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/dkh9gLmKcV07T-allPAYeQKtUJ0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/15.jpg)

*Firewood stored on roofs in Marpha.*

![Siblings, Marpha](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/KGkvDffFsU62G6FxFqFaAbkqkaM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/16.jpg)

*Siblings, Marpha.*

![Family making breakfast, Khumbu region](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/5067m7pc-WT-dw8C0KT4VNe7A5k=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/17.jpg)

*Family making breakfast, Khumbu region.*

![Porter, Khumbu region](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Qe-i8qfk06PcI-Q3M8OCprvlKvE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/18.jpg)

*Porter, Khumbu region.*

![A monastery in the Khumbu region](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/JuWsgNGRvKXhgfsKCtVxUAYJZ7Q=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19.jpg)

*A monastery in the Khumbu region.*

![Carved and painted rocks, Khumbu Region](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/cwD-5a2P5rSQkSMqqHKsAKSrAPk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21-1.jpg)

*Carved and painted rocks, Khumbu Region.*

![Namche Bazar, Khumbu region](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/dfQ5sI0pq2bkcgh7m3cgIqLq0OA=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22-1.jpg)

*Namche Bazar, Khumbu region.*

![Gokyo Valley, looking down on to the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest in Nepal, Khumbu region. DM](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/I3JNo-eqDcd271ocJrOMTjEC4hY=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/23.jpg)

*Gokyo Valley, looking down on to the Ngozumpa Glacier, the largest in Nepal, Khumbu region. DM*