Flag of Nepal, seen in Thamel

From the archive record

Thamel bustles with activity late into the night. Thamel is a top tourist area. People in large number come out for night shopping in Kathmandu's tourist quarter, Thamel. The flag of Nepal is the only national flag which is not rectangular, being based upon two separate pennants which belonged to rival branches of the Rana dynasty, which formerly ruled the country. The two pennants were first joined in the last century, but it was not adopted as the official flag until 1962, when a constitutional form of government was established. The moon in the upper part represents the royal house. The sun in the lower part symbolizes a branch of the Rana family, members of which acted as prime ministers until 1961. The charges are now said to represent the hope that Nepal itself will last as long as