2 Visits, 5 Years Apart
The first time I traveled to Nepal was April of 2012. I was mystified by the Himalayas, the peaks of which took my breath away. I trekked part of the world renown Annapurna Conservation Area. But the people, and their resilience impressed me more than even the landscape. Nepalis two or three times my age hiked past me, carrying hundreds of pounds with the strength of their neck. They'd smoke a cigarette as I struggled to catch my breath and 7,000 feet elevation. My backpack was empty in comparison - a camera, water, and my lunch.
In April 2015 a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal killing 9,000 people and injuring 22,000 more. It crumbled homes, schools, infrastructure, temples, and centuries old UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
In April of 2017 I returned to Nepal. A full 2 years after the earthquake, and this country was still rebuilding. I visited many of the same historic sites, and even some of the same people. Here's a comparison of my before and after photos.
Pashupatinath Temple
![Leah Ramuglia and a Sadhu at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/64264939/Leah-Ramuglia-Nepal-Portrait-2012-2-9333212f.jpg)
A Sadhu and me at Pashupatinath Temple, 2012.
![Leah Ramuglia and a Sadhus at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/35264939/Leah-Ramuglia-Sadhus-Pashupatinath-Temple-Kathmandu-Nepal-2017-54abff02.jpg)
The same Sadhu (far left), and me (far right) at Pashupatinath Temple, 2017.
Fasidega Temple
![Fasidega Temple in Baktapur Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/34993258/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-Bhaktapur-UNESCO-Kathmandu-Durbar-Square-Nepal-2012-29ec1185.jpg)
Fasidega Temple, 2012.
![Earthquake damage Fasidega Temple Baktapur Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/05993258/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-Bhaktapur-UNESCO-Kathmandu-Durbar-Square-Nepal-2017-a7879c44.jpg)
Fasidega Temple, 2017.
![Fasidega Temple in Baktapur Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/56794958/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-Bhaktapur-Kathmandu-Durbar-Square-Nepal--UNESCO-2012-06aa4b04.jpg)
Fasidega Temple, 2012.
![Earthquake damage Fasidega Temple Baktapur Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/27794958/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-Bhaktapur-UNESCO-Kathmandu-Durbar-Square--earthquake-damage-Nepal-2012-3d56fa3b.jpg)
Fasidega Temple, 2017.
Pashupati Temple
![Pashupati Temple in Bhaktapur Durbar Square Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/87583168/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-bhaktapur-durbar-square-kathmandu-nepal-unesco-2012-5ba06e76.jpg)
Pashupati Temple, 2012.
![Earthquake Damage Pashupati Temple in Bhaktapur Durbar Square Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/58583168/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-bricks-stones-destroyed-temples-earthquake-bhaktapur-durbar-square-kathmandu-nepal-unesco-2017-d488143d.jpg)
Pashupati Temple, 2017.
![](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/66155958/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-temples-Bhaktapur-Durbar-Square-UNESCO-Kathmandu-Nepal-2012-a6582c42.jpg)
Pashupati Temple, 2012.
![](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/37155958/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-earthquake-destruction-UNESCO-temples-Bhaktapur-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2017-b964c70d.jpg)
Pashupati Temple, 2017.
![Pashupati Temple in Bhaktapur Durbar Square Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/02495958/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-UNESCO-heritage-Bhaktapur-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2012-6bee14e0.jpg)
Bhaktapur Durbar Square, 2012.
![](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/72495958/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-UNESCO-heritage-sites-Bhaktapur-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-earthquake-damage-Nepal-2017-48759259.jpg)
Bhaktapur Durbar Square, 2017.
National Art Museum
![National Art Museum Bhaktapur Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/35085958/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-UNESCO-heritage-site-Bhaktapur-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2012-b94b606d.jpg)
National Art Museum, 2012.
![Earthquake damage National Art Museum Bhaktapur Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/06085958/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-nation-art-museum-bhaktapur-durbar-square-nepal-2017-2e65bbe4.jpg)
National Art Museum, 2017.
Siddhi Lakshmi Temple
![Siddhi Lakshmi Temple Bhaktapur Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/42004258/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-UNESCO-heritage-sites-Bhaktapur-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2012-7d2d2661.jpg)
Siddhi Lakshmi Temple, 2012.
![Earthquake Damage Siddhi Lakshmi Temple Bhaktapur Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/13004258/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-UNESCO-heritage-sites-damaged-earthquake-Bhaktapur-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2017-97ae09b7.jpg)
Siddhi Lakshmi Temple, 2017.
![Patan Durbar Square Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/30744658/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-Patan-Durbar-Square-UNESCO-temples-Kathmandu-Nepal-2012-3f15a9f4.jpg)
Patan Durbar Square, 2012.
![Earthquake damage Patan Durbar Square Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/01744658/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-UNESCO-Patan-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2017-89cdb736.jpg)
Patan Durbar Square, 2017.
Krishna Mandir
![Krishna Mandir Patan Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/23515658/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-UNESCO-Patan-Durbar-Square-temples-Kathmandu-Nepal-2012-f74d4320.jpg)
Krishna Mandir, 2012.
![Earthquake damage Krishna Mandir Patan Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/93515658/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-scaffolding-damanged-temples-UNESCO-patan-durbar-square-kathmandu-nepal-2017-10b116d6.jpg)
Krishna Mandir, 2017.
HARISHANKAR TEMPLE
![Harishankar Temple Patan Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/40364168/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-temples-people-motorcycles-in-Patan-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-UNESCO-2012-d08f36b8.jpg)
Harishankar Temple, 2012.
![Earthquake damage Harishankar Temple Patan Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/11364168/Nepal_Volunteer_Trip-0338-94ffe3e8.jpg)
Harishankar Temple, 2017.
basantapur tower
![Basantapur Tower Hanumandhoka Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/35495068/Ramuglia-Photography-earthquake-damage-UNESCO-Hanuman-Dhoka-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2012-036ec2e3.jpg)
Basantapur Tower, 2012.
![Earthquake damage Basantapur Tower Hanumandhoka Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/06495068/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-earthquake-damage-UNESCO-Hanuman-Dhoka-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2017-f8b2d69a.jpg)
Basantapur Tower, 2017.
Shiva Temple Maju Deval
![Shiva Temple Maju Deval in Hanumandhoka Durbar Square Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/89240168/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography--Hanuman-Dhoka-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-UNESCO-2012-131f4c2b.jpg)
Shiva Temple Maju Deval, 2012.
![Shiva Temple Maju Deval in Hanumandhoka Durbar Square earthquake damage Nepal Leah Ramuglia Photography](http://images-pw.pixieset.com/elementfield/50340168/Leah-Ramuglia-Photography-UNESCO-Hanuman-Dhoka-Durbar-Square-Kathmandu-Nepal-2017-880e0601.jpg)
Shiva Temple Maju Deval, 2017.