Renowned geologist Tony Hagen was also an avid traveller and accomplished photographer. The Swiss geologist first visited Nepal, in 1950, with the first Swiss Development Assistance mission, and during his time here mapped more than 14,000 kms, on foot, surveying nooks and crannies of the country. 

The photographs Hagen shot during his travels across the western districts of Nepal-that in part helped introduce Nepal to the Western world-are currently on view at the International Mountain Museum, in Gharepatan, Pokhara. The exhibit features a total of 105 photographs. 

Majority of the photographs on display feature have antique stone homes, wide grasslands and traditional lifestyle as its subjects-subjects one rarely gets to see these days. 

Hagen’s work on Nepal included several books and a documentary that traces Nepal’s cultural and ethnic diversity. His book Decentralisation and Development, a comparative study between Switzerland and Nepal, was considered as his seminal work and one of the most important books written on Nepal. 

Speaking about the iconic exhibit, chief of the museum, Bal Prasad Rai, says, “If you’re interested in knowing how Nepal was in the olden days, the photos speak volumes about it. The photos are not only interesting, but can serve as documents for research and investigations.” 

The exhibit which started last week will run for three months.