I have often wondered what it is about doors that draws me in. It is not just their designs or the stories that are sometimes etched into their frames, though the intricate carvings and timeworn textures certainly captivate me. In hindsight, it is what they represent: thresholds to another world, silently inviting explorers to uncover their secrets.
During a visit to Bhaktapur, an open-air museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nepal, deities, mythical creatures and Himalayan fauna stared back at me with an uncanny sense of familiarity. While I recognized some of the images from the Hindu pantheon, others remained elusive. Their significance was lost on me because of my limited knowledge of the local Newari folklore. Yet they felt connected, effortlessly carved into the ornate doors and windows.
