H**p can change the world! Join the h**p revolution and walk with us on the h**p street
Walking on the h**p street means to explore the world of mystical h**p. In ancient texts it is written that the cannabis plant is a miracle and master plan, in Ayurveda they say it's the kings plant, the king of the kings. So we educate, report and explore about the 60.000 uses of cannabis sativa, so-called h**p. In the 60ies cannabis was still legal in Kathmandu and many people came over the "hippie trail" to find this holy land of h**p, Nepal in the Himalayas. Today the local people are producing fabric, paper, yarn, bags and fashion from the local h**p fiber that is taken from wild growing cannabis. Our dream is to create a bridge or h**p street that connects the whole world over cannabis. Let’s join our worldwide h**p revolution! We support local h**p farmers and educate the Nepal community about the thousand uses of h**p. We invite all people from all over the world to come here and join us!
So what was the freak street in Kathmandu and this hippie trail that brought the people to the Himalayas?
The southernmost corner of then, in early 1960’s and 1970’s, so called Freak Street, today somehow happens to lose what its prime identity was. Then, called heavenly land for hippies and other social deviants appeared here to experience Nepalese culture, lifestyles, gain enlightenment as it was said and view clean and breathe taking square environment.
“Jhochhen” means house in a single row in newari language. The name happened to change into “Freak Street” in early movement of hippies in Nepal in 1960’s. “Freak” simply means abnormal. Out of norms! The original Jhochhen Street happened to be named so because of its amazing history. Now somehow negative to our society.
During hippies’ movement, while searching for enlightenment they searched for easy travelling facilities and cheap stays. During their movement they happen to enter Nepal then to the valley and then instantly fell in love with the street. They were hungry for enlightenment and Freak Street was exactly the place. The temples, mythology that people here survive with, the kind of everyday life of people where they worshipped god in regularity made those hippies fall even more. Freak Street was their prime destination. People entered Kathmandu valley just because of their love for the street. The city full of temples made their souls feel enlighten, the myths made them feel serene, the art, the architecture dazzled them. The proximity of Jhochhen with the temples, cultural base, the irresistible squalor beauty, different newari society, unique life style of people living there, then invited a lot of tourists. Freak Street and its inevitable life style where people were cultural, traditional, worshipped temples, gods every morning fascinated tourists very much.
The prime fact behind love for the street among hippies then was also because hashish and ma*****na had not been deemed illegal. Hippies could enjoy hashish and ma*****na as much as they wanted.
According to TIME magazine article published in 1967, there existed particular guidelines to being part of the hippie code:”Do your thing, wherever you have to do it and whenever you want. Drop out. Leave society as you have known it. Blow the mind of every straight person you can reach. Turn them on, if not to drugs, and then to beauty, love, honesty, fun.”
The business of ma*****na and hashish for local residents of Jhochhen then was trade of gold. Selling ma*****na and hashish then was a very lucrative business. They would earn a very handsome amount of money back then selling ma*****na as they were paid easily. Most hippies, as told, stayed smoking all day. Those hippies were not even nagy and fussy about what kind of service they were given. They would agree to what they were leased, ate what they were given to eat and rested with ease on whatever kind of bed they were provided with. Low-maintenance did not trouble them at all
Hippies, despite most kept smoking all day, did not only influenced the Nepalese culture the negative way. Though most were pot smoking slackers, they brought a great change in our society. Hippies did not appear out of nowhere. They came from a different environment than what existed and was practiced here. They had their own culture; they had their own lifestyle, that too most probably of high standard than of our place. They influenced the street not only with their bizarre kind of dressing style and excessive inclination towards drugs, but also with their culture and philosophical views and backgrounds.
Those hippies, as far as the kind of changes they brought here are concerned, also helped a lot in contributing to the condition on English literature then. During the whole period when hippies in large numbers entered the street, they enhanced the English literature and development of it.
Behind English literature, music was one of the noticed changes they brought. Locals happened to learn to play various kinds of instruments that had not been flourished to Nepal, those that hippies played. The kind of music they listened to widely affected ours. Many hippies among whom most were poets, musicians, painters came and had spread their creativity.
It is said that even early members of Beatles and Bob Marley himself had come to the city!
Hippies loved the city and wanted to stay as long as they could. To make money and stay at the place for long, they would even sell their possessions. It is known that many hippies sold their books to make money to Nepalese people and this is how their entry contributed English literature here. They would also sell their musical instruments, kitchen stuffs and even their vehicles. It is said that hippies even owned few shops where they would sell their stuffs for cheap rates on second hand and make money for their survival in the city they were in love with!
During the process, hippies started selling vehicles to local people they bought in cheap prices but sold at higher prices here to make huge profits and make their stay long and easy!
Previously people of Jhochhen readily accepted and heartily welcomed those travelers as guests. But after what they saw the hippies were doing for their survival, locals also became business minded. The idea of serving guests with good food, beds and other services at cheaper prices soon became a way of profitable business opportunity for them. They realized they could earn good amount from this kind of business. This was the fact behind drastic change that boomed hotel business in the city!
Locals started learning cooking new cuisines from western palate. They started serving hippies with good services at probably higher rates than before. This thrived their business soon and Jhochhen Street had undergone a huge facelift in the context of lifestyle. Their living standard had improved way above than rest of the city….
It was this directive given by American government to Nepal government in early 1970’s that suggested not to facilitate new arrivals and discourage any more number of hippies. It was then Nepal government’s turn. Nepal government banned production and sale of Hashish and Ma*****na since 1972. Hashis and ma*****na after 1972 were termed illegal. Additive to that, Nepal government also declared strict rules against long hair, facial hair and travelers were strictly suggested to dress decently.
That was it!
The Freak Street had played it role! The ultimate tourist hub no longer remained the same for hippies. In disgrace and disappointment, Freak Street slowly lost its prime identity. By 1975, almost all hippies had moved out of the valley and Freak Street bean to shake. Disappearance of hippies slowly disguised into today’s yuppies! This gave a way out for adventure seekers, trekkers, travelers who wanted white water rafting, jungle safaris etc.
These travelers replaced their interests and so Freak Street was replaced by Thamel!
Thamel became the world to all the new arrivals.
Though reality has sunk and inevitable change has occurred to Freak Street which is not freaky anymore, still is one of the best destinations for tourists. Though the hazy days of Freak Street exists only in our memories, Freak Street even today stands out to be one of the most happening places here in the valley.
The reason behind this is its amazing clean beauty. Roads paved with big bulky flat stones, ever busy and crowded shops full of almost every art piece from all over Nepal, ancient books, tattoo shops, Basantapur Durbar Square and valley’s best shopping destination New Road nearby. As Freak Street is located almost at the centre of the valley it is easily accessible. There is almost every kind of facility that a traveler would seek from accommodations to shopping to desire to view what Nepalese culture means.
Freak Street even today attempts to give the best accommodation service to the arriving travelers. There are several cheap hotels those that give proper services regarding rooms and other services. Few lodges and hotels there are still of hippies era. These hotels have their own identity and are most wanted among travelers who prefer to stay in Freak Street.
Besides accommodation facilities, Freak Street is loved for the kind of restaurants it has. Not only for tourist but Freak Street is very popular even among locals for coolest restaurants located there. Restaurants like grasshopper. Jessy penny, Ginger remains pack almost every evening. Weekends are most fun and crowded in the Streets. Tourists enjoy various kinds of cuisine here, also different cocktails and mock tail. Because the place is always full of tourists and locals, people love to spend their time in the restaurants, eat spicy food, drink their drinks, and hang out with friends. Because of the background it has, people here in Freak Street are still so friendly and cheerful that tourists no longer remain like outsiders. The Street still is tourist’s friend!
Freak Street is popular because of some few other reasons like antique shops and tattoo shops. There are many tattoo Shops in Freak Street. These tattoo places are said to be the best among others in the whole valley as the artists here had been inspired by western hippies in the past.
