Kathmandu - Freak Street

Freak Street acquired its name in the late 1960s/early 1970s when Kathmandu became a Mecca for hippies and flower people attracted by the idyllic almost traffic-free city and seemingly unlimited supplies of hashish. Cannabis or ganja, Shiva's favorite herb which grows virtually wild here, is used by sadhus as part of normal religious practice. Older male villagers also enjoy a smoke when getting together for a game or a chat.

In this congenial climate the influx of drug-seeking foreigners stimulated a thriving trade. Cannabis sellers on the streets and cannabis biscuits in the restaurants were not unusual. More and more hotels appeared. Freak Street became the tourist center of Kathmandu, until eventually overtaken by Thamel with its superior facilities.

In 1973 King Birendra intervened to stem the tide by making the sale of cannabis illegal, and in 1976 its cultivation was banned. It can still be bought, especially in and around Freak Street and in Thamel, furtive whispers heralding offers of sale. But strictly enforced controls have largely halted the trade. Anyone acquiring or found in possession of the drug can usually expect a prison sentence. In exceptional circumstances they may get off with a very large fine.