KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — In the heart of Kathmandu’s tourist hub, Thamel, many cycle rickshaw drivers wait eagerly to take tourists on rides in the vibrant neighborhood.
But Babu Tamang’s rickshaw comes with an added twist: a wagging tale and tufts of orange and white fur that delight passengers, with many leaving an extra tip for the hardworking man and some ear scratches for his eight-year-old pup.
Tamang, 57, has always been fond of dogs.
Babu Tamang speaks with his apartment mate as his canine Shyam sits beside him in their small rented house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Two years ago, he was crushed when his wife told him a leopard killed his 10-year-old dog, Putle, in his home village, a six-hour drive from the Nepali capital. After mourning his faithful companion, he stumbled upon a rough-looking dog in a garage where he parks his cycle rickshaw.
It was love at first woof.
“He never leaves me alone,” Tamang says with a smile. “Living in this city, away from my family, Shyam has become my closest companion.”
The feet of Babu Tamang and his dog Shyam are seen as they both take a nap before heading out to work in their small rented house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Babu Tamang pulls out his rickshaw while his canine Shyam waits nearby in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Shyam, the canine, follows rickshaw of Babu Tamang in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Shyam, a name for the Hindu god Krishna, goes to work with his human every day. When Tamang gets a passenger, Shyam trails behind the rickshaw, drawing smiles and pets from passersby. As soon as the ride is over and the fare paid, Tamang signals for the pooch to hop onto the rickshaw.
Now that it’s peak summer, Shyam seeks shade beneath the rickshaw during the midday heat. “He gets oil stains from the chains, so I have to give him a bath,” Tamang says laughingly. “But he doesn’t like it, and we often get into a little fight over it.”
Babu Tamang tries to catch his canine Shyam to give him a bath in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Shyam, the dog, shakes off water from his body after being bathed by Babu Tamang in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Tamang shares a small apartment with two other rickshaw drivers who accept Shyam’s constant presence.
The only time he is separated from his canine best friend is when he visits his village.
“Dogs are not allowed on public buses, so I have to leave him behind in the garage with a mechanic friend. It makes me sad,” Tamang says.
Shyam, the dog follows Babu Tamang from their small rented house as he leaves for work, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
As the sun sets and the lights come on at the end of a long workday, Tamang’s rickshaw slowly makes its way back with reliable Shyam following closely.
“He’s not just a dog, he’s my family.”
Babu Tamang carries his dog Shyam while playing in their small rented house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Babu Tamang and his dog Shyam wait for passengers at Thamel, a popular tourist hub in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
Shyam, the canine, follows Babu Tamang’s rickshaw in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
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This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors.
