Kathmandu cycle-rickshaw driver’s furry companion goes viral, follows him on every ride: ‘He’s my family’

Meet Shyam, an eight-year-old dog with orange and white fur, who’s become a bit of a celebrity in the area.

New Delhi | August 1, 2025 12:01 PM IST

3 min read

Kathmandu cycle-rickshaw driver's dog Shyam

Shyam follows his human like a shadow. During rides, he trails behind the rickshaw

In the bustling lanes of Kathmandu’s Thamel, where the sounds of street vendors and the rhythm of cycle rickshaws create a constant hum, one rickshaw stands out, not for its design, but for the furry companion who’s almost always trotting beside it.

Meet Shyam, an eight-year-old dog with orange and white fur, who’s become a bit of a celebrity in the area. His human, Babu Tamang, 57, a cycle-rickshaw driver, rarely goes anywhere without him. As Tamang pedals tourists through the colourful maze of Thamel, Shyam faithfully trots along, winning hearts, camera clicks, and often a few treats from passengers. “Shyam would have to ride right beside me so I could pet and love on him during the ride. He is adorable,” a user commented on a now-viral post by Associated Press (AP) about the duo.

A heartbreak made Babu and Tamang bond.

A couple of years ago, Tamang lost his beloved dog Putle, killed by a leopard in his remote village, as per AP. The news devastated him. Then, one day, while parking his rickshaw in a nearby garage, he noticed a scrappy dog hanging around. That was Shyam. “He never leaves me alone,” Tamang told AP, adding, “Living in this city, away from my family, Shyam has become my closest companion.”

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According to AP, Shyam follows his human like a shadow. During rides, he trails behind the rickshaw, and once the fare is paid, Tamang gestures, and up jumps Shyam, taking his rightful spot. On hot summer afternoons, he curls up underneath the rickshaw, escaping the sun. “He gets oil stains from the chains, so I have to give him a bath. But he doesn’t like it, and we often get into a little fight over it,” Tamang told AP.

Tamang lives in a small apartment with two other rickshaw drivers, who’ve come to accept Shyam as one of their own. The only time the pair part ways is when Tamang visits his village. “Dogs aren’t allowed on public buses. So I have to leave him behind in the garage with a mechanic friend. It makes me sad,” AP quoted Tamang as saying.

“He’s not just a dog, he’s my family,” Tamang said, a sentiment that has touched thousands online. “Sounds like Hatchi,” one commenter wrote. Another said, “Dogs are wonderful, wonderful creatures. We humans are lucky to have them.”

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