The Kathmandu Valley ( ne, काठमाडौं उपत्यका; also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley ( ne, नेपाः उपत्यका,
Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः)), is a bowl-shaped valley located in the
Himalayan mountains in
Nepal. It lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of the
Indian subcontinent and the broader
Asian continent, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several pilgrimage sites for
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
s and
Buddhists
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
. There are seven
World Heritage Sites within the valley.
The Kathmandu Valley is the most developed and the largest
urban agglomeration in Nepal with about 5 million population.
The urban agglomeration of Kathmandu Valley includes the cities of
Kathmandu,
Lalitpur,
Budhanilkantha,
Tarakeshwar,
Gokarneshwar
Gokarneshwar is a municipality in Kathmandu District in the Bagmati Province of Nepal that was established on 2 December 2014 by merging the former Village development committees Sundarijal, Nayapati, Baluwa, Jorpati and Gokarna. The office of t ...
,
Suryabinayak,
Tokha
Tokha ( ne, टोखा) is a List of cities in Nepal, municipality in Kathmandu District in Bagmati Province of Nepal that was established on 2 December 2014 by merging the former Village development committee (Nepal), Village development commi ...
,
Kirtipur,
Madhyapur Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one o ...
,
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
, etc. The majority of offices and headquarters are located in the valley, making it the economic hub of Nepal. It is popular with tourists for its unique architecture, and rich culture that includes the highest number of
jatras (festivals) in Nepal. Kathmandu valley itself was referred to as "Nepal Proper" by British historians. As per the World Bank, the Kathmandu Valley was one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in
South Asia with 2.5 million population by 2010 with an annual growth rate of 4%.
In 2015, Kathmandu Valley was hit by the
April 2015 Nepal earthquake. The earthquake caused thousands of deaths and the destruction of much infrastructure across the Kathmandu Valley, which includes the towns of
Lalitpur,
Kirtipur,
Madhyapur Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one o ...
,
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
. Kathmandu is also the largest city in the
Himalayan hill region.
Etymology
Historically, the valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as the
Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century,
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
was its capital, when two other capitals,
Kathmandu and
Lalitpur (Patan), were established.
Until the 1960s, the Kathmandu Valley was known as ''Nepala Valley'' or ''Nepa Valley''.
In 1961 the valley listed as ''Kathmandu District'', which began referring the valley as Kathmandu Valley.
The term ''Nepa Valley'' is still used among
Newar people
Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation ...
and local governments,
while senior citizens still tend to refer the valley as ''Nepal''.
The term ''Swaniga'' (
Nepal Bhasa: 𑐳𑑂𑐰𑐣𑐶𑐐𑑅, स्वनिगः) is used to refer ''three cities'' namely Yén (Kathmandu), Yala (Lalitpur) and Khwapa (Bhaktapur)
The Pahari name ''Kathmandu'' comes from a structure in the
Durbar Square called by the
Sanskrit name ''Kāsṣtha mandapa'' "Wooden shelter". This
unique temple, also known as the ''Maru Sattal'', was built in 1596 by King Lakshmi Narasimha Malla. The entire structure contained no iron nails or supports and was made entirely from wood. Legend has it that the timber used for this two-story
pagoda was obtained from a single tree.
History
The Kathmandu Valley may have been inhabited as early as 300 BCE, since the oldest known objects in the valley date to a few hundred years BCE. The earliest known inscription is dated 185 CE. The oldest firmly dated building in the earthquake-prone valley is over 2,000 years old. Four
stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circumamb ...
s around the city of Patan that are said to have been erected by a
Charumati, a purported daughter of the
Maurya emperor
Ashoka, in the third century BCE, attest to the ancient history present within the valley. As with the tales of the Buddha's visit, there is no evidence supporting Ashok's visit, but the stupas probably date to that century. The
Licchavis, whose earliest inscriptions date to 464, were the next rulers of the valley and had close ties with the
Gupta Empire of India. The
Mallas ruled the Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding area from the 12th until the 18th century CE, when the
Shah dynasty of the
Gorkha Kingdom under
Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley as he created present-day Nepal. His victory in the
Battle of Kirtipur was the beginning of his conquest of the valley.
Newars
The
Newars
Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation ...
are the indigenous inhabitants and the creators of the historic civilization of the valley. Their language is today known as
Nepal Bhasa.
They are understood to be the descendants of the various ethnic and racial groups that have inhabited and ruled the valley in the two-millennium history of the place. Scholars have also described the Newars as a
nation. They have developed a division of labour and a sophisticated urban civilization not seen elsewhere in the Himalayan foothills. They are known for their contributions to art, sculpture, architecture, culture, literature, music, industry, trade, agriculture and cuisine, and left their mark on the art of Central Asia.
Newa architecture consists of the
pagoda,
stupa
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In Buddhism, circumamb ...
,
shikhara,
chaitya and other styles. The valley's trademark is the multiple-roofed pagoda which may have originated in this area and spread to India, China, Indochina and Japan.
The most famous artisan who influenced stylistic developments in China and Tibet was
Araniko, a Newar who traveled to the court of
Kublai Khan
Kublai ; Mongolian script: ; (23 September 1215 – 18 February 1294), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Shizu of Yuan and his regnal name Setsen Khan, was the founder of the Yuan dynasty of China and the fifth khagan-emperor of th ...
in the 13th century AD.
He is known for building the white stupa at the
Miaoying Temple in
Beijing. At present, people from other parts of Nepal tend to migrate to the valley for a better life due to its high level of cultural and economic development. Even with urbanization taking place, the Newars have sustained their culture in Kathmandu Valley.
Mythology
According to Swayambhu Puran, the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake, deemed by scientists as
Paleo Kathmandu Lake
Paleo Kathmandu Lake is the former lake (or lakes) which lay where Kathmandu Valley is today. Similar to the situation of Mexico City and Pokhara Valley, the valley where the lake once stood is densely populated, and highly vulnerable to both near ...
. The hill where the
Swayambu Stupa rests had lotus plants with flowers in bloom. One story says that the God
Manjusri cut a gorge at a valley called Kashapaal (later called Chobhar) with a sword called Chandrahrasha and drained away the waters in order to establish a habitable land.
According to Gopal Banshawali,
Krishna cut the gorge with his
Sudarshana Chakra
Sudarshana Chakra (Sanskrit: सुदर्शन चक्र, lit. "disc of auspicious vision", IAST: Sudarśana Chakra) is a spinning, celestial discus with 108 serrated edges, attributed to Vishnu and Krishna in the Hindu scriptures. The Sud ...
to let the water out. He then handed the drained valley to the Gopal Vansi people, who were nomadic cow herders.
Geography
Kathmandu
valley is bowl-shaped. Its central lower part stands at above
sea level.
Kathmandu valley is surrounded by four mountain ranges:
Shivapuri hills (at an elevation of ), Phulchowki (), Nagarjun () and
Chandragiri (). The major river flowing through the Kathmandu Valley is the Bagmati River.
The valley is made up of the
Kathmandu District,
Lalitpur District and
Bhaktapur District
Bhaktapur district ( ne, भक्तपुर जिल्ला; Nepal Bhasa : ख्वप देश (जिल्ला) located in the eastern part of Kathmandu valley, is the smallest district among the seventy-seven districts of Nep ...
covering an area of . The valley consists of the municipal areas of
Kathmandu,
Patan Patan may refer to several places in Afghanistan, India and Nepal:
Afghanistan
*Patan, Afghanistan
India
* Patan district, in the state of Gujarat
* Patan, Gujarat, the main city of the eponymous district
* Patan was the ancient capital of Gujara ...
,
Bhaktapur
, motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture
, image_map ...
,
Kirtipur and
Madhyapur Thimi
Madhyapur Thimi, also known as Thimi, ( ne, मध्यपुर थिमि) is a municipality in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. Thimi lies between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one o ...
; the remaining area is made up of a number of
municipalities and
rural municipalities (in Lalitpur district). The valley is a cultural and political hub of Nepal. The Kathmandu valley was accorded the status of a
World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in the year 1979.
Notable areas
This is an incomplete alphabetical list of notable temples and monuments in Kathmandu Valley. Seven of these are designated as
UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
*
Bhaktapur District
Bhaktapur district ( ne, भक्तपुर जिल्ला; Nepal Bhasa : ख्वप देश (जिल्ला) located in the eastern part of Kathmandu valley, is the smallest district among the seventy-seven districts of Nep ...
**
Balkumari temple
Balkumari Temple (Nepali: बालकुमारी मन्दिर) is located in Lalitpur District in Nepal. The origin of temple is controversial, but is supposed to have been built between 7 and 17th century. There is a pond near the ...
**
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Durbar Square (Newar language, Nepal Bhasa: , ''Khwopa Lāyekū,'' ) is a former royal palace complex located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. It housed the Malla dynasty (Nepal), Malla kings of Nepal from 14th to 15th century and the kings of the ...
(a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
**
Changu Narayan Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
**
Doleshwor Mahadeva Temple
**
Kailashnath Mahadev Statue
Kailashnath Mahadev Statue ( ne, कैलाशनाथ महादेव) is the second tallest Shiva statue in the world. It is currently the fifth tallest Hindu deity statue.It is situated in Sanga, Kavrepalanchok District in Nepal, about ...
**
**
Suryavinayak Temple
Suryavinayak Temple is a Hindu Temple in Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur district, Nepal. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh. The temple is an historical and cultural monument and tourist centre. The Suryavinayak Temple is one of t ...
*
Kathmandu District
**
Aakash Bhairav Temple
**
Ashok Binayak Temple
Ashok Binayak () is a Hindu temple located in Kathmandu district at eastern side of Kathmandu Durbar Square in Maru Tole. This temple is of Lord Ganesha also known as Binayak. The god is worshipped as the god of luck by Hindus. The temple hosts one ...
**
Aditnath Temple
**
Ajima Temple
**
Bagh Bhairab Temple
**
Bajrayogini Temple
Bajrayogini Temple is a Tantric Buddhist temple located at Sankhu in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. It is also well known as Bodhisattva's Temple.
The temple is actually a sort of temple complex, with the main temple having been built by King Pratap ...
**
Boudhanath Stupa (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
**
Budhanilkantha Temple
**
Chandra Binayak Temple
**
Chandragiri Hill
Chandragiri ( kn, ಚಂದ್ರಗಿರಿ) is one of the two hills in Shravanabelagola in the Indian state of Karnataka, the other one being Vindhyagiri. It is also near Indragiri.
History
The recorded history surrounding the hill start ...
**
Dakshinkali Temple
Dakshinkali Temple, also Dakshin Kali Temple or Dakshina Kali Temple, located outside Kathmandu and about outside the village of Pharping, is one of the major Hindu temples in Nepal dedicated to the goddess Kali. Dakshin Kali is typically sh ...
**
Dharahara
**
Garden of Dreams
**
Ghanta Ghar
**
Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple
Gokarna Mahadev (The Gods of Gokarna) or Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple (The Lord of Gokarna) is an important Nepali temple, situated near the village of Gokarna, several kilometers northeast of Bodhnath in the Kathmandu Valley. Within the temple' ...
**
Guhyeshwari Temple
Guhyeshwari Temple ( ne, गुह्येश्वरी मन्दिर), also spelled ''Guheswari'' or ''Guhjeshwari'', is one of the revered holy temples in Kathmandu, Nepal. This temple is dedicated to Guhyeshwari or Adi Shakti. The templ ...
**
Jal Binayak Temple
**
Kasthamandap
**
Kathmandu Durbar Square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
**
Kopan Monastery
Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Boudhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. It is a member of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international network of Gelugpa dharma centers, ...
**
Narayanhiti Palace
**
Pashupatinath Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
**
Ranipokhari Pond
**
Ratna Park
Ratna Park is a park and surrounding district in central Kathmandu, Nepal. It is named after Queen Ratna, the wife of King Mahendra
Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev ( ne, श्री ५ महाराजाधिराज महेन्द् ...
**
Seto Machhendranath Temple
**
Shiva Parvati Temple
Shiva Parvati Temple is a Hindu temple located in Kathmandu Durbar Square, Nepal.
It was built by Bahadur Shah, son of Nepal's first king Prithvi Narayan Shah. The temple survived the April 2015 Nepal earthquake
The April 2015 Nepal earthqu ...
**
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the ninth national park in Nepal and was established in 2002. It is located in the country's mid-hills on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley and named after Shivapuri Peak of altitude. It covers an ar ...
**
Swayambhunath Stupa Complex (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
**
Taleju Temple
**
Taragaon Museum
The Taragaon Museum is a private art museum and library located in Kathmandu. It is located in the northern part of the city near the Bouddhanath stupa. It is situated on the ground of the Taragaon Regency hotel, which owns the museum. The museum ...
**
Taudaha Lake
Taudaha Lake is a small lake in the outskirts of Kathmandu, in Nepal. The name comes from a combination of Newari words 'Ta', meaning snake and 'Daha', which means lake.
Mythological origins
The Taudaha Lake is believed to be a remnant poo ...
**
Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery
*
Lalitpur District, Nepal
**
Balkumari temple
Balkumari Temple (Nepali: बालकुमारी मन्दिर) is located in Lalitpur District in Nepal. The origin of temple is controversial, but is supposed to have been built between 7 and 17th century. There is a pond near the ...
**
Hiranya Varna Mahavihar Temple
**
Kumbheshwar Temple Complex
The Kumbheshwar temple complex is one of the oldest and busiest religious place of the old Patan town lying on its northern part. The major deities whose temple or shrine lies within the complex includes Kumbheshwor Mahadev, Bangalamukhi, Unman ...
**
Mahabouddha Temple
Mahaboudha Temple is a ''shikhara'' Newar Buddhist temple in Lalitpur, Nepal.
The temple dates back to 1585 and it was rebuilt after the 1934 Nepal–India earthquake. Mahaboudha's design is loosely based on the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya
...
**
Nagdaha lake
**
Patan Durbar Square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
**
Rato Macchindranath Temple,
Bungmati
Present
This valley hosts a UNESCO World Heritage Site with seven preserved locations: the centers of the three primary cities, Kathmandu Hanuman Dhoka,
Patan Durbar Square and
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Durbar Square (Newar language, Nepal Bhasa: , ''Khwopa Lāyekū,'' ) is a former royal palace complex located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. It housed the Malla dynasty (Nepal), Malla kings of Nepal from 14th to 15th century and the kings of the ...
, the two most important Buddhist stupas,
Swayambhunath and
Boudhanath and two famous Hindu shrines,
Pashupatinath temple and
Changu Narayan. In 2003, UNESCO listed the sites as being "endangered" out of concern for the ongoing loss of authenticity and the outstanding universal value of the cultural property. The endangered status was lifted in 2007.
In the past, Tibetan Buddhist Masters including Marpa, Milarepa, Rwa Lotsava, Ras Chungpa, Dharma Swami, XIII Karmapa, XVI Karmapa and several others visited and travelled in the Kathmandu Valley. However, the largest group of Tibetans came in the 1960s. Many settled around the Swayambhunath and Boudhanath Stupas. Many other famous Lamas known throughout the world have their Buddhist monasteries and centers in the Kathmandu Valley.
The 1500-year history of funerary architecture in the valley provides some of the finest examples of stone architecture found in the subcontinent. A ''
caitya
upright=1.25, Phra Pathom Chedi, one of the biggest Chedis in Thailand; in Thai, the term Chedi (cetiya) is used interchangeably with the term Stupa
Cetiya, "reminders" or "memorials" (Sanskrit ''caitya''), are objects and places used by Buddhi ...
'' is placed in almost all courtyards in cities like
Patan Patan may refer to several places in Afghanistan, India and Nepal:
Afghanistan
*Patan, Afghanistan
India
* Patan district, in the state of Gujarat
* Patan, Gujarat, the main city of the eponymous district
* Patan was the ancient capital of Gujara ...
.
Stone inscriptions in the Kathmandu Valley
Stone inscriptions in the Kathmandu Valley ( ne, काठमाडौं उपत्यकामा ढुङ्गाको शिलालेख) refer to ancient stone slabs, pillars and pedestals with text carved on them. They are the most ...
are important sources for the history of Nepal.
Demographics
Kathmandu Valley has total population of 2,996,341.
Kathmandu (National Capital Area)
It is proposed to
Government of Nepal to develop Kathmandu valley as a separate national capital territory and not a part of
Bagmati Province.
Kathmandu Valley consists 3 Districts of Bagmati Province whose total population is 2,996,341 and total area is
Major cities
Cities and towns with 75,000+ population of Kathmandu valley as per
2021 Nepal census
The 2021 Nepal Census was the twelfth nationwide census of Nepal conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The census was originally scheduled from 8 June to 22 June 2021, but was postponed to November 2021 due to surge in COVID-19 cases. ...
.
Minor cities and villages
*
Dakshinkali Municipality
*
Shankharapur Municipality
*
Konjyoson Rural Municipality
Konjyosom Rural Municipality is a Rural Municipality in Lalitpur District in Bagmati Province of Nepal that was established in 2017 by merging the former Village development committees Sankhu, Dalchoki, Chaughare, Nallu and Bhardev.The center ...
*
Bagmati Rural Municipality
*
Mahankal Rural Municipality
Mahankal Rural Municipality ne, महाङ्काल गाउँपालिका, is a Rural Municipality in Lalitpur District in Bagmati Province of Nepal that was established in 2017 by merging the former Village development committees ...
See also
*
Culture of Nepal
*
Dolakha Newar Language
Dolakha Newar ( endonym Dwālkhā Nepal Bhasa), or Eastern Newar, is a divergent dialect of the Newar language (''Nepal Bhasa'') spoken in Dolakha District, east of the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, by 5,645 Newar people as of 1988. Some speakers ...
*
Battle of Kirtipur
*
Battle of Kathmandu
The Battle of Kathmandu ( ne, काठमाडौंको युद्ध) or Siege of Kathmandu or Siege of Kantipur is a battle which occurred during the Unification of Nepal. It was fought in Kathmandu in 1768, and resulted in the defeat ...
*
Battle of Lalitpur
The Battle of Lalitpur in 1768 ended with the Gorkha conquest of Lalitpur, one of the three kingdoms in Nepal centered in the Kathmandu Valley, and the loss of the rule of the native Newars.
Exhausted by a prolonged siege and much bloody figh ...
References
External links
UNESCO – Kathmandu ValleyUNESCO Advisory Board Evaluation360° panorama images of Kathmandu valley writer Austin Pick recounts adventures traveling in the Kathmandu Valley
Lyrics of the song "Kathmandu" by a Russian band
{{Authority control
Valleys of Nepal
Geography of Kathmandu
Kathmandu District
Metropolitan areas of Nepal
Newar
Geography of Bagmati Province
World Heritage Sites in Nepal
World Heritage Sites in Danger
Cultural heritage of Nepal
1979 in Nepal