Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. It is located at an
altitude of 1300m from the sea level and is in fact the
valley surrounded by the beautiful rolling green hills and
the shimmering snow peaks to the north of it. On a clear
day, you can see the crystal clear snow peaks of the
Himalayan mountains. You cannot miss the main cities of
Kathmandu & Patan once the petty kingdoms in the history,
now merging into a common urban sprawl. A little further to
the east is the valley's third major city, Bhaktapur. The political, commercial and cultural hub of Nepal is the first
stop for the majority of visitors to the country. Once a
separate kingdom in itself, it contains three fabled cities
- Kathmandu , Patan and Bhaktapur . Out of ten UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, seven cultural heritage sites are in
Kathmandu Valley. The history of the Valley begins with the Buddhist saint
Manjushree who slashed a passage through the surrounding
hills to drain out the primordial waters and make it
inhabitable. Over the centuries, a refined urban
civilization emerged, built on a unique synthesis of
Hinduism and Buddhism. Dynasties came and went. Trade and the arts flourished. Its
deeply religious Newar inhabitants built fabulous cities and
artistic temples that attracted devout pilgrims as well as
rampaging invaders. In the late 18th century, following the
founding of modern Nepal within more or less the present
boundaries, Kathmandu was made the capital. Kathmandu, the
largest city in Nepal is situated at an altitude of 1,350m. |
