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]]>Within the Valley lies a city with the same name, the Kathmandu City, powered by a rich cultural and historical background.
The inception of Kathmandu dates back to the ancient times and is older than 185 A.D.
The metropolis got its name from a temple known as Kasthamandap built in 1596 at the Durbar Square.As per legends and the contents of the Swayambhu Purana, Kathmandu was once a huge, deep lake filled with snakes and was called ‘Nagdaha’.
Bodhisathwa Manjusri traveled to Nepal from the west and cut the rim of the valley with his sword to release the water from it, resulting in the formation of the ‘Kathmandu’ we know today.
Going forward, the city of Kathmandu experienced two golden ancient eras Licchavi & Malla before touching the modern era which includes the Early Shah and Rana rules.
During the Licchavi period, Kathmandu witnessed the establishment of the most ancient sacred sites for both Hinduism and Buddhism.
Kathmandu is the center of Nepal’s history, art, culture & economy hosting people from different ethnicities with a majority of Hindus and Buddhists. As the largest metropolitan in Nepal, Kathmandu city has a population of over 5 million and is made up of Lalitpur, Kirtipur, Madhyapur, Thimi, Bhaktapur, and a cluster of municipalities across the valley.
Kathmandu is part of Nepal Province 3 and also has international recognition as the SAARC headquarters since 1985.
Kathmandu experiences a mix of two temperature zones: Warm and Cool Temperate Zones which differs across the city. The metropolis generally has a climate with warm days followed by cool nights and mornings.
Nepal opened to the world in 1950 after its long isolation. Following this, air transport was started between Kathmandu and Raxaul in 1956 paving the way for tourism in the city.
Kathmandu is the gateway to Nepal’s Himalayan range and thus, serves as an important tourist destination. World’s renowned travel advisor Trip Advisor placed Kathmandu at ‘third’ among the top ten upcoming travel destinations in the world and first rank in Asia, in its 2013 ranking.
Kathmandu has some iconic sites and structures that draw innumerable tourists from around the world. Unfortunately, the 2015 earthquake shook Nepal and robbed Kathmandu of most of its remarkable heritage sites.
Kumari Bahal:
Situated at the junction of Durbar and Basantapur squares, this three-storey structure was built by Jaya Prakash Malla in 1757. Styled like a Buddhist Vihara, the building has courtyard and a small stupa with symbols of Goddess Saraswati. This historic site houses the Kumari, a girl selected to be the country’s living goddess and a symbol of Devi.
Swayambhunath:
This Buddhist stupa is one of the classics of Kathmandu Valley’s architecture. The perfectly-proportioned Swayambhunath rises out of a white dome to from a glided steeple from where, four iconic faces of Buddha look at the entire valley in their respective directions.
Despite the challenging the earthquake that rocked its very foundations, Kathmandu manages to attract tourists with remnants of its heritage and a sense of warmth that will always linger in their hearts.
The capital city of Nepal with all its grandeur and activity will always surprise its visitors while also keeping them in touch with nature.
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]]>The best way to get around in Bhaktapur is by walk, as taxis and rickshaws are not allowed to ply inside the city. It takes less than an hour to commute from one end of the city to the other.
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley. The erstwhile royal palace with 55 windows, which now houses the National Art Gallery, is one of the prominent structures in the Durbar Square. The Golden Gate, the Taleju Temple complex and the Big Bell are the other attractions here.
Taumadhi Square and Dattatreya Square are the other two well-acclaimed Squares in Bhaktapur. The Nyataponla Temple in Taumadhi is dedicated to Goddess Siddhi Laxmi and is the country’s tallest pagoda temple exquisitely created by Newar craftsmen. The Bhairavnath Temple, housing the gilded bust of Bhairav or Lord Shiva’s most ferocious manifestation, stands next to the Nyataponla Temple. The 14th century temple of Jeth Ganesh is another highlight of this Square.
The main attraction of the Dattatreya Square is the Dattatreya Temple, a giant three storied temple believed to have been built with the stem of a single tree. At the nearby Pottery Square visitors can take a look at potters working on making earthenware of different shapes and sizes.
Bhaktapur has a large number of Buddhist monasteries and religious sites in close proximity to the Hindu shrines reaffirming the Nepalese tradition of religious tolerance and social harmony. Lokeswor Mahavihar, Prasannasheel Mahavihar, Chatu Brahma Mahavihar, Jaya Kirti Mahavihar, Sukra-varna Mahavihar, Dipanker Mahavihar and other Buddhist shrines are revered by people of other faiths as well.
Bhaktapur is very famous for its variety of yogurt Juju-dhau, which literally means the “King of all yogurt”.
Bhaktapur was close to the epicenter of the 2015 earthquake and experienced a significant damage to a lot of structures. Restoration work is in progress. Despite the earthquake, the flow of tourists to the city has not reduced.
Visitors to Bhaktapur are assured of an enriching cultural and spiritual experience.
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