Among other Nepali cities, the Kathmandu Valley is home to many such sites that speak the country’s pride.

But, it is really disappointing to know that many of these renowned sites in the Valley listed as endangered are facing ill-effects of air pollution, say conservationists and craftsmen.

“Post-earthquake, we’ve had an opportunity to inspect the ancient structures up close and the degradation is visible. Dust and smoke have deteriorated wooden structures and have blackened the exteriors,” says Rabindra Puri, a reputed conservationist known to have renovated many historic sites in Nepal.

Puri urged the Department of Archaeology to study the scenario and take necessary measures to increase the durability of such Nepali heritage sites.

He recommends application of indigenous methods to these structures that are known for their architectural value built on rich traditional methods of engineering and intricate ornamentation. 

“There are thick layers of dust which prevent the structures from moisture management. One can literally scratch it off. The Department of Archaeology, which is equipped with a laboratory, should study the chemical effects of carbon on wood and should apply indigenous methods of weatherproofing and carry out routine maintenance to extend durability,” adds Rabindra Puri.

Heritage conservationists feel disappointed about the scenario as they boast of historical wooden structures, traditionally made of dhunsi or dhasi wood, that stood for centuries with extreme durability.

The deterioration of the wooden structures due to age, dust and smoke is more pitiable at the Bhandarkhal Garden and temple sites of the Patan Durbar Square, where a handful of workforce is working on restoration of sites hit by the 2015 earthquake.

Maintenance, A Serious Concern
Citing the ongoing maintenance activities, another Conservation Architect Bijay Basukala said, “They used paint on Changu Narayan Mandir and even on the Nyatapola on various occasions. It’s just careless. It prevents the wooden structure from breathing.” 

“Irregular cleaning or lack thereof has resulted in heavy deposits of dust and moisture. It took us an entire day of painstaking cleaning for just this portion of the temple. Look at the blackened portions,” says Bijay Basukala.

Not just the world-famous heritage sites that drive global tourists, many other historic sites in the Valley are facing a similar situation.

“There is yet to be a study on how pollution affects these wooden structures, but its effects are inevitable. If designated institutions carry out routine structural maintenance as opposed to just cosmetic treatment or beautification, the damages could be minimised,” says Rohit K Rajkarnikar, country director at Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust.

The post Air Pollution Haunts Nepali Heritage Sites appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Popularly known as Patan in Sanskrit and Yala in Nepali language in ancient times, this city is represented by its rich cultural heritage, specifically the tradition of art and crafts, which give it the name: City of Festivals and Feasts, Fine Ancient Art, Metallic Making and Stone-Statue Carving!

Lalitpur is spread across an area of 15.43 sq.km and is made up of 29 municipalities and is currently home to over 226,728 people living in more than 54, 748 households. This Nepali city experiences a humid subtropical climate.

The Bagmati River separates the city of Lalitpur from Kathmandu on the northern and western sides.

Lalitpur was built on the thin layers of deposited clay and gravel in the midst of the erstwhile Nagdaha lake. The city’s establishment dates back to the 3^rd century BC and is credited to the Kirat dynasty.

Newari people identify Lalitpur with the name Yala derived from the name Yalamber, the then ruler of the Kirat dynasty. Although there are many legends surrounding its name, the most famous one is that of Lord Rato Machhindranath.

It is believed that a group of three people representing the three kingdoms of Kathmandu Valley set out to bring Lord Rato Machhindranath from Kamaru Kamakhya, Assam to get rid of the drought that befell the valley.

One of them named Lalit, a farmer carried the God of rain, all the way back to the Valley. Due to his efforts, Rato Machhindranath got settled in Lalitpur. Hence, the name Lalitpur inspired by the great farmer Lalit.

Tourist Attractions:
Lalitpur is home to some of the most ancient historic sites that are of high significance to both Hindus and Buddhists. Listed below are some of them:

Patan Durbar Square:
The establishment is situated at the center of Lalitpur and is one of the three durbar squares that Kathmandu Valley owns. It houses the ancient royal palace that was the home to Malla kings and some famous temples including Krishna Mandir.

Krishna Mandir:
Built in Srikhara style, the temple is characterized by pillars with stone carvings that narrate the events of Mahabharata and Ramayana. This temple was built by King Siddhi Narasimha Malla. There are 21 golden pinnacles and the shrines of Lord Krishna, Radha and Rukmini.

Bhimsen Temple:
This temple was built in 1680 by Srinivasa Malla and is devoted to Bhimsen, one of the heroes of the epic Mahabharata. Newari people worship him as a God of Business and Trade. The three interconnected golden windows are its main attractions.

Rudra Varna Mahavir:
The temple is an ancient Buddhist monastery and has witnessed major coronation ceremonies that are in practice till date. The temple is famous for its walls and altars adorned with statues and bronze pieces inside and on top of the temple.

Golden Temple:
This 12^th century Buddhist structure is situated on the north of Durbar Square. The temple received its name due to the gilded metal plates that cover most of its front part. Statues of Shakyamuni, Green Tara and Bodhisattva Vajrasattva are worshiped and honored in this temple.

Patan Museum:
Originally the residence of the Malla kings, the Royal Palace houses one among the finest collections of religious arts in Asia. The museum is a national treasure and an invaluable contribution to the art and architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. The collection of statues and artifacts are displayed in brick and timber rooms.

Sundari Chowk:
Located south of Mul Chowk is the Sundari Chowk  is comparatively a smaller structure but an architectural wonder constructed around a well-carved sunken water tank popularly known as Tusha Hiti. The tank was built in 1647 and is adorned with 72 carved-stone plaques depicting tantric deities. The traditional gateway that connects Sundari Chowk to Durbar Square features three magnificent statues of Hanuman, Ganesh and Vishnu’s Narsingha Avatar.

Mul Chowk:
Located south of Patan Museum is the gateway that leads to the largest and oldest chowk, Mul Chowk. The original buildings were destroyed in a fire in 1662. The center of the square houses a small Bidyapith temple.

Central Zoo:
The Central Zoo in Jawalakhel is spread across 6 hectares of land and houses more than 870 animals in 109 species.  It was established by Rana Minister Juddha Shumsher in 1932. Since then, this zoo was privately owned and began welcoming public only in 1956. Currently, it is run by the Nepal National Trust of Nature Conservation (NTNC).

Rato Machhindranath Jatra:
One of the most grandly-celebrated festivals in Lalitpur is the Rato Machhindranath Jatra. It is a glorious sight to see thousands of people walk in procession with the statue of Lord Machhindranath placed in a beautifully decorated chariot.As old as 1600 years, the month-long festival begins at the end of Baisakh. The people revere the God of rain for his virtue of ridding the city of drought.

Lalitpur in News

• End to Outbound Healthcare: In his address to a program held in B&B Hospital in Lalitpur, Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav said that people will no more be forced to go abroad for medical treatment. He persuaded the government and private hospitals to ensure provision of quality healthcare services at affordable costs in the city.
• Mayors Forum: Kathmandu hosted the ‘Round Table Meeting on Trade and Investment Opportunities in Kazakhstan’ that involved the participation of Kazakh Foreign Minister Sarsenbayev and Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) founder Sunil KC. Post the meeting, Sarsenbayev bonded with Kathmandu Deputy Mayor Khadgi Hari Prabha and Lalitpur Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan, and invited them to the Mayors Forum in Astana
• Designated Protest Zones: In a declaration made by MoHA, Lalitpur’s six places were selected among other protest areas designated by the Home Affairs Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa. Addressing a press meet, Kathmandu Chief District Officer Kedarnath Sharma said that the protest zones were designated for political parties, interest groups and people who wanted to hold demonstrations or express their opinions for/against issues
• Rautahat Premier League: Rautahat’s first-ever T20 Premier League, set to begin in September is being organized by Lalitpur’s Omega Secondary School. The initiative is being taken to promote cricket in Nepal’s eastern part. 12 teams will be taking part in this tournament
• Electric Buses: Lalitpur is gearing up to deploy electric buses on its roads in a bid to address air pollution. The first three electric buses will hit Lalitpur’s roads by mid-September. Each bus will accommodate 40 persons
• Fast Track Alignment: Following the never-ending disputes over compensation at Khokana and Bungamati, starting points of the Fast Track Project, the Nepal Army has directed the Nepal Government to change the alignment. However, the Newar communities from the aforementioned regions are worried about the damage that the project would cause to their property and cultural rights
• 8^th South Asian Judo Championship: The prestigious event was held in Lalitpur on the April 21, 2018. India’s L Sushila Devi clenched the gold medal after she defeated Pakistan’s Humaira Ashiq in Pakistan. In the Men’s category, Nepal won a gold medal. A total 102 players participated in the 8^th episode of the South Asian Judo Championship.
• Coffee Symposium: A one-day coffee symposium was organized in Lalitpur to promote Nepali specialty coffee in the domestic and international market. The event brought together diverse stakeholders including small-holder coffee farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and representatives of government agencies to debate, and discuss the ways for promoting this Nepali specialty.

The city of Lalitpur with its old-world charm has an appeal of its own. Its charm adds to Nepal’s heritage and helps Nepal establish itself as a country, which is deeply rooted in its cultural values.

Read Also:

• Pokhara – Tourism Capital of Nepal
• Nepal, The Perfect Tourism Destination
• Sarangkot- The Adventure Lover’s Paradise
• Biratnagar – Industrial Capital of Nepal
• Nepal’s Lumbini Among ‘Best in Asia 2018’
• Birgunj – Trade Gateway to Nepal
• Kathmandu: Nepal’s City of Glory!
• What Are The Most Interesting in Ilam, Nepal

The post Lalitpur: Nepal’s Abode of Shrines and Durbars appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Within the Valley lies a city with the same name, the Kathmandu City, powered by a rich cultural and historical background.

Kathmandu City – History and Geography

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.

Tourism and Some Interesting Places

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.

Here are some of the iconic places that add to the city’s charm:

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.

Hanuman Dhoka:
Kathmandu’s royal palace or Hanuman Dhoka was also constructed during the Licchavi period. The palace is a masterpiece and still maintains a charming beauty even after witnessing the devastating effects of the April 2015 earthquake. The place is a fond remembrance of the epic Ramayana and has a Hanuman statue cloaked in red and covered by an umbrella.

Garden of Dreams:
Also known as Swapna Bagaicha, this splendid enclave takes you to a different place in your mind. Built by Field Marshal Kaiser Shamsher in 1920, the Garden of Dreams was made after taking inspiration from several estates in England. It is characterized by innumerable gorgeous detailing, including a marble inscription from Omar Khan’s Rubaiyat and a quirky ‘hidden garden’ to the south.

Seto Machendranath:

Freak Street:
A famous street in Kathmandu, Freak Street earned its name due to a large number of hippies who lived here during the 1960s and 70s. The main attraction of this street was its government-run hashish shops.

Asan Tole:

Thamel Chowk: 

Thamel in Kathmandu is known as the Shopping Mecca in Nepal. It has a plenty of bookstores, outdoor outfitters, banks and shops selling glass pipes, Tibetan Singing bowls, incense, prayer flags, kukri swords and innumerable eaeries.

Top 13 Specialties about Kathmandu

1. People in Kathmandu greet each other with a handshake. They touch their palms and bow saying ‘Namaste’, which means ‘I salute the God in you’
2. Once upon a time, Kathmandu was known as ‘Kantipur’, which means the ‘City of Glory’. The name was inspired by the many monasteries and temples in the city
3. Kathmandu is the gateway to the Himalayas. Landing in Kathmandu increases your access to explore the rest of the country.
4. In ancient times, Kathmandu Valley was a huge lake filled with floating lotuses.
5. Kathmandu Valley is home to the Newari community of Nepal, which is considered as the direct descendant of the ethnic and racial groups who resided for two millenniums in the valley
6. Kathmandu Valley was honored as the ‘World Heritage Site’ by UNESCO in 1979. Prior to the 2015 earthquake, Kathmandu Valley had 130 important monuments and pilgrimage sites.
7. Kathmandu was a part of the link that connected India and Tibet. This gave birth to a mix of artists, architecture and traditions in Kathmandu leading to the creation of some masterpieces
8. Owing to its scenic beauty, Kathmandu is chosen as the backdrop for many movies and TV series.
9. There are three Durbar Squares in Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square, all of which are interestingly UNESCO’s ‘World Heritage Sites’.
10. In 1975, Bob Seger wanted to escape the world of record business and media and so he wrote a song called Kathmandu. This song represented Kathmandu’s mystic nature- “a land so far away that no one will be able to find you”.
11. Due to its 4593 M-elevation above sea level, Kathmandu stands 17^th in the world ranking for ‘capitals with highest altitude’
12. Kathmandu is sister-city to Mumbai Miami, Johannesburg, Edinburgh and many more, owing to its socio-economic relationship with these cities
13. Nepal’s oldest modern school Durbar High School and the oldest college Tri Chandra College are from Kathmandu

Kathmandu in News

• India-Nepal Bilateral Talks: Kathmandu city hosted the recent Sixth India-Nepal Oversight Mechanism Meet, which discussed the issues of all pending bilateral projects and looked at solutions to overcome them.
• Urbanization Concerns in Kathmandu: Rapid urbanization is shifting attention to concerns over building constructions in accordance with compliance, the disappearance of chowks promoting social interaction, improper road construction and more in this city.
• Raxaul-Kathmandu Rail Project: Nepal and India decided to sign an agreement to conduct initial engineering and traffic survey for the Raxaul-Kathmandu railway line. The two neighboring countries had come to make the decision during Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Oli Sharma’s visit to India, recently.
• 4^th BIMSTEC Summit: Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the 4^th BIMSTEC summit will be held in Kathmandu on August 30, 2018. “It is an important regional gathering in Kathmandu after the promulgation of the new Nepalese Constitution and formation of the new government in the Himalayan nation. The government attaches high importance to the summit, for which we have formed several committees,” says Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali
• Yogi Adityanath Flags Off Air Services: Ending June 2018, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi flagged off air service between Varanasi and Kathmandu from Lal Bahadur International Airport at Babatpur. Nepal airlines operator Buddha Air Pvt. Ltd. will be operating flights between the two cities.
• 5th Kathmandu Post Edu Con: Kathmandu city hosted the fifth edition of the most prestigious education fair ‘The Kathmandu Post Edu Con’ on July 7, 2018. Over 100 Nepali and international academic institutions exhibited their programs and courses at the event. Students also received career guidance during the fair.
• Malaysia Education Fair 2018: Kathmandu city hosted the two-day Malaysia Education Fair between July 20-21, 2018. During the event, experienced Malaysian career counsellors and representatives provided career counselling to students and parents
• 13^th South Asian Games: Kathmandu along with Pokhara has been chosen as the venue for the 13^th South Asian Games. Cricket will be added to the list of games in this tournament that will be played at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.
• 12^th Mega Education Fair: The Education Consultancies’ Association of Nepal (ECAN) organized the 12^th Mega Education Fair from July 19-22, 2018. ECAN President Bishnuhari Pandey told media that the fair was being organized for provisioning information and advice regarding pursuing education abroad. The fair had over 100 stalls that provided visitors with education policies of various countries.
• 9^th EPG Meeting On India-Nepal Relations: The most prestigious meeting Eminent Persons Group was held in Kathmandu on June 30, 2018. This meeting discussed India-Nepal bilateral issues including the 1950 Peace & Friendship Treaty and other issues related to trade, transit and border during the two-day meeting. The EPG is a collaboration of experts and intellectuals from both countries.

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.

Read Also:

• Pokhara – Tourism Capital of Nepal
• Nepal, The Perfect Tourism Destination
• Sarangkot- The Adventure Lover’s Paradise
• Biratnagar – Industrial Capital of Nepal
• Nepal’s Lumbini Among ‘Best in Asia 2018’
• Birgunj – Trade Gateway to Nepal
• Places to Visit in Ilam, Nepal

The post Kathmandu: Nepal’s City of Glory! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The stakeholders opined that this traditional Nepali dance is facing tough time in getting needed financial and other resource support.

They are of the view that the country’s valuable traditions of this kind might have to be stopped if the state fails to offer the needed support.

The 27-day long Kartik Naach festival has been shortened to 12 days because of the budget crunch, says Kiran Chitrakar, President of the Kartik Naach Conservation Committee.

According to him, around Rs 500,000 budget is required for running the festival for 12 days and around Rs 1.5 million to run it fully for 27 days as per the tradition.

The festival required around 120 artistes including the musicians for performing the dance shows for 12 days and it would be around 300 persons for 27 days.

Whereas, the new artistes participating in the festival will need a prior learning of at least 3-4 months, he added.

Kartik Naach derived its name from the Nepali month of Kartik (October-November) and is performed during this auspicious month at the Kartik Dabali, a traditional stage in Patan Durbar Square, the World Heritage Site, of Lalitpur.

This traditional dance started during the reign of King Siddhi Narsingh Malla in the medieval period around 377 years back, and is believed to be performed for the welfare of the country and its people.

The post Nepal’s Traditional Kartik Naach Facing Tough Time appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The US Embassy will be offering a financial assistance of USD 500,000 (Rs 50 million) for the restoration of Kaiser Mahal Palace and Char Narayan Temple at Patan Durbar Square.

According to the US Embassy’s official release on August 14, 2017, these two sites bagged the current year’s Ambassador Fund for Cultural Preservations (AFCP) in a global competition and the grants for their restoration (south wing of the palace and the temple) were awarded to Impact Foundation and the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT).

“The project will stabilize, seismically strengthen and support urgent restoration work needed to repair the neo-classical Rana style building built in 1895,” informed the release.

While Impact Foundation is set to receive a sum of USD 400,000 for the palace project, KVPT will get USD 100,000 for the restoration of the historic temple built in the Malla era.

The US Embassy Charge d’Affairs Michael Gonzales expressed US’ commitment towards protecting Nepal’s unique cultural heritage.

“The restoration of buildings like Gaddi Baithak that began in September 2016 through US support and the Kaiser Library is key to preserving historically-significant neo-classical buildings damaged in the 2015 earthquakes,”says Michael.

Established by the US Congress and administered by the Department of State, AFCP has been supporting the preservation of cultural sites, cultural objects and forms of traditional cultural expression since 2001. So far, it has supported 22 projects in Nepal through the US Government grant of USD 3.4 million.

The post US Grant for Restoration of Nepal Heritage Sites appeared first on Nepali Sansar.