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Kathmandu
Facts
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Founded |
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Tenth Century by Gunakamdeva(Kathmandu existed as two settlements Yamby and Yamgal prior to that) |
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Elevation |
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1350 m |
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City Area |
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5067 ha (50.67 sq. km.) |
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Population |
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671,846(CBScensus2001) |
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Population Density |
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13,225 / sq. km. |
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Per capita income |
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360 US$ |
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Major religions |
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Hinduism, Buddhism |
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Principal Language |
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Nepali, Nepal Bhasa (Newari) |
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Absolute extreme temperatures |
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Maximus 35°C (April) and minimum 1°C (January) |
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Annual rainfall |
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1,407 millimeters (mostly during June-August) |
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Average humidity |
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75 percent |
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World Heritage Sites |
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Kathamandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, , Bouddhanath Stupa Pashupatinath Temple and Changu Narayan Temple |
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Rivers |
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Bagmati, Bishnumati, Dhobi Khola, Samakhusi, Tukucha, Bhaucha Khusi, Balkhu, Manamati |
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Main economic activities |
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Trade, tourism, carpets, garments, cottage industries |
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Literacy rate |
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83 percent |
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Health services |
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50 hospitals and nursing homes |
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Airport |
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Tribhuvan International Airport |
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History
As the story goes, the Kathmandu Valley was a lake surrounded by hills in ancient time. Blessed by the visits of various primordial Buddhas during various eons, the lake attracted pilgrims. Then a saint named Manjushree arrived, and created the valley by letting out the water with a sword cut on the southern rim of the valley at Chobhar gorge. And civilization began on the fertile lake bed.
Archeological digs show that Kathmandu, along with the other towns in the valley, ranks among the oldest human settlements in the central Himalaya. Excavations in the suburb of Hadigaon have shown up brick walls belonging to the period between 167 BC and 1 AD. Stone age tools have been unearthed inLubhu village, in the southern part of the valley.
Kathmandu existed during the time of the Lichhavi dynasty (300-879 AD) as two adjoining settlements-Yambu and Yangal. Yambu, also known as Koligram signified the northern half of Kathmandu, that is the area north of present-day Makhan Tole, next to the Durbar Square. (Yamby means "northern land" in Newari language.) The southern sector was called Yangal. It was also known as Dakshin Koligram. Yangal endures in the name of a locality in this part of the city.
Tradition has it that in the late 900's AD, the King named Gunakama Deva established Kathmandu at the sacred confluence of the Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers by absorbing the first settlements of Yambu and Yangal. The town was laid out in theshape of Manjushree's sword-with the tip pointing north and the hilt in the south. The temples of the eight mother goddesses defined its perimeter. The temples stand to this day.
Old Kathmandu (Kasthamandap) corresponds to the current City core a compact network of charming temple squares and narrow streets lined with multi-storey houses. The Durbar Square (the old royal palace complex) occupies as center. Thanhiti (the upper fountain) marks the southern section. Such centuries-old water spours lie scattered on and around the city, and they are still a major source of drinking water for the inhabitants.
Most of Kathmandu's opulent cultural heritage-represented by soaring pagodas, houses decorated with carved windows, exquisite open-air shrines and courtyards filled with brilliant sculptures were put together during the Malla period (1200-1768 Ad). By then, Kathmandu was already a relatively large city. Father Giuseppe, a Capuchin missionary living here during the 1760's, wrote that 'Catmandu' contained about 18,000 houses.
The Great Earthquake of 1934 destructed parts of Kathmandu city to the ground, but they were rebuilt almost like the original. Since the 1980's, the city has been spreading out on the surrounding farmland in an unprecedented building frenzy. And fringing form the traditional city core, the capital consists of new settlements of high-rise business, wide boulevards and posh residential suburbs.
Geography
Kathmandu City lies at an altitude of 1,300 meters above sea level. Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City is in its south, Kirtipur Municipality is in south-west, Madyapur Thimi Municipality in east and different Village Development Committees of Kathmandu in north, west and north-east. The snow peaks rise behind the green hills in the north to provide an awe-inspiring backdrop. Eight rivers meander through the city. It has a temperate climate and it experiences all four seasons a year. Temperature ranges between 1 degree C and 35 degree C. The annual rainfall is 1,407 millimeters, with most of it occurring during the three months from June to August. Metropolitan Kathmandu is spread over an area of 50.8 sq. km, and it can be divided into five sectors-Central Sector, East Sector, North Sector, City Core and the West Sector. Administratively, the city is divided into 35 Wards.
Culture and Heritage
Kathmandu's ancient and refined culture has been inspired by the convergence of the Hindu and Buddhist devotion of its inhabitants. The traditional customs, festivals, art and literature are all religious in character. Kathmandu's location on a key Asian trade route has exposed it to varied influences form ancient times, and they have further enriched local artistic traditions.
High level craftsmanship can be seen in the exquisite artworks that ornament the ancient temples, palace buildings and domestic houses. Local artisans excelled in wood carving, stone carving, metal casting, weaving, pottery and other crafts. Examples of fine wood carving can be seen on the ornate windows of old buildings and on the roof struts of temples. Street side images of gods and goddesses and sunken water spouts illustrate the level of skill in stone carving.
From 1400's to late 1700's AD, Kathmandu experienced a cultural flowering under the Malla Kings. This was a creative period for the other cities in the Kathmandu valley as well (known as Nepal Mandal from historical times). These great patrons of the arts embellished the city with sculptures, pagodas, stupas and palace buildings of exceptional beauty. Amazed by the artistic prolificacy, a British visitor more than two hundred years ago, made the often-quoted observation, "There are as many temples as there are houses and as many idols as there are men."
Indeed, Kathmandu possesses one of the greatest concentrations of architectural treasures in the world. There are not only hundreds of temples, stupas and open shrines, but also 106 monastic courtyards (known as baha or bahi) which are centers of art and piety.
Most of the remarkable cultural wealth is located in the City Core. These artistic edifices are intimately linked with the daily life of the people. They provide places for worship and are the setting for a roster of annual festivals (133 in a year).
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