Kathmandu Valley

valley, Nepal

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June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Kathmandu Valley is a historically and culturally significant region in Nepal, located at an elevation of 4,344 feet (1,324 meters) above sea level. Founded in 723, it was once known as Manju-Patan and later named for a wooden temple. The valley served as the seat of Nepal's ruling Shah family from 1768 to 2008 and has become the country's commercial hub, largely due to the efforts of its Newar merchant families.1

The valley is characterized by its two main streets, contrasting with older sectors of narrow lanes and brick houses adorned with intricate carvings. It is surrounded by the Nepal Himalayas, which form a climatic barrier and present significant challenges to human travel. The Kathmandu Valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, though it faced challenges from urban sprawl and was temporarily placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. A major earthquake in 2015 severely damaged Kathmandu and its historic center.12

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Himalayas
Geologic history
…Vale of Kashmir and the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, lakes formed temporarily and then filled with Pleistocene deposits. After drying up some 200,000 years ago, the Kathmandu Valley rose at least 650 feet (200 meters), an indication of localized uplift within the Lesser Himalayas.
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…Vale of Kashmir and the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, lakes formed temporarily and then filled with Pleistocene deposits. After drying up some 200,000 years ago, the Kathmandu Valley rose at least 650 feet (200 meters), an indication of localized uplift within the Lesser Himalayas.
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Kathmandu
The surrounding Kathmandu Valley, noted for its vast historic and cultural importance, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Vulnerable to urban sprawl, it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2003 but was removed from the list in 2007 after…
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The surrounding Kathmandu Valley, noted for its vast historic and cultural importance, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Vulnerable to urban sprawl, it was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2003 but was removed from the list in 2007 after…
Read More