- Also spelled:
- Katmandu or Kantipur
Kathmandu
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What is Kathmandu?
Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal, situated in a hilly region near the Baghmati and Vishnumati rivers. The city's name is derived from a wooden temple. Kathmandu has grown into Nepal’s most vital commercial center due to the efforts of Newar merchant families. Kathmandu is the hub of the country’s transportation system.
Kathmandu's historic valley was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. The city was severely damaged by an earthquake in April 2015. As of 2011, the population of Kathmandu was 1,003,285.
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Where is Kathmandu located?
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. It is situated in a hilly region near where the Baghmati and Vishnumati rivers meet, at 4,344 feet (1,324 metres) above sea level. The Kathmandu Valley, noted for its historic and cultural importance, surrounds the city. The Baghmati River drains the valley, which serves as the nation's political and cultural center. Kathmandu has been the country’s most important business and commercial center.
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Why is Kathmandu important to Nepal?
Kathmandu is important to Nepal because it is the nation's capital and most significant business and commercial center. The city is the hub of Nepal's transportation system, which was once limited to footpaths but now includes air services and new roads constructed in the 1970s. Kathmandu is also the primary destination for foreign tourism, as it is the area best equipped with international transport services, hotels, and food supplies. The Kathmandu Valley has vast historical and cultural importance and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
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What are some famous landmarks in Kathmandu?
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, boasts several famous landmarks reflecting its rich cultural and religious heritage. The old palace of the Malla kings, including the Taleju temple, stands as a notable structure in the city. The city's skyline is also marked by the tall watchtower built by Bhim Sen Thapa.
On the outskirts of the city, the great white dome of Bodhnath, a revered Buddhist shrine, draws many visitors. Additionally, the Pashupatinath Temple, a sacred Hindu site dedicated to Lord Shiva, attracts pilgrims and tourists alike. The Kathmandu Valley, encompassing these landmarks, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its historical and cultural significance.
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How does Kathmandu reflect Nepali culture and history?
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is deeply rooted in Nepali culture and history. Founded in 723, its name is derived from a wooden temple built in 1596. The city's architecture showcases the unique Nepalese style, blending Hindu and Buddhist themes in temples and monasteries.
Kathmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal, reflecting a synthesis between Buddhist and Hindu value systems evident in its festivals and traditions. The Newar community, with its distinct ethnic background, has significantly shaped the city's cultural landscape. The Kathmandu Valley, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, preserves this rich cultural heritage through its historic buildings and sacred sites like the Pashupatinath Temple.
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What challenges does Kathmandu face as a growing capital city?
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, faces several challenges as it grows. The city's infrastructure struggles to keep pace with rapid urbanization, leading to issues such as urban sprawl. Kathmandu also grapples with polluted surface water due to inadequate sewage disposal and domestic waste. The earthquake in 2015 caused severe damage, especially to historic buildings, and left many homeless, highlighting the city's vulnerability to natural disasters.
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Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. It lies in a hilly region near the confluence of the Baghmati and Vishnumati rivers, at an elevation of 4,344 feet (1,324 metres) above sea level.
It was founded in 723 by Raja Gunakamadeva. Its early name was Manju-Patan; the present name refers to a wooden temple (kath, “wood”; mandir, “temple” or “edifice”) said to have been built from the wood of a single tree by Raja Lachmina Singh in 1596. A building, supposedly the original, still stands in the central square and is used for the accommodation of sadhus (holy men). Kathmandu served as the seat of the ruling Shah family of the Gurkha people from 1768 to 2008.
The city has become the country’s most important business and commercial centre through the efforts of its Newar merchant families. In the 1970s the construction of new roads and the expansion of air service were centred upon Kathmandu, making it the hub of the national transportation system, which for centuries was limited to footpaths. Many of the townspeople are engaged in agriculture, the Newar preferring to live in the city. Tribhuvan University was chartered in 1959.
Kathmandu’s two main streets contrast strongly to the older sectors of narrow streets and brick houses adorned with carved doors and windows. Destruction caused by an earthquake in 1934 resulted in the construction of many modern-style buildings. The city’s most notable building is the old palace of the Malla kings, which includes Taleju temple (1549), built by Raja Mahindra Malla. The palace’s main gate is guarded by a figure of the god Hanuman; in a small, adjoining square are several pagoda-style temples.
To the east is Tundi Khel, the parade ground, in the centre of which is a stone platform surrounding a tree, from which important government pronouncements were formerly made first to the army. Between it and the city is a tall watchtower built by Bhim Sen Thapa, a former prime minister. On the outskirts of Kathmandu are many palaces built by the Rana family, the most imposing of which is the Singha Palace, once the official residence of the hereditary prime ministers and now housing the government secretariat. About 3 miles (5 km) northeast is the great white dome of Bodhnath, a Buddhist shrine revered by Tibetan Buddhists. 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 concerted conservation efforts from the government partially mitigated concerns.
Festivals in Kathmandu include, in spring, the Shivaratri and the Machendra Jatra with its procession bearing the image of the god Machendra; in late summer, the Gai Jatra (festival of the cow); and, in early autumn, the Indra Jatra, during which the goddess Devi, represented by a young girl, is carried in procession.
On April 25, 2015, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck central Nepal, its epicentre about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Kathmandu. Initial estimates on how many people had been killed in the country by the quake were more than 1,500, but that number quickly grew as rescue and recovery workers reached more-remote locations. In all, some 9,000 people died and about 16,800 were injured throughout Nepal by the main quake and numerous aftershocks. Kathmandu was severely damaged, especially the buildings in its historic centre, and tens of thousands were made homeless. Pop. (2001) 671,846; (2011) 1,003,285.
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