The Kathmandu Valley

The Kathmandu situated in Nepal lies at the intersection of antique civilization of Asia and has at least 130 vital monuments, as well as more than a few places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists. There are seven UNESCO UNE UNESCO World tradition site inside this valley. Historically, only the Kathmandu Valley was referred to as "Nepal" by people who lived outside the valley. After the capture of the valley by the Gorkha kingdom, and succeeding exchange of the valley as the capital of their territory, this description of "Nepal" was comprehensive to every land they dominated.

The Kathmandu valley has many nicknames like " K-Town", "City Of Event", "Cherry On The Cake". It is the most developed and populated place in Nepal. The majority of offices and headquarters are situated in the valley making it the economic hub of Nepal. It is popular with tourists for its sole, rich, culture and structural design; as well as the highest number of jatras in Nepal. The valley itself was referred to as "Nepal Proper" by British historians.

The city of Kathmandu is named after a arrangement in Durbar Square called Kaasthamandap. In Sanskrit wood mandap = "covered shelter." This unique temple, also known as Maru Satal, was built in 1596 CE by King Lami Nurshing Malla. The entire structure contains no iron nails or supports and is made totally from wood. Legend has it that the timber used for this two story pagoda was obtained from a single tree. As the city has many temples, it is also known as the City of Temples.

The Kathmandu Valley may have been occupied as early as 300 BCE, given that the oldest known substance in the valley dates to a few hundred years BCE. The earliest known inscription is dated 185 CE. The oldest firmly dated building in the earthquake-prone valley is almost 1,992 years old.

The Newars generally acknowledged to be the indigenous inhabitants of the valley are understood to be the descendants of the various ethnic and racial groups that have inhabited and ruled the valley in the two millennia history of the place. The Newars were the only original residents of the valley but now people from other places of Nepal have been migrated to the valley for a better living stander.

The valley is made up of the Kathmandu District, Lalitpur District and Bhaktapur District covering an area of 220 square miles. The valley consists of the municipal areas of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Sub metropolitan City, Bhaktapur Municipality, Kirtipur Municipality and Madhyapur Thimi Municipality; the remaining area is made up of number of Village Development Committees (VDCs). The valley is a cultural and political hub of Nepal. The Kathmandu valley was accorded the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year of 1979.