History of Kathmandu

Kathmandu is situated in the heart of the Himalaya mountains and has a rich history. Considered by many to be among the most beautiful cities in the world, the earliest known inscription in the Kathmandu Valley is dated 185 AD. The oldest firmly dated building in the earthquake-prone valley is almost 1,992 years old. Four stupas around the city of Patan, said to have been erected by Charumati, attest to the ancient history present within are in Patan near kendra Hiranyavarna Mahavihara (called "Patukodon"). The Licchavi Dynasty whose earliest inscriptions date back to 464 AD were the next rulers of the valley. The Malla Dynasty consisted of Newar rulers, who ruled Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding area from the 12th century till the 17th century, when the Shah Dynasty founder Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley as he created present-day Nepal. Most of ancient Nepali Architecture present in Nepal today is from the Malla/Newar era.

The city of Kathmandu is named after a structure in Durbar Square called Kaasthamandap. In Sanskrit, Kaasth (?????) is "wood" and Mandap (????/?????) is "covered shelter." This unique temple, also known as Maru Sattal, was built in 1596 AD by King Laxmi Narsingh Malla. The entire structure contains no iron nails or supports and is made entirely from wood. Legend has it that the timber used for this two-story pagoda was obtained from a single tree[citation needed].

Kathmandu is also sometimes called "Kantipur". "Kanti" is an alternate name of the Goddess Laxmi, and "pur" means the place where such a goddess resides. Thus, the name Kantipur demonstrates the ancient belief that it is the place where Laxmi dwells[citation needed].

Pashupatinath temple Boudhanath A Mosque in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is home to most of the government offices, embassies, corporate houses, and palaces. The old palace of the Newar kings at Durbar Square is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Nearby is Freak Street, which was the popular hippie spot during the 1970s. The former Shah King's Palace stands just east of Thamel - the tourist hub of the country. It consists of two parallel streets catering to tourists with shops, restaurants and little hotels. The palace is at the northern end of Durbar Marg, a major street lined with various shops and larger hotels.

The "old" city is noted for its many Buddhist and Hindu temples and palaces, most dating to the 17th century. Many of these landmarks have been damaged by earthquakes and pollution. Kathmandu has two important Buddhist stupas, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, and a famous Hindu shrine, Pashupatinath temple. Since 2003 the sites have been added to the World Heritage List as being "in danger" out of concern for the ongoing loss of authenticity and the outstanding universal value of the cultural property.

Kathmandu has been popular with western tourists since the 1960s, when it became a key stop along the hippie trail. For the hippies during the 60s, once in India they went to many different destinations but gathered in large numbers in Kathmandu to spend months in search of tranquility and Nirvana.[2] Most of the hippies hung out in the tranquil surroundings of Freak Street[3]. Cultural change, as well as a government crackdown on some of the activities, eliminated hippie movement activities in Kathmandu. Today there is a more conventional type of tourism, although it is also a jumping off location for trekking and mountaineering activities in the Himalayan region. Kathmandu has also been the subject of a popular Bob Seger song for the same reason.

Tribhuvan International Airport is located at the eastern edge of the city, about 6 km from the city center, offering domestic and international flights.

Geography

The city is located in the northwestern part of Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley covers an area of 565 sq. kilometres. It is situated at 1336 m above the sea level. The Bagmati, Bishnumati, Dhobikhola, and Tukucha rivers wind through the city. It falls in the central development region and it is the headquarters of the region.

SOURCE LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmandu#History