Kathmandu
Kathmandu has a long history stretching back to the 12th century. Originally named Kantipur the city was the centre of the Malla Empire, which covered the Kathmandu Valley. The kingdom stretches 885 kilometres east to west and 193 kilometres north to south, extending from the Himalayas to the Terai lowlands.
Today the city has an estimated population of 700,000 and has 10 sites that have been added to UNESCO's World Natural and Cultural Heritage List.
Kathmandu Durbar Square stands in the heart of the old city of Kathmandu and is believed to have been built between the 12th and 18th centuries. Its royal palaces served as the residence for both the Malla and Shah kings and today it is still an important urban and ceremonial centre. Within these elaborately decorated palaces there can be found numerous courtyards and temples, as well as both the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum. Of the temples the oldest are those built by Mahendra Malla (1560-1574) with the most famous considered to be the Taleju Temple, built in a typical Newari architectural style. This site has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Swayambhunath or The Monkey Temple is located 3 kilometres to the west of Kathmandu City, perched high on the top of a hill. It is one of the holiest Buddhist Stupas in Nepal, instantly recognisable with its four sides decorated with the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It was also added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1979.
Budhanilkantha is located at the foot of Shivpuri Hill, 9 kilometres to the north of Kathmandu. This famous stone statue of Lord Vishnu on a bed of snakes stands in the middle of a pond and was built in the early 6th century. Surrounded by monasteries, today it is a special place of pilgrimage, as well as one of Kathmandu's feature tourist attractions.
Patan Durbar Square was built in the 3rd century by Emperor Ashoka and one of its feature attractions is the Krishna Mandir Temple, with its unique 21 spires. The city of Patan is famous for its fine arts. Within the city can be found the Tibetan Refugee Camp and Handicraft Centre. Here you have the opportunity to see for yourself skilled local craftsmen at work, as they produce an array of beautiful goods.
Pashupatinath stands on the bank of the Bagmati River and is one of the holiest Hindu Temples in Nepal. Surrounded by shrines to Lord Shiva and within the grounds of Aryaghat Crematorium, this temple can only be viewed from the east bank of the river, with entrance to the temple itself restricted to those of the Hindu faith only.
Bouddhanath is the largest Buddhist Stupa in the world, located 8 kilometres to the east of Kathmandu and is built on one of the ancient Tibetan trade routes. Today it is the centre of the Tibetan School of Buddhism and the township that has built up in the surrounding area is the best place in Kathmandu Valley to experience the Tibetan lifestyle. Bouddhanath is another site which appears on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is in the town of Bhaktapur, 10 kilometres to the east of Kathmandu City. Its feature attractions are the Golden Gate, the Lion Gate and the Palace of Fifty-five windows. The palace was built in the 15th century, during the reign of King Yakshya Malla. Within the square can also be found an art gallery, which houses important and historical paintings belonging to both Hindu and Buddhist tradition.
