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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 Kathmandu valley seen from the space by theNASA Earth Observatory | |
 Interactive map of Kathmandu Valley, Nepa Valley | |
| Location | Bagmati Province,Nepal |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (iv), (vi) |
| Reference | 121bis |
| Inscription | 1979 (3rdSession) |
| Extensions | 2006 |
| Endangered | 2003–2007[1] |
| Area | 665 km2 (257 sq mi) |
| Coordinates | 27°42′14″N85°18′31″E / 27.70389°N 85.30861°E /27.70389; 85.30861 |
  Kathmandu Valley Location of Kathmandu Valley in Kathmandu  Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu Valley (Bagmati Province) Show map of Bagmati Province Kathmandu Valley Kathmandu Valley (Nepal) Show map of Nepal | |
TheKathmandu Valley (Nepali:काठमाडौं उपत्यका), also known as theNepal Valley orNepa Valley (Nepali:नेपाः उपत्यका,Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः), National Capital Area, is a bowl-shaped valley located in theHimalayan mountains ofNepal. It lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of theIndian subcontinent and the broaderAsian continent, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several pilgrimage sites forHindus andBuddhists. The valley holds sevenWorld Heritage Sites within it.[2]
The Kathmandu Valley is the most developed and the largesturban agglomeration in Nepal with a population of about 5 million people.[3] The urban agglomeration of Kathmandu Valley includes the cities ofKathmandu,Lalitpur,Bhaktapur,Changunarayan,Budhanilkantha,Tarakeshwar,Gokarneshwar,Suryabinayak,Tokha,Kirtipur,Madhyapur Thimi, and others. The majority of offices and headquarters are located in the valley, making it the economic hub of Nepal. It is popular with tourists for its unique architecture, and rich culture which includes the highest number ofjatras (festivals) in Nepal. Kathmandu Valley itself was referred to as "Nepal Proper" by British historians. As per the World Bank, the Kathmandu Valley was one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas inSouth Asia with 2.5 million population by 2010 and an annual growth rate of 4%.[4]
In 2015, Kathmandu Valley was hit by theApril 2015 Nepal earthquake.[5] The earthquake caused thousands of deaths and the destruction of many infrastructure across the Kathmandu Valley, which included the towns of Lalitpur,Kirtipur,Madhyapur Thimi,Changunarayan, and Bhaktapur. Kathmandu is also the largest city in theHimalayan hill region.
Historically, the valley and adjoining areas made up a confederation known as theNepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital, when two other capitals, Kathmandu andPatan, were established.[6][7][8] Until the 1960s, the Kathmandu Valley was known as theNepala Valley orNepa Valley.[9][10] In 1961 the valley was listed asKathmandu District, which began referring to the valley as Kathmandu Valley.[11] The termNepa Valley is still used amongNewar people[12] and local governments,[13] while senior citizens still tend to refer to the valley asNepal.[14] The termSwaniga (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐳𑑂𑐰𑐣𑐶𑐐𑑅, स्वनिगः) is used to refer tothree cities namely Yén (Kathmandu), Yala (Lalitpur) and Khwapa (Bhaktapur)[15]
The Pahari nameKathmandu comes from a structure in theDurbar Square called by theSanskrit nameKāsṣtha mandapa "Wooden shelter". Thisunique temple, also known as theMaru Sattal, was built in 1596 by King Lakshmi Narasimha Malla. The entire structure contained no iron nails or supports and was made entirely from wood. Legend has it that the timber used for this two-storypagoda was obtained from a single tree.
The Kathmandu Valley may have been inhabited as early as 300 BCE, since the oldest known objects in the valley date 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 over 2,000 years old. Fourstupas around the city of Patan that are said to have been erected byCharumati, a purported daughter of theMaurya emperorAshoka, in the third century BCE, attest to the ancient history present within the valley. As with the tales of the Buddha's visit, there is no evidence supporting Ashok's visit, but the stupas probably date to that century. TheLicchavis, whose earliest inscriptions date to 464, were the next rulers of the valley and had close ties with theGupta Empire of India. TheMallas ruled the Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding area from the 12th until the 18th century CE, when theShah dynasty of theGorkha Kingdom underPrithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley as he created present-day Nepal. His victory in theBattle of Kirtipur was the beginning of his conquest of the valley.
TheNewars are the indigenous inhabitants and the creators of the historic civilization of the valley. Their language is today known asNepal Bhasa.[16] They are understood to be the descendants of the various ethnic and racial groups that have inhabited and ruled the valley in the two-millennium history of the place. Scholars have also described the Newars as anation.[17] They have developed a division of labour and a sophisticated urban civilization not seen elsewhere in the Himalayan foothills. They are known for their contributions to art, sculpture, architecture, culture, literature, music, industry, trade, agriculture and cuisine, and have left their mark on the art of Central Asia.
Newa architecture consists of thepagoda,stupa,shikhara,chaitya and other styles.[18] The valley's trademark is the multiple-roofed pagoda which may have originated in this area and spread to India, China, Indochina and Japan.[19][20] The most famous artisan who influenced stylistic developments in China and Tibet wasAraniko, a Newar who traveled to the court ofKublai Khan in the 13th century AD.[19] He is known for building the white stupa at theMiaoying Temple inBeijing. At present, people from other parts of Nepal tend to migrate to the valley for a better life due to its high level of cultural and economic development. Even with urbanization taking place, the Newars have sustained their culture in the Kathmandu Valley.
According toSwayambhu Puran, the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake, deemed by scientists asPaleo Kathmandu Lake.[21] The hill where theSwayambu Stupa rests had lotus plants with flowers in bloom. One story says that the GodManjusri cut a gorge at a valley called Kashapaal (later called Chobhar) with a sword called Chandrahrasha and drained away the waters in order to establish a habitable land.
According to Gopal Banshawali,Krishna cut the gorge with hisSudarshana Chakra to let the water out. He then handed the drained valley to the Gopal Vansi people, who were nomadic cow herders.
Kathmanduvalley is bowl-shaped. Its central lower part stands at 1,425 m (4,675 ft).Kathmandu valley is surrounded by five mountain ranges:Shivapuri hills (at an elevation of 2,732 m (8,963 ft)), Phulchowki (2,762 metres or 9,062 feet), Nagarjun (2,128 metres or 6,982 feet), Champadevi (2,278 m (7,474 ft)) andChandragiri (2,551 m (8,369 ft)). The major river flowing through the Kathmandu Valley is the Bagmati River.The valley is made up of theKathmandu District,Lalitpur District andBhaktapur District covering an area of 220 square miles (570 km2). The valley consists of the municipal areas of Kathmandu,Patan, Bhaktapur,Kirtipur andMadhyapur Thimi; the remaining area is made up of a number ofmunicipalities andrural municipalities in Lalitpur district. The valley is a cultural and political hub of Nepal. The Kathmandu Valley was accorded the status of aWorld Heritage Site byUNESCO in the year 1979.[22]
This is an incomplete alphabetical list of notable temples and monuments in Kathmandu Valley. Seven of these are designated asUNESCO World Heritage Sites.[2]
This valley hosts a UNESCO World Heritage Site with seven preserved locations: the centers of the three primary cities, Kathmandu Hanuman Dhoka,Patan Durbar Square andBhaktapur Durbar Square, the two most important Buddhist stupas,Swayambhunath andBoudhanath and two famous Hindu shrines,Pashupatinath temple andChangu Narayan.[23] In 2003, UNESCO listed the sites as being "endangered" out of concern for the ongoing loss of authenticity and the outstanding universal value of the cultural property. The endangered status was lifted in 2007.[24]
In the past, Tibetan Buddhist Masters including Marpa, Milarepa, Rwa Lotsava, Ras Chungpa, Dharma Swami, XIII Karmapa, XVI Karmapa and several others visited and travelled in the Kathmandu Valley. However, the largest group of Tibetans came in the 1960s. Many settled around the Swayambhunath and Boudhanath Stupas. Many other famous Lamas known throughout the world have their Buddhist monasteries and centers in the Kathmandu Valley.[25]
The 1500-year history of funerary architecture in the valley provides some of the finest examples of stone architecture found in the subcontinent. Acaitya is placed in almost all courtyards in cities likePatan.[26]Stone inscriptions in the Kathmandu Valley are important sources for the history of Nepal.
Kathmandu Valley has total population of 2,996,341.[27]
Kathmandu (NCT) काठमाण्डौ (राष्ट्रिय राजधानी क्षेत्र) | |
|---|---|
ProposedTerritory | |
 Kathmandu Valley (a separate territory) | |
 Interactive map of Kathmandu (NCT) | |
| Country | Nepal |
| Capital Territory | Kathmandu |
| Area | |
• Total | 902.61 km2 (348.50 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 2,996,341[3] |
In 2015, theGovernment of Nepal proposed to develop Kathmandu valley as a separate national capital territory and not a part ofBagmati Province.[28][29][30]
Kathmandu Valley consists 3 Districts of Bagmati Province whose total population is 2,996,341 and total area is 933.73 km2 (360.52 sq mi)
| District | Area | Population (2021)[3] |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu District | 413.69 km2 (159.73 sq mi) | 2,017,532 |
| Bhaktapur District | 123.12 km2 (47.54 sq mi) | 430,408 |
| Lalitpur District | 396.92 km2 (153.25 sq mi) | 548,401 |
| Kathmandu NCT | 933.73 km2 (360.52 sq mi) | 2,996,341 |
Cities and towns with 75,000+ population of Kathmandu Valley as per2021 Nepal census.[3]
| Name | District | Population (2021) | Area (km2) | Density (/km2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu | Kathmandu District | 845,767 | 49.45[31] | 17,103 |
| Lalitpur | Lalitpur District | 299,843 | 36.12[32] | 8,301 |
| Budhanilkantha | Kathmandu District | 179,688 | 34.8[33] | 5,163 |
| Tarakeshwar | Kathmandu District | 151,508 | 54.95[34] | 2,757 |
| Gokarneshwar | Kathmandu District | 151,200 | 58.5[35] | 2,585 |
| Suryabinayak | Bhaktapur District | 137,971 | 42.45 | 3,250 |
| Chandragiri | Kathmandu District | 136,928 | 43.9 | 3,119 |
| Tokha | Kathmandu District | 135,741 | 17.11 | 7,933 |
| Kageshwari-Manohara | Kathmandu District | 133,327 | 27.38 | 4,870 |
| Madhyapur Thimi | Bhaktapur District | 119,955 | 11.47 | 10,458 |
| Mahalaxmi | Lalitpur District | 118,710 | 26.51 | 4,478 |
| Nagarjun | Kathmandu District | 115,507 | 29.85 | 3,870 |
| Godawari | Lalitpur District | 100,972 | 96.11 | 1,051 |
| Changunarayan | Bhaktapur District | 88,612 | 62.98 | 1,407 |
| Kirtipur | Kathmandu District | 81,782 | 14.76 | 5,541 |
| Bhaktapur | Bhaktapur District | 78,854 | 6.89 | 11,445 |
| Dakshinkali | Kathmandu District | |||
| Shankharapur | Kathmandu District | |||
| Konjyoson Rural Municipality | Lalitpur District | |||
| Bagmati Rural Municipality | Lalitpur District | |||
| Mahankal Rural Municipality | Lalitpur District |
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