| Page Views: 5,546 Last Visit to Kathmandu: September, 2007 | Kathmandu The Ancient City - Dream Destination. by goutammitra - last update: Sep 19, 2007 |
Have you seen Better Eyes than these- Buddha's Eye | The Famous Eyes of Buddha Overlooking Kathmandu! |
We visited Kathmandu & Nepal from 8th September to 16th September07. It was one of our most memorable trip. I had been to Kathmandu about 50times from 1974 to 1990 for work and tourism as I was educated and posted in Patna. But this visit is really memorable as I went with my family. We also had the opportunity to meet out VT friend Urvashi and her husband Mr.Divya Rana, who incidentally also a decendant of Nepal's famous Rana family, who once ruled Nepal.( More on Urvashi & Divya in next chapter).
The Kathmandu Valley may have been inhabited as early as 100 BC, but the oldest known objects in the valley date to a few hundred years BC. The earliest known inscription is dated 185 AD. The oldest firmly dated building in the earthquake-prone valley is almost 1,992 years old. It is said that the Buddha and his disciples spent some time in the area of present-day butan in the 6th century BC, although there is no evidence for this. Four stupas around the city of Patan said to have been erected by Charumati, daughter of Ashoka the Great, a Mauryan king, in the 3rd century BC attest to the ancient history present within the valley. As with the tales of the Buddha's visit, there is no evidence supporting Ashoka's visit, but the stupas probably do date to that century. The Kirats are the first documented rulers of the Kathmandu Valley, the remains of their palace are said to be in Patan near Hiranyavarna Mahavihara (called "Patukodon"). The Licchavi Dynasty whose earliest inscriptions date back to 464 AD were the next rulers of the valley and had close ties with the Gupta Dynasty of India. 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 under Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley as he created present-day Nepal. Most of ancient Nepalese 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 (काष्ठ) = "wood" and Mandap (मंडप/मण्डप) = "covered shelter." This unique temple, also known as Maru Satal, was built in 1596 A.D. 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.
Kathmandu is also sometimes called "Kantipur". Newars, the native people of the Kathmandu valley use the original term from Nepal Bhasa, Yne. |
| Urvashi & Divya Rana with us. |
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| | | Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu. |
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goutammitra's Kathmandu Travel Tips
 Comments for goutammitra about Kathmandu | | | | |
icunme Thu Nov 5, 2009 15:23 UTC
Just fascinating! I don't know which temple was more beautiful. Grazie for lovely photos & detal. Ciao, Carol | lynnehamman Thu Oct 15, 2009 13:06 UTC
Continuing my tour of Kathmandu- Love the tip about the Teej festival. Munu looks so cute doing puja. Interesting about the crematoriums-wonder if they will become more popular than traditional cremations. | Florida999 Tue Sep 22, 2009 17:46 UTC
Nice page on Kathmandu, another place I have always wanted to go. And thanks for the food tips! Now I am hungry again and I already ate lunch:) Living Goddess, that's very interesting. | jethanand Tue Jun 16, 2009 20:51 UTC
Gautam, namshkar and thank you for your page on Kathmandu - highly appreciated |
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