Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
King Janak. Similarly, Biratnagar is thought to have been the
capital of the Birat Kingdom ruled by King Birat. Kathmandu
is said to have come into existence when Manjushree visited
the Kathmandu Valley and drained the water out of the then-
existing lake. He established a city called Manjupattan and
settled Buddhist disciples in the valley. The Kirat Dynasty
started its regime in the Kathmandu Valley in about 800 B.C.
The Shakya Dynasty (ruled by King Shuddhodhan, the father
of Gautama Buddha) had its heyday in and around Lumbini
(the birthplace of Buddha) in approximately 600 B.C. Thus, the
development of cities and the civilizations that grew around
them took place gradually. Eventually, some emerged as major
population, economic, and administrative centers.
Today, there are a number of cities scattered throughout
much of the country. Each of them has achieved its own unique
historical and geographical importance, including its social,
religious, and economic role. Among the cities, Kathmandu is
Nepal's capital and largest urban center. It is one of five major
cities located within the Kathmandu Valley. There are a total of
58 municipalities in Nepal. This designation, as well as others
that classify communities, is based on population and other
factors such as culture and economy. The heart of the country
is the Kathmandu Valley, so we will begin our tour of Nepal's
cities and regions there.
CITIES OF THE KATHMANDU VALLEY
The Kathmandu Valley is the heart and soul of Nepal. Physi-
cally, it is a bowl-shaped feature located at an elevation of
about 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) in central Nepal's hill district.
When flying, it gives one a strange feeling to be airborne
above the valley floor, but surrounded by higher hilltops and
mountain peaks. The documented history of the Kathmandu
Valley goes back to ancient times. According to legend a Bud-
dhist saint, Manjushree, drained the huge lake occupying the
valley, thereby making the valley floor habitable. Followers of
