The Kathmandu Valley
: काठमाडौँ उपत्यका), located in Nepal
, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia
, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus
and the Buddhists
. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within this valley.
The city of Kathmandu is named after a structure in Durbar Square
called Kaasthamandap. In Sanskrit
() = "wood" and maṇḍap
() = "covered shelter." This unique temple, also known as Maru Satal, was built in 1596 CE 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. As the city has many temples, it is also known as the City of Temples.
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 almost 1,992 years old. Four stupas
around the city of Patan, said to have been erected by a certain Charumati, a purported daughter of Ashoka the Great
, a Mauryan
king, in the 3rd 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... Read More