The Kathmandu Valley, also called the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley, is a bowl-shaped area in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. It is located where many ancient cultures from the Indian subcontinent and Asia met. The valley has at least 130 important monuments, including places of worship for Hindus and Buddhists. It is home to seven World Heritage Sites.

The Kathmandu Valley is the largest and most developed urban area in Nepal, with a population of about 5 million people. It includes cities such as Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Changunarayan, Budhanilkantha, Tarakeshwar, Gokarneshwar, Suryabinayak, Tokha, Kirtipur, Madhyapur Thimi, and others. Many government offices and businesses are located in the valley, making it the economic center of Nepal. Tourists visit because of its unique buildings and rich culture, which includes the most festivals in Nepal. British historians once called the valley "Nepal Proper." According to the World Bank, the valley was one of the fastest-growing cities in South Asia by 2010, with a population of 2.5 million and a yearly growth rate of 4%.

In 2015, the Kathmandu Valley was damaged by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. The earthquake caused thousands of deaths and destroyed many buildings in towns like Lalitpur, Kirtipur, Madhyapur Thimi, Changunarayan, and Bhaktapur. Kathmandu is also the largest city in the Himalayan hill region.

Etymology

Historically, the valley and nearby areas formed a group known as the Nepal Mandala. Before the 15th century, Bhaktapur was the capital of this region. Later, two other capitals, Kathmandu and Patan, were created. Until the 1960s, the Kathmandu Valley was called the Nepala Valley or Nepa Valley. In 1961, the valley was officially named Kathmandu District, and the name Kathmandu Valley began to be used. Some Newar people and local governments still use the term Nepa Valley, while older people often refer to the valley as Nepal. The term Swaniga (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐳𑑂𑐰𑐣𑐶𑐐𑑅, स्वनिगः) refers to three cities: Yén (Kathmandu), Yala (Lalitpur), and Khwapa (Bhaktapur).

The Pahari name "Kathmandu" comes from a structure in the Durbar Square called Kāsṣtha mandapa in Sanskrit, meaning "Wooden shelter." This special temple, also known as the Maru Sattal, was built in 1596 by King Lakshmi Narasimha Malla. The entire structure was made entirely of wood and did not use any iron nails or supports. According to a story, the wood used for this two-story pagoda came from a single tree.

History

The Kathmandu Valley may have been home to people as early as 300 BCE, as the oldest objects found there date to several hundred years before the common era. The earliest known writing in the valley is from 185 CE. The oldest building confirmed to be over 2,000 years old is located in the valley, which is known for frequent earthquakes. Four stupas near Patan are believed to have been built by Charumati, a woman said to be the daughter of the Maurya emperor Ashoka, during the third century BCE. These structures show the valley's long history, though there is no proof that Ashoka himself visited the area. The Licchavis, who ruled the valley after the 5th century, had strong connections with the Gupta Empire in India. The Mallas controlled the Kathmandu Valley and nearby regions from the 12th to the 18th century, until the Shah dynasty of the Gorkha Kingdom, led by Prithvi Narayan Shah, took control of the valley during the 18th century. His victory in the Battle of Kirtipur marked the start of his campaign to unite the region into modern-day Nepal.

The Newars are the original people of the Kathmandu Valley and the creators of its historic culture. Their language is now called Nepal Bhasa. They are believed to be descendants of many different groups that lived in and ruled the valley over its 2,000-year history. Some scholars describe the Newars as a distinct nation. They developed specialized jobs and a complex city life that was rare in the Himalayan foothills. The Newars are known for their achievements in art, sculpture, architecture, culture, literature, music, industry, trade, farming, and food. Their influence can be seen in the art of Central Asia.

Newa architecture includes styles such as pagoda, stupa, shikhara, and chaitya. The valley is famous for its pagodas with multiple roofs, which may have started in the region and later spread to India, China, Indochina, and Japan. One famous Newar artist, Araniko, traveled to the court of Kublai Khan in the 13th century and helped shape architectural styles in China and Tibet. He is known for creating the white stupa at the Miaoying Temple in Beijing. Today, many people from other parts of Nepal move to the Kathmandu Valley because of its strong cultural and economic growth. Even as the area becomes more modern, the Newars have kept their traditions alive in the valley.

Mythology

According to the Swayambhu Puran, the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake, which scientists call the Paleo Kathmandu Lake. The hill where the Swayambu Stupa is located had lotus plants with blooming flowers. One story explains that the god Manjusri used a sword named Chandrahrasha to cut a gorge in a valley called Kashapaal (later known as Chobhar), allowing the water to drain and creating a place where people could live.

According to Gopal Banshawali, Krishna used his Sudarshana Chakra to cut a gorge, letting the water flow out. Afterward, he gave the drained valley to the Gopal Vansi people, who were nomadic cow herders.

Geography

The Kathmandu Valley has a bowl-like shape. Its lower central part is located at an elevation of 1,425 metres (4,675 feet). Five mountain ranges surround the valley: Shivapuri Hills (elevation 2,732 metres or 8,963 feet), Phulchowki (2,762 metres or 9,062 feet), Nagarjun (2,128 metres or 6,982 feet), Champadevi (2,278 metres or 7,474 feet), and Chandragiri (2,551 metres or 8,369 feet). The Bagmati River is the major river that flows through the Kathmandu Valley. The valley includes three districts: Kathmandu District, Lalitpur District, and Bhaktapur District, covering an area of 220 square miles (570 square kilometres). The valley contains the municipal areas of Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur, and Madhyapur Thimi. The remaining area includes several municipalities and rural municipalities within Lalitpur District. The Kathmandu Valley is an important cultural and political center in Nepal. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Notable areas

This is an incomplete list of important temples and monuments in Kathmandu Valley, organized alphabetically. Seven of these places are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• Bhaktapur District: Balkumari Temple, Bhaktapur Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Changu Narayan Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Doleshwor Mahadeva Temple, Kailashnath Mahadev Statue, Pujarimath Museum, Suryavinayak Temple
• Kathmandu District: Aakash Bhairav Temple, Ashok Binayak Temple, Aditnath Temple, Ajima Temple, Bagh Bhairab Temple, Bajrayogini Temple, Boudhanath Stupa (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Budhanilkantha Temple, Chandra Binayak Temple, Chandragiri Hill, Dakshinkali Temple, Dharahara, Garden of Dreams, Ghanta Ghar, Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple, Guhyeshwari Temple, Jal Binayak Temple, Kasthamandap, Kathmandu Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Kopan Monastery, Narayanhiti Palace, Pashupatinath Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Ranipokhari Pond, Ratna Park, Seto Machhendranath Temple, Shiva Parvati Temple, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Swayambhunath Stupa Complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Taleju Temple, Taragaon Museum, Taudaha Lake, Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery
• Lalitpur District: Balkumari Temple, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar Temple, Kumbheshwar Temple Complex, Mahabouddha Temple, Nagdaha Lake, Patan Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Rato Macchindranath Temple, Bungmati

Present

This valley contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site with seven protected places: the centers of three main cities, Kathmandu Hanuman Dhoka, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square; two important Buddhist stupas, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath; and two well-known Hindu shrines, Pashupatinath Temple and Changu Narayan. In 2003, UNESCO listed the sites as "endangered" because of concerns about the loss of their original features and their special cultural value. The endangered status was removed in 2007.

In the past, Tibetan Buddhist teachers, including Marpa, Milarepa, Rwa Lotsava, Ras Chungpa, Dharmasvamin, XIII Karmapa, 16th Karmapa, XVI Karmapa, and others, visited and traveled in the Kathmandu Valley. However, the largest group of Tibetans arrived in the 1960s. Many of them settled near the Swayambhunath and Boudhanath Stupas. Many famous Lamas from around the world also have Buddhist monasteries and centers in the Kathmandu Valley.

The 1,500-year history of funerary architecture in the valley includes some of the best examples of stone buildings found in the region. A caitya is often placed in courtyards in cities like Patan. Stone inscriptions in the Kathmandu Valley are important sources for understanding the history of Nepal.

Kathmandu (National Capital Area)

In 2015, the Government of Nepal suggested creating Kathmandu Valley as a separate national capital area, independent of Bagmati Province.

Kathmandu Valley includes three districts from Bagmati Province. These districts have a total population of 2,996,341 people and cover an area of 933.73 square kilometers (360.52 square miles).

City population data for Kathmandu Valley is based on the 2021 Nepal census.

Although Konjyoson Rural Municipality, Bagmati Rural Municipality, and Mahankal Rural Municipality are located in Lalitpur, they are not considered part of the main Kathmandu Valley area.