Kathmandu Metropolitan City येँ महानगरपालिका ñē̆ dēy (ञेँ देय्) Kantipur
Kathmandu Metropolitan City
Coordinates: 27°42′N 85°20′E / 27.7, 85.333
Country	Nepal
Development Region	Central
Zone	Bagmati
District	Kathmandu
Kasthamandap
Established	723 [1]
Government
- CEO	Ankur Jung Rana[1]
Area
- Total	50. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 67 km² (19. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 6 sq mi)
Population (2001)
- Total	701,962
Time zone	GMT +5:45 (UTC)
Website: http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/

Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमांडौ, Nepal Bhasa: येँ) is the capital and the largest city of Nepal. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India and Myanmar (Burma Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The city is situated in Kathmandu Valley that also contains two other cities - Patan and Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur (भक्तपुर जिल्ला Bhaktapur Jillā) also Bhadgaon or Khwopa (ख्वप Khvapa) is an ancient Nepali is the lingua franca of the valley and is the most widely spoken language. Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India and Myanmar (Burma A lingua franca (from Italian, literally meaning Frankish language, see etymology under Sabir and Italian below is any Language widely The city stands at an elevation of approximately 4,500 ft (1,400 m) and is inhabited by about 700,000 people. Kathmandu is the most developed city in Nepal.

Contents 1 History 2 Present 3 Geography 4 Administrative divisions 4.1 Central sector 4.2 East sector 4.3 North sector 4.4 City core 4.5 West sector 5 Demographics 6 Government 7 Economy 8 Cultural impact 9 Gallery 10 Kathmandu in Popular Music 11 Sister cities 12 See also 13 Footnotes 14 External links

History

The earliest known inscription in the Kathmandu Valley is dated 185 AD. The Kathmandu Valley (नेपाः स्वनिगः Nepāḥ Svānigaḥ) located in the Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of 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 Charumati, attest to the ancient history present within the valley. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist Patan may refer to places in Afghanistan, India and Nepal: Afghanistan Patan Afghanistan The Kirats are the first documented rulers of Kathmandu Valley, the remains of their palace are in Patan near kendra Hiranyavarna Mahavihara (called "Patukodon"). The Licchavi Dynasty whose earliest inscriptions date back to 464 AD were the next rulers of the valley. Licchavi (also Lichchhavi, Lichavi) was an ancient Republic which existed in what is now Bihar state of India, since the before the The Malla Dynasty consisted of Newar rulers, who ruled Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding area from the 12^th century till the 17^th century when the Shah Dynasty founder Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley as he created present-day Nepal. The Malla Dynasty was a Newari Dynasty that ruled Nepal from the Twelfth century to the Eighteenth century. The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The King of Nepal was traditionally known as the Mahārājdhirāja (श्री 5 महाराजधिराज his queen was known as the Badāmahārānī Prithvi Narayan Shah King of Nepal (1723 - 1775 AD Nepali पृथ्वी नारायण शाह was a Nepali nobleman Most of ancient Nepali architecture present in Nepal today is from the Malla/Newar era. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the

The city of Kathmandu is named after a structure in Durbar Square called Kaasthamandap. Durbar Square is the plaza opposite the old royal palace in the three main cities in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal: Kathmandu, Patan and In Sanskrit, Kaasth (काष्ठ) = "wood" and Mandap (मंडप/मण्डप) = "covered shelter. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical " This unique temple, also known as Maru Sattal, 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. The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the

Present

Kathmandu is home to most of the government offices, embassies, corporate houses, and the palace. Pashupatinath temple (पशुपितनाथ मन्िदर) is a Hindu temple located on the shore of the Bagmati river on the eastern part of Kathmandu The King's Palace stands right next to Thamel - the tourist hub of the country. Thamel is a popular Tourist destination in Kathmandu, Nepal. Thamel has been the centre of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for over two decades Thamel consists of two parallel streets just to the west of the palace. It is home to different hotels, ranging from different stars. The palace is at the head of Durbar Marg, a street lined with various shops. Most of the streets in Kathmandu are named from Nepal Bhasa, owing its origin to the rich Newari Culture and heritage.

The "old" city is noted for its many Buddhist and Hindu temples and palaces, most dating to the 17^th century. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Many of these landmarks have been damaged by earthquakes and pollution. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer This valley hosts an UNESCO World Heritage Sites composed by seven different Monument Zones: The centers of the three primary cities, Kathmandu Hanuman Dhoka, Patan and Bhaktapur, the two most important Buddhist stupas, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath and two famous Hindu shrines, Pashupatinath temple and Changu Narayan. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Swayambhunath ( Devnagari: स्वयम्भूनाथ स्तुप sometimes romanized Swoyambhunath) is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Boudhanath ( Devnagari: बूदनाथ (also called Bouddhanath, Bodhnath or Baudhanath or the Khāsa Caitya) is one of the holiest Pashupatinath temple (पशुपितनाथ मन्िदर) is a Hindu temple located on the shore of the Bagmati river on the eastern part of Kathmandu Changu Narayan is the name of the deity enshrined in the Changu Narayan Temple located near the Changunarayan village in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Since 2003 the site has been inscribed in the World Heritage List as being "in danger" out of concern for the ongoing loss of authenticity and the outstanding universal value of the cultural property. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

Kathmandu has been popular with western tourists since the 1960s when it became a key stop on the hippie trail, when Jho: Chhee (Nepal Bhasa, continuous house)(Freak Street) was the one of the main location. The hippie trail is a term used to describe the journeys taken by Hippies and others in the 1960s and 1970s from Europe, overland to and from eastern Asia It is also the subject of a popular Bob Seger song for the same reason. Robert Clark "Bob" Seger (born May 6, 1945) is an American Rock and roll Singer-songwriter and Musician.

Tribhuvan International Airport is located about 6 km from the city center, offering domestic and international flights. Tribhuvan International Airport is an International airport situated in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Geography

The city is located in the northwestern part of Kathmandu valley. The Kathmandu Valley covers an area of 218 sq. miles. It is situated at 1336 m above the sea level. Bagmati, Bishnumati, Dhobikhola, and Tukucha rivers wind through the city.

Administrative divisions

The metropolitan has been divided into around 5 sectors by metropolitan authorities as follows^[2]

Central sector

The central sector consists of wards 1, 5, 11, 31, 32 and 33.

East sector

The east sector consists of wards 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 34 and 35.

North sector

The north sector consists of wards 2, 3, 4, 16, 29.

City core

The city core consists of wards 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 12, 20, 21, 22 and 23. This is the most densely populated part of the city. This part consists of most of the historical and cultural monuments of the city.

West sector

The west sector consists of wards 13, 14 and 15.

Demographics

According to 2001 census, there are 235,387 households in the metropolitan city^[3]. Kathmandu metropolitan authorities estimate the number of people living in the city to be around 1,081,845 people ^[4] The largest ethnic groups are Newars, Brahmins and Kshetris. The major languages are Nepali and Nepal Bhasa. The major religions are Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices

Government

The city is looked after by Kathmandu metropolitan office located at Bagdarbar. The city hosts Singhadarbar, the government seat of Nepal (with office of Prime Minister, Supreme Court and Senate). Most of the ministries are present in the Singha Darbar premises. The Royal Palace is located in central part of city in ward number 1.

Economy

Kathmandu houses most of the banks, business houses, offices, organizations and share market of Nepal. The busiest economic centers are New Road of Kathmandu, Ason, Putalisadak and Darbar Marg. New Road (नयाँ सडक Nepal Bhasa: न्हु सतक is the financial hub busiest High street of Nepal

Freak Street and Thamel are main tourist areas important for tourism. Thamel is a popular Tourist destination in Kathmandu, Nepal. Thamel has been the centre of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for over two decades

Cultural impact

The city has been referenced in numerous songs, including works by Cat Stevens ("Katmandu", Mona Bone Jakon (1970)), Bob Seger ("Katmandu", Beautiful Loser (1975)), Krematorij ("Kathmandu", Three Springs (2000)), Fito Páez ("Tráfico por Katmandú" -- "Traffic through Kathmandu"); Will Ackerman ("A Happy Home in Kathmandu", The Opening of Doors (1993)); Tantra ("The Hills of Katmandu", early 1980s); and Godiego ("Coming Together in Kathmandu" (1980). Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou on 21 July 1948 best known by his former Stage name Cat Stevens, is a British Musician Mona Bone Jakon is an album by singer/songwriter Cat Stevens. Robert Clark "Bob" Seger (born May 6, 1945) is an American Rock and roll Singer-songwriter and Musician. Beautiful Loser is the eighth Album by American rock Singer/songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1975 (see 1975 Krematorij (Крематорий - "Crematory" is a Russian rock group Rodolfo "Fito" Páez Ávalos (born March 13, 1963 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province) is an Argentine popular William Ackerman is a Grammy winning guitarist and composer of acoustic -based instrumental Music. is a popular group from Japan, consisting of Mickie Yoshino Takami Asano Steve Fox Yukihide Takekawa and Tommy Snyder

Numerous works of literature have been set in Kathmandu, including Kim Stanley Robinson's 1989 work, Escape from Kathmandu. Kim Stanley Robinson (born March 23 1952) is an American Science fiction Writer, probably best known for his award-winning Escape from Kathmandu by Kim Stanley Robinson is a 1989 collection of Novellas about a group of American Expatriates in Nepal

In some travelogues, the Kathmandu valley has been referred to as the "Emerald Valley".

Gallery

The palace in the Kathmandu Durbar Square.	Bhairava sculpture, Durbar Square market place 1972. Bhairava (Sanskrit sa भैरव "Terrible" or "Frightful" sometimes known as Bhairo or Bhairon or Bhairadya, is the fierce manifestation	A view of Kathmandu Durbar Square from 1920. Bhairava in the background. Bhairava (Sanskrit sa भैरव "Terrible" or "Frightful" sometimes known as Bhairo or Bhairon or Bhairadya, is the fierce manifestation	Same as the picture to the left but from 2007, shot for comparison.
Small stupa in Kathmandu	Stone carving in Kathmandu street	View over Kathmandu	A seller warming himself up in Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal (pre-prohibition)
Boudnanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal	Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal	Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal	The temple of Pashupatinath temple|Pashupatinath
Pedicab driver in Kathmandu near Durbar Square

Kathmandu in Popular Music

Kathmandu, mostly due to its popularity among Hippies, has been represented in various albums and songs including:

• Katmandu, a song by Bob Seger. Durbar Square is the plaza opposite the old royal palace in the three main cities in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal: Kathmandu, Patan and Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, also known as Noble Experiment, refers to a Sumptuary law which prohibits Alcohol Boudhanath ( Devnagari: बूदनाथ (also called Bouddhanath, Bodhnath or Baudhanath or the Khāsa Caitya) is one of the holiest Pashupatinath temple (पशुपितनाथ मन्िदर) is a Hindu temple located on the shore of the Bagmati river on the eastern part of Kathmandu The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world Robert Clark "Bob" Seger (born May 6, 1945) is an American Rock and roll Singer-songwriter and Musician.
• "Dum Maro Dum", a song in the movie, Hare Rama Hare Krishna by Asha Bhosle. Dum Maro Dum ( Hindi:दम मारो दम "Take another toke!" is an Indian Hindi song from the 1971 Bollywood movie Hare Asha Bhosle (आशा भोंसले (born September 8, 1933) آشا بھونسلے is an Indian singer
• "Our Shangrila", a song by Mark Knopfler. Mark Knopfler OBE (born August 12 1949 Glasgow, Scotland) is a British Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter,
• "Shangrila", a song by The Kinks. Shangri-La is a fictional place described in the 1933 Novel Lost Horizon by British author James The Kinks were an English pop and rock group formed in 1963 and categorised in the US as a British Invasion band
• Kathmandu, a song by Cat Stevens. Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou on 21 July 1948 best known by his former Stage name Cat Stevens, is a British Musician
• Tráfico por Katmandú by Fito Páez. Rodolfo "Fito" Páez Ávalos (born March 13, 1963 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province) is an Argentine popular
• Katmandu, an American heavy metal band featuring Dave King and Mandy Meyer.
• Nobody Told Me, a 1964 song by John Lennon with the line "There's a little yellow idol to the north of Khatmandu". John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born This is a quotation from the 1911 poem "The Green Eye of the Yellow God" by John Milton Hayes. The Green Eye of the Yellow God is a Poem by J Milton Hayes that is a famous example of the genre of "dramatic Monologue " which was John Milton Hayes (1884 - 1940 better known as J Milton Hayes, was an English actor and Poet, best known for his 1911 dramatic Monologue
• "A Passage to Bangkok", a song by Rush from the album 2112. " A Passage to Bangkok " is the second song on Rush 's album 2112. ". . . Pulling into Katmandu, smoke rings fill the air. Perfumed by a Nepal night, the Express gets you there. . . "
• "Charlie såg djävulen i Katmandu" by Swedish artist Jari Levedahl ( the title translates Charlie saw the devil in Kathmandu)

Sister cities

• Eugene, Oregon, USA
• Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
• Xi'an, People's Republic of China
• Yangon, Myanmar
• Minsk, Belarus
• P'yŏngyang, North Korea

See also

• Tribhuvan International Airport
• Kathmandu Valley

Footnotes

External links

• Kathmandu travel guide from Wikitravel
• Explore and discover Kathmandu on a digital Map
• Flickr.com - Sights & Scenes from Kathmandu

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