Location of Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. It is present in between large hills. This is the largest city in the federal democratic republic of Nepal in terms of population with a population of 2.9 million. It is located in Kathmandu Valley with an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level. So, you can find a lot of different beautiful places at the location of Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is said to be founded in the 2nd century CE. Kathmandu is the center of Nepalese art, culture, history, and economy.

TripAdvisor placed Kathmandu first in Asia and third overall among the top ten future tourism destinations in the globe. It is also famous as the city of 1000 temples. 

Enjoy the following tours in Kathmandu:

• Kathmandu Sunrise Tour
• Kathmandu Cultural Tour

Geography

The area of Kathmandu Valley is 600km² (230 sq miles). The city of Kathmandu, which has a total area of 50.7 km2, is located northwest of the Kathmandu Valley, north of the Bagmati River (19.6 sq mi). The average height above sea level is 1,400 meters (4,600 feet).

Eight rivers, including the Bagmati. It is the major river of the valley, and its tributaries cut through Kathmandu.

Similarly, one of the five vegetation zones designated for Nepal is the Deciduous Monsoon Forest Zone, which surrounds Kathmandu and the adjacent valley at an elevation of 1,200–2,100 meters (3,900–6,900 feet). 

Where is Kathmandu located in Nepal?

Kathmandu is located in the Bagmati province of central Nepal. The valley of Kathmandu resembles a bowl shape. Its lower, central region is 1,425 meters (4,675 feet) above sea level.

The Shivapuri Hills (at an elevation of 2,732 meters or 8,963 feet), Phulchowki (2,695 meters or 8,842 feet), Nagarjun (2,095 meters or 6,873 feet), and Chandragiri mountain ranges encircle the Kathmandu valley (2,551 meters or 8,369 feet). The Bagmati River, a significant river, runs through the Kathmandu Valley. There are three districts in the valley, totaling 220 square miles: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. (570 km2).

History of Kathmandu Valley

According to geological and fossil data, between 2.8 million and 10,000 years ago, a sizable lake covered the Kathmandu Valley. 

Since the earliest items found in the Kathmandu Valley date to a few hundred years before the present, the region may have been inhabited as early as 300 BCE. 185 CE is the date of the first recorded inscription. Over 2,000 years have passed since the earliest construction in the seismically active region was properly dated.

In the year 723, Raja Gunakamadeva established it. Its original name was Manju-Patan. Its new name alludes to a timber temple that was purportedly built in 1596 by Raja Lachmina Singh from the wood of a single tree.  So, you can find a lot of different beautiful places at the location of Kathmandu.

The monarchs of the Malla family, who reigned from the 13th to the 18th century, are credited for establishing Nepal’s unique environment. The Mallas were responsible for the construction of the famous Kathmandu, which was centered around a palace complex with a square crowded with temples right next to it.

And then, King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha later attacked the valley in the middle of the 18th century. The Malla monarchs were dispersed when their attempts to band together to oppose him fell short. After defeating the Mallas, the Shah monarch moved his court from Gorkha to Kathmandu’s Hanuman Dhoka palace. The monarch altered and enhanced Kathmandu’s architectural design and expanded the palace.

Kathmandu weather

At an elevation of 4,297 feet (1,310 meters), the city of Kathmandu enjoys a pleasant, subtropical climate throughout most of the year. The Kathmandu Valley is a warm, temperate region. 

The warmest months in Kathmandu, with maximum temperatures between 27°C and 29°C and minimum temperatures between 15°C and 18°C, are typically between May and August. Lows range from 2°C to 8°C and highs range from 17°C to 23°C during the cooler months. The rainy season typically lasts from June through October.

What is Kathmandu famous for?

For its religious architecture, Kathmandu is particularly well-known. It is also famous as the city of temples. The landscape of the city is full of art and culture with a number of temples, monasteries, and stupas,

especially the Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Temple (monkey temple), and the Changu Narayan, which are famous for their beautiful, complex religious artworks.  So, you can find a lot of different beautiful places at the location of Kathmandu.

Pashupatinath is a temple present in Kathmandu, Nepal. Over 246 hectares of land, comprising 518 temples and monuments, encircle Pashupatinath. With an area of 2,460,000 sq. m, Pashupatinath is the largest Hindu temple in the world. 

Furthermore, the list of things that Kathmandu is famous for are as follows; 

Culture: 

Inscriptions discovered in the valley suggest that the city had a long history that dates back about 2000 years. People living in Kathmandu devote a significant portion of their lives to religious and cultural celebrations.

Food:

The top Kathmandu foods and treats to sample are Dal Bhat, several Momos specialties, Chatamari, Sel roti, Newari food, Aloo chop, Sekuwa, dhido, and many other variations. Never leave out these treats from your meal plan when you visit Kathmandu. Yomari, which are chewy, sweet rice dumplings, are also available. There are Sel-roti doughnuts.

Don’t forget about Pani-puri and Dahi-puri, two types of fried dough balls that are crunchy and hollow inside and filled with sweet water or yogurt.  So, you can find a lot of different beautiful places along with foods at the location of Kathmandu.

History:

 Three durbar squares (Kathmandu durbar square, Bhaktapur durbar square, and Patan durbar square ) are the most famous landmarks inside the Kathmandu Valley.

The city, which dates back to the 2nd century CE, is among the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the entire globe. With a history spanning more than a thousand years, Kathmandu is a historic city.

Its magnificent wood and stone sculptures and architecture have come to represent traditional Nepalese culture. More than 2,700 temples, big and little, may be found around the city. It truly is true that there is a temple every five to ten steps.

It was one of the 18 historic cities in Asia that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization recognized as being under preservation in 1980.

Night Life:

Much of the city’s nightlife is centered in the Thamel district of Kathmandu offering a wide variety of pubs, nightclubs, casinos, and other venues. Having fun at Club Dejavu, LOD, Fahrenheit.

Similarly, visiting a casino, going to a folk music and dance event, or taking a nighttime walk around Thamel Street, where every street is fully lit up is a feast. 

Hill stations:

Lakuri Bhanjyang, Nagarkot, Kakani, Godavari, Shivapuri, Phulchowki, and Chovaar are the nearest hill stations to Kathmandu City. Similarly, it’s an easy escape from bustling city life and relaxing weekend spots.  So, you can find a lot of different beautiful places at the location of Kathmandu.

Lakes and waterfalls:

Famous waterfalls like Jhor, Sundarijal, Tindhara, Mohini Jharna, and Simba Falls are among the few that locals and tourists visit from and around Kathmandu Valley.

Throughout the valley, there are over 100 ponds and historic lakes. Lakes like Taudaha and Indra Sarovar are the nearest lakes around the valley.

Art and Architecture:

Mind-blowing architectures have been common in Kathmandu since a long time back when the world was not even producing Engineers.

Similarly, architectural buildings are so well-built and artistically accurate that their replicas cannot be built even today by modern engineers. 

In Kathmandu, galleries and museums have significant collections of ancient, historical, and aesthetic artifacts, as well as contemporary art. Popular tourist destinations include the artistically, architecturally, and culturally rich Kathmandu Valley.  

Additionally, Kathmandu has yet more to offer. The entrance to Nepali tourism is in Kathmandu. Moreover, it serves as the economic hub of the nation.

It is the urban area in Nepal with the most modern infrastructure.  So, you can find a lot of different beautiful places at the location of Kathmandu.

Similarly, the entrance to Nepali tourism is at Kathmandu. Moreover, it serves as the economic hub of the nation. It is the urban region in Nepal with the most modern infrastructure. 

Why is Kathmandu the capital of Nepal?

Since King Prithvi Narayan Shah subdued the former Kathmandu principality in 1825 B.S., Kathmandu has served as the nation’s capital for Nepal. Due to the abundant soil and other relatively better facilities in Kathmandu, Prithvi Narayan Shah selected it over Gorkha, where he was born. 

Apart from that, Kathmandu Nepal is a modern city with a number of notable and historic palaces. Nepal’s capital city is Kathmandu for a number of reasons. Among them are;

• The largest and oldest Mahanagarpalika in Nepal is in Kathmandu.
• In the Kathmandu Valley, there are several “Education, Health, Energy, and Industry” services, etc.
• There was just one international airport in Nepal. That was Tribhuvan International Airport, and it was present in Kathmandu. Nevertheless, several international airports have since been created.
• In Kathmandu Valley, there are several administrative ministries.
• In comparison to other cities in Nepal, there are more work opportunities here.

 So, you can find a lot of different beautiful places at the location of Kathmandu.

Facts of Kathmandu Valley:

1. Kathmandu is famous as the city of 1000 temples. There are more than 2,700 temples in an area of 49.45km² which means, there is a temple every five to ten steps.
2. The city hosts several festivals and events all year round. More than 50 festivals are celebrated in the city itself. 
3. The total population of Kathmandu is 2,017,532 in 2021. There are 20,288 persons living per square kilometer in the city. 
4. The air quality of Kathmandu is 139 which is critically worse. It is also one of the most polluted cities in the world in terms of air quality. 
5. According to inscriptions discovered there, the Kathmandu Valley has a long history that goes back at least 2000 years. The earliest artifacts discovered in the Kathmandu Valley date to a few hundred years before the present, suggesting that the region may have been inhabited as early as 300 BCE.
6. Kathmandu Valley has seven world heritage sites within its 50 sq. km area. It has the highest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites among global cities within a 15 km radius.
7. The 18th-highest capital in the world is Kathmandu. The elevation of this city from sea level is 1,400 meters (4,593 feet).
8. Between 2.8 million and 10,000 years ago, the Kathmandu Valley was a sizable lake. The lake might be draining in stages as a result of the area’s climate becoming drier. The region’s ongoing mountain building—tectonic uplift and faulting. As a result, forming an integrated drainage system as river channels cut through old rock ridge dams, and the lake’s gradual disappearance.

Similarly, Kathmandu is also home to more than 7 religions of the world. Moreover, there are numerous Hindu temples as well as Buddhist stupas in the same areas in Kathmandu. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. It is present in between large hills. It is the most populous city in Nepal with a population of 2.9 million.

According to geological and fossil data, between 2.8 million and 10,000 years ago, a sizable lake covered the Kathmandu Valley which then dries up to uncover the habitable land underneath.

Similarly, Kathmandu lies at an altitude of 1400m from the sea level. And it is a gateway to tourism in Nepal. Kathmandu has a long history and is rich in art, culture, and architecture of ancient times.

It is famous as a city of 1000 temples, however, it’s just a nickname, there are far more temples in Kathmandu on literally every street. So, you can find a lot of different beautiful places at the location of Kathmandu.

Lastly, the city hosts several festivals and events all year round. Kathmandu itself celebrates more than 50 festivals. And, 7 world heritage sites are in the valley of Kathmandu.