Kathmandu

Ye Mahanagar palika

Kantipur

Coordinates: 85°20′N 27°42′E / 85.333, 27.7
Country Nepal
Development Region Central
Zone Bagmati
District Kathmandu
Established 723
Area Total 50.67 km² (19.6 sq mi)
Population (2001)- Total 701,962
Time zone GMT +5:45 (UTC)
Website: http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/

Kathmandu (Nepali: Kathmandu, Nepal Bhasa:ye), or Kathmandu Metropolitan City (Nepal Bhasa:yē mahānagarapālikā, Nepali:kāṭhamāḍauṁ mahānagarapālikā) is the capital and largest urban area of Nepal. It is the only metropolis in Nepal. The metropolis consists of 35 wards. The metropolitan city is located in Kathmandu District of Bagmati zone in Central Development Region of Nepal.

History

The palace in the Kathmandu Durbar Square.

According to Swayambhu Puran, Manjushree established a city called Manjupattan after draining Nagdaha, the lake that was covered Kathmandu valley. The place where he established this city is located in ward 21 of Kathmandu called Majipa. During Kirat and early Lichhavi era, the core city area was inhabited at two separate places called Koligram and Dakkhin Koligram or Yengaal (near Manjupattan), by the sides of river Vishnumati. Licchavi king Gunakamdev created a city center between the two at the banks of river Vishnumati. The city was called Yen. Later during Malla confederacy, the core city served as the capital of the Kantipur Malla kingdom. After the unification of the nation, the city served as the captal of the Nepalese nation.

Bhairava's image in the Durbar Square, Kathmandu

The metropolitan has been divided into 5 sectors by metropolitan authorities as follows

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

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.

Tourism

Kathmandu caters national, regional and international tourists. The tourists mostly visit the religious and historical centers. The largest number of foreign visitors to Kathmandu come from India who visit Pashupatinath and other holy shrines within the city. A large number of Bajrayana Buddhists visit Swayambhunath and Bauddhanath. Western tourists mostly visit Freak Street and Thamel. The Newar culture and architecture of core city attracts a lot of international tourists and non-Nepalese Newars (for rituals).

The most important landmarks of city are

Kathmandu Darbar Square

A view of Kathmandu Durbar Square from 1920. Bhairava in the background.

Same as the picture to the left but from 2007, shot for comparison.

Swayambhunath

Pashupatinath

Kasthamandap

Narayanhiti Palace

Bouddha