Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city of Nepal. It is situated in a valley in the heart of Nepal. The entire terrain of Kathmandu is like a steep incline, descending from the Himalayan heights to the Terai flatland within a short distance.

It is said that Kathmandu has been found by King Gun Kamdev in AD 723. According to the legend, the area was a lake in the past, but Manjushri, a disciple of the Shakyamuni Buddha, cut open a hill to the south and allowed the water to flow out, making the region habitable. The origin of the present name is unclear, but one of the more likely theories is that it was named after Kastha-Mandap ("temple of wood" in Sanskrit), after a pagoda carved from the single tree on the order of King Lakshmi Narasingha Malla in 1596

The old city is noted for its many Buddhist and Hindu temples and palaces.One good example is the Kathmandu Durbar Square. It contains a marvelous royal palace and many temples built in the traditional Newar, Pagoda style. It is also known for other temples like Pashupatinath, Swayambhonath, Baudhanath etc.