essay on kathmandu in nepali language

Writing journeys

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Excellent essays and outstanding op-eds

Tom Robertson, September 29, 2021, Kathmandu

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Writing Journeys series editor Tom Robertson provides a list of easy tips on how to write better argumentative essays and opinion pieces for newspapers.

At first, I was surprised that, of the many Nepali-language Youtube videos that I’ve made about writing, the most popular was also the longest — a video called Easy Excellent Essays . Once I thought more, though, it became less surprising; writing essays is important and hard. And in schools, most Nepalis don’t get much hands-on essay writing practice. Fortunately, there are several easy-to-learn principles that make writing excellent essays much easier. 

Here are some common questions that people ask me about essays.

How did you learn to write argument essays?

I got a lot of practice in my 11th-grade social studies class. All year, we never faced regular tests, only essay exams. I probably wrote 8 or 10 essays that year and prepared to write three times as many. That gave me a lot of practice with the concise five-paragraph essay: introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

That model works well with short articles. But I’ve found that the same writing concepts help with longer articles, journal articles, and even whole books (and also with presentations .) My PhD dissertation, which eventually became a published book, is nothing more than a whole lot of five- , six- , and seven-paragraph essays woven together into nine chapters. 

What is the best way to start an opinion essay?

The first one or two paragraphs are crucial. With short articles, such as an opinion article for the newspaper, I often read just one or two paragraphs and then ask myself, “Is it worth reading this article?” I’m busy and picky. If I can’t tell what the essay is about, or if I think it’s saying something obvious or not new, or if I think the author is not careful with words, I give up partway and move to another article.

Do you start with your main point right away?

That is one effective approach, either right away or at the end of a paragraph that introduces the main topic. In fact, that’s the classic way to start a short argumentative essay such as an op-ed article — with an intro paragraph highlighting the main argument. 

The US military has a term for this: BLUF, or Bottom Line Up Front. Putting the main argument — what you are trying to prove — early makes it much easier for readers. One of the most common mistakes in newspaper op-ed articles is to not make the argument clear early on. Similarly, in an academic article, a big blunder is to jump to the evidence without setting up the question and clarifying the overall argument in an introductory paragraph. For both, I recommend summarizing the main point in a single crystal-clear sentence such as “While X and Y have argued Z, I will argue A and B.”

What about a hook?

I also often start an essay with a ‘hook’ — something to pull in readers — usually an interesting story or a startling statistic or really engaging quotation. But if I do, I’m careful to be concise. Tell your story quickly and clearly, then give the essay’s main topic and your main argument. There’s nothing worse than a long-winded opening to an essay that attempts to be interesting but fails because it doesn’t get to the topic or main argument quickly enough. Unless you are an exceptionally skilled storyteller, hooks must be very clear and very quick. Readers want to know where they are going.

Some people suggest ending the essay similarly to the way you start. What do you think?

That’s effective and easy to do. You can start a personal essay for a college or graduate essay about some life-altering, near-fatal experience you had, move on to other topics in the middle of the essay, and then in the essay’s last sentences, quickly remind readers of the life-altering, near-fatal story again. Doing this can be very powerful. It brings things full circle. It shows how far we’ve come in the essay. It feels elegant. That’s why you see the method often. It works well in op-eds too. 

This long-form opinion piece by Sarita Pariyar uses this technique very well: ‘ The old weight of caste ’. 

For another example in a long essay, see how I start and end my 5,000-word essay in Nepali Times , ‘ The monsoon, and nature’s arithmetic ’.

This easy and effective writing technique shows a defining feature of essays — that the material in them “holds together.” Everything — the beginning, middle, and end — is somehow connected to a single question or theme. The fancy name for this is ‘coherence’. An essay is not a list — a loosely connected collection of info — but a more focused set of interlinked facts, info, and opinion. The key concept is interconnection. Starting and ending with the same story or theme shows this concept well. 

Ok, you’ve got us through the introduction. What then?

Next come body paragraphs or body sections. Generally two-to-four of each but sometimes more. Here, my advice is short paragraphs with the main point at the beginning. A new paragraph signals to readers that a new idea is coming. Don’t keep them guessing what it is. Bottom Line Up Front. BLUF.

When you say short, how short do you mean?  

One-to-four sentences for newspaper articles. A little longer for academic writing. Most academic articles have paragraphs that are way too long. Most readers get lost or bored or both. Nothing helped my writing more than learning to write focused paragraphs. One paragraph equals one idea.

How do you order the body paragraphs?

Generally, either thematically or chronologically. Follow the same order as in the introduction — or fix the introduction so it mimics the order of paragraphs. That makes it much easier for readers. Otherwise, it’s like light switches that don’t align with the lights they turn on — it’s counterintuitive and confusing. 

The key thing is that there needs to be a logical order and you need to show it to the readers. If your structure is logical but the readers can’t actually see the logic, that’s not very helpful. You want to build your argument, step by step. It’s often effective to use numbers to organize your paragraphs. 

I hear you have a good metaphor for thinking about the essay writer’s role. 

I find it helpful to think about an essay as a journey or trip for the readers. Readers start in one location and move to three or four other places. Then they arrive at a final location. 

Your job, as author, is to be the tour guide. At the beginning, explain where you are going and why. That’s the essay’s introduction. Why should readers care? Then actually take them to several locations and explain what they should be looking at and why. Each stopping point is a body paragraph. Make sure readers don’t get lost. Make sure they know what they are looking at. 

The best tour guides know where readers might get confused and so they make the right path very clear. But once readers know where they are, the best tour guides get out of the way, so as not to distract from or block what’s important. 

At the end of the trip, the tour guide helps readers make sense of the trip, to find meaning in what they saw. That’s the essay’s conclusion. After a journey, it is often useful to look back to where you started and remind readers of what you talked about at the beginning of the journey, and each step of the way. 

What is your approach to transitions?

The most effective transitions involve no special transition words. Instead, they rely upon logic that is so clear that even without help readers can easily see the necessary jumps from topic to topic. Sometimes all they need is the paragraph break that says ‘Hey reader, here comes a new idea’.

But, and this is crucial, especially when there’s a change in time or place or argument, readers need more help. The best transitions provide clarity about the new context and do so quickly: “In nineteenth century France, …” Or, “In India in the 1970s,…” What a great transition! Clear and quick, right at the beginning. Along these lines, I love using the word “but” or “yet” at a paragraph’s beginning as a signpost. One short word says so much.

How do you make an essay interesting? How do you keep readers wanting to read on?

In each and every paragraph I ask myself this question. I’m always thinking about the reader and how to keep him or her interested. 

One thing that helps far more than you might realize is keeping things concise. Keep paragraphs short and focused. Cut the unnecessary words. Most first and second drafts are way too loooooong. [See my tips on writing concisely ‘ Less is more ’.] 

For content: Don’t state the obvious. Pay attention to what surprises you. If you find it surprising, your readers probably will too. Ask a probing question. Create a mystery or puzzle to solve. Collect startling statistics and powerful quotations. Build paragraphs around them. I often think of my essays as a trip from one juicy quotation to another, from one interesting person’s views to another. My essay is really not much more than several great quotes strung together.

One final note: It’s helpful to pay attention to what makes engaging writing engaging. I love Roy Peter Clark’s advice on this: Whenever you can’t put a book down, put it down and analyze what makes it so interesting. 

Is it ok to repeat things?

Except in one situation, repetition is boring, and deadening. Weed it out of every sentence. Adding words that don’t add much — what is called ‘wordiness’ — makes reading your sentences a chore. Inexperienced writers sometimes use two words when one is actually more powerful. Same for sentences. In some drafts, I cut every other sentence because all they do is repeat the previous sentences.

The exception is when you’ve gone on for a while and readers might get confused by all the details and lose track of the larger argument. In those moments, a little repetition from the author — Hey forgetful reader, again, here’s why this long story is so important — can be a lifesaver. I think of this as ‘strategic repetition’. The best writers can do this orienting, reminding work with just a word or two or quick list. 

When you sit down to write, do you actually write the way you describe here? Do you really write that way?  

No, not at all. What I describe here is how I re-write and re-re-write. When I write, I often have a rough outline, a narrative arc, and several juicy quotes and startling statistics in mind. I turn each quotation or two into a paragraph, then decide the most logical order. Often, it’s not until the end that I realize my overall argument — often, it comes out most clearly in the last few paragraphs. And only then do I go back and write my introduction, making sure my topic and my main argument is clear from the beginning. I usually can’t write that introduction until I’ve done at least a first draft.

After a draft is complete I look at everything I’ve got again and again from the perspective of the imagined reader to see if it’s clear. I value clarity above all else. I make a new outline (a ‘reverse’ outline) to make sure that what I’m trying to say is clear and where I want it. I always do several drafts and, if it’s important, I always show it to someone else for feedback. 

What is your favorite tip for essays? 

I think I’ve given most of them: hook, BLUF, short paragraphs, great quotes, remember the reader, cut, cut, cut, and, of course, strategic repetition. 

How should you conclude an argument essay? 

Because newspaper articles often follow different rules than essays, they often end with a reminder or gesture toward the article’s main point but try to end with a bang — what they call a ‘kicker’ — a powerful quotation or witty line. 

But classic essays, op-ed articles, and academic articles need to spotlight the argument. In the conclusion, the main goal is to clearly re-iterate the main argument and show how things fit together. You don’t want readers to leave the article with some confusion about exactly what your main point is. That is the biggest possible blunder.

In my view, with the conclusion, it’s much better to be clear even if a little repetitive. That’s much better than being elegant but confusing. That said, there are ways to remind of your main argument and its importance in artful, elegant, memorable ways.

I recommend studying how authors end their articles and essays in different contexts. Collect and study the best strategies for ending effectively. 

Resources and links

• See Mitho Lekhai Youtube video: Easy Excellent Essays ( Full and Short versions)
• See Mitho Lekhai Youtube video: Juicy Wild Dogs (Analysis of an excellent article)
• ‘ Man’s Best Friend ’ (Sample 5-paragraph essay)
• Macalester College one-minute videos on writing

Recommended Essays

• Sarita Pariyar, ‘ The media’s portrayal of Dalits is incomplete ’, The Kathmandu Post , 2020. 
• Sujeev Shakya, ‘ Change begins at home: The way the government functions is a reflection on Nepali society ’, The Kathmandu Post , 2020. 
• Kunti Adhikary, ‘ Multiple realities ’, The Kathmandu Post , 2018.
• Shradha Ghale, ‘ Men in green ’, The Kathmandu Post , 2018. 
• Prashanta Khanal, ‘ Rethinking Kathmandu ’, The Record , 2020.
• Deepak Thapa, ‘ The eternal dream of self-government ’, The Kathmandu Post, 2020.

Footnote. This article was first published as part of a book.

Tom Robertson  Tom Robertson, PhD, is an environmental historian who writes about Kathmandu and Nepali history. His Nepali-language video series on writing, 'Mitho Lekhai', is available on Youtube. His most recent article, 'No smoke without fire in Kathmandu’, appeared on March 5 in Nepali Times.

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Everything That You Need To About about Kathmandu The History, Culture, and Tourism

Learn about the fascinating city of kathmandu, nestled in the heart of the himalayas. explore its rich history, vibrant culture, and top tourist attractions in this comprehensive guide..

Introduction:

Nestled in the embrace of the Kathmandu Valley, Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, unfolds as a captivating destination enriched with a tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty. As we embark on this journey to learn more "About Kathmandu", we will delve into its geography, climate, rich history, cultural gems, and renowned places that make it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a truly immersive experience. From its ancient roots to the vibrant pulse of its present-day, Kathmandu beckons with a charm that resonates through its landscapes, landmarks, and the warmth of its people. Let's unravel the essence of this enchanting city and discover what sets it apart as a unique and compelling destination.

Geography and Climate:

Nestled in the embrace of the Kathmandu Valley, the geographical wonders of Kathmandu create an enchanting backdrop, inviting travelers to a city where nature and culture intertwine seamlessly.

Picture-perfect hills like Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri cradle Kathmandu, providing not only breathtaking views but also shaping the city's cultural and spiritual identity. These hills, more than just scenic delights, play a role akin to guardians, influencing the city's weather and creating unique pockets of climate diversity.

Adding to the allure is the sacred Bagmati River, flowing through the heart of the city. Beyond being a mere geographical feature, this river is a lifeline of spirituality, woven into the cultural fabric of Kathmandu. Its holy waters and the rituals along its banks offer a captivating glimpse into the spiritual heartbeat of the city.

As the seasons change, so does the city's character. Kathmandu experiences a warm subtropical climate, where summers bring a touch of warmth and winters introduce a refreshing coolness. The magic happens between September and November when the weather is at its finest - dry, crisp, and inviting, creating the perfect canvas for exploration.

The hills surrounding Kathmandu not only frame the city but also serve as natural viewpoints. Imagine standing atop these vantage points, soaking in panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley and the majestic Himalayan range – a visual treat that adds an extra layer of awe to the city's natural beauty.

In essence, Kathmandu's geography and climate are not just facets of the city; they are characters in a captivating story. The hills, the river, the changing seasons – each element engages visitors in a narrative that unfolds with every step, making Kathmandu not just a destination but an immersive experience waiting to be discovered.

Kathmandu, with a history spanning over 2,000 years, stands as the vibrant capital of Nepal. From its foundation by King Gunakama Dev in the 3rd century BC to its role as a cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, the city's history is a captivating tale of resilience and cultural fusion.

Dynastic Evolution:

Silk road nexus:, shah dynasty unification:, resilience through challenges:, living museum: durbar square:.

In essence, Kathmandu's history is a captivating narrative of resilience, cultural fusion, and the enduring spirit of a city that has stood the test of time, becoming a living chronicle of Nepal's rich heritage.

Kathmandu, with its rich cultural tapestry, stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of Hinduism and Buddhism, creating an atmosphere where ancient traditions seamlessly blend with contemporary life.

Swayambhunath Stupa: The Monkey Temple:

Pashupatinath temple:, boudhanath stupa:, durbar square:, living culture:.

In essence, Kathmandu's culture is a dynamic fusion of ancient rituals, spiritual practices, and the vivacity of daily life, making it a captivating destination for those seeking a profound cultural experience.

Famous Places:

Swayambhunath stupa (monkey temple):.

These famous places collectively narrate the tale of Kathmandu's rich heritage, providing visitors with a profound cultural and spiritual experience against the backdrop of breathtaking architecture and historical significance.

Kathmandu's culinary scene is a tantalizing journey through a fusion of Indian and Tibetan flavors, creating a unique gastronomic experience. The city's diverse and aromatic cuisine reflects not only its geographical location but also its cultural amalgamation. Here are some delightful aspects of Kathmandu's food culture:

Newari Cuisine:

Street food delights:, tea culture:, market exploration:, influence of himalayan ingredients:.

In essence, Kathmandu's food culture is a flavorful tapestry, weaving together tradition, innovation, and a vibrant street food scene. Exploring the diverse array of tastes and aromas becomes an integral part of the city's immersive experience, offering a culinary journey that mirrors the rich cultural heritage of Nepal's capital.

Kathmandu stands as a magnetic draw for tourists worldwide, enticing them with a plethora of historical, cultural, and natural wonders.

Swayambhunath Stupa:

Adventure tourism:, local markets:.

Kathmandu's tourism landscape is a vibrant tapestry woven with historical, spiritual, and adventurous threads. Whether one seeks cultural enrichment, spiritual exploration, or adrenaline-pumping adventures, Kathmandu unfolds as a multifaceted destination that leaves an indelible mark on every traveler's heart.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Kathmandu stands as a captivating city where history, culture, and natural wonders converge, inviting travelers on a journey of discovery and enlightenment in the heart of Nepal. Whether you are drawn to ancient temples, vibrant markets, or breathtaking landscapes, Kathmandu promises an unforgettable adventure that unveils the soul of this enchanting city.

• capital city
• monasteries
• Swayambhunath
• Pashupatinath
• Durbar Square
• spirituality

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Nepal , country of Asia , lying along the southern slopes of the Himalayan mountain ranges . It is a landlocked country located between India to the east, south, and west and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north. Its territory extends roughly 500 miles (800 kilometres) from east to west and 90 to 150 miles from north to south. The capital is Kathmandu .

Nepal, long under the rule of hereditary prime ministers favouring a policy of isolation, remained closed to the outside world until a palace revolt in 1950 restored the crown’s authority in 1951; the country gained admission to the United Nations in 1955. In 1991 the kingdom established a multiparty parliamentary system . In 2008, however, after a decadelong period of violence and turbulent negotiation with a strong Maoist insurgency, the monarchy was dissolved, and Nepal was declared a democratic republic .

Wedged between two giants, India and China , Nepal seeks to keep a balance between the two countries in its foreign policy—and thus to remain independent. A factor that contributes immensely to the geopolitical importance of the country is the fact that a strong Nepal can deny China access to the rich Gangetic Plain; Nepal thus marks the southern boundary of the Chinese sphere north of the Himalayas in Asia.

As a result of its years of geographic and self-imposed isolation, Nepal is one of the least developed nations of the world. In recent years many countries, including India, China, the United States , the United Kingdom, Japan , Denmark, Germany , Canada , and Switzerland, have provided economic assistance to Nepal. The extent of foreign aid to Nepal has been influenced to a considerable degree by the strategic position of the country between India and China.

Nepal contains some of the most rugged and difficult mountain terrain in the world. Roughly 75 percent of the country is covered by mountains. From the south to the north, Nepal can be divided into four main physical belts, each of which extends east to west across the country. These are, first, the Tarai , a low, flat, fertile land adjacent to the border of India; second, the forested Churia foothills and the Inner Tarai zone, rising from the Tarai plain to the rugged Mahābhārat Range; third, the mid-mountain region between the Mahābhārat Range and the Great Himalayas; and, fourth, the Great Himalaya Range, rising to more than 29,000 feet (some 8,850 metres).

The Tarai forms the northern extension of the Gangetic Plain and varies in width from less than 16 to more than 20 miles, narrowing considerably in several places. A 10-mile-wide belt of rich agricultural land stretches along the southern part of the Tarai; the northern section, adjoining the foothills, is a marshy region in which wild animals abound and malaria is endemic .

The Churia Range , which is sparsely populated, rises in almost perpendicular escarpments to an altitude of more than 4,000 feet. Between the Churia Range to the south and the Mahābhārat Range to the north, there are broad basins from 2,000 to 3,000 feet high, about 10 miles wide, and 20 to 40 miles long; these basins are often referred to as the Inner Tarai. In many places they have been cleared of the forests and savanna grass to provide timber and areas for cultivation.

A complex system of mountain ranges, some 50 miles in width and varying in elevation from 8,000 to 14,000 feet, lie between the Mahābhārat Range and the Great Himalayas . The ridges of the Mahābhārat Range present a steep escarpment toward the south and a relatively gentle slope toward the north. To the north of the Mahābhārat Range, which encloses the valley of Kathmandu, are the more lofty ranges of the Inner Himalaya ( Lesser Himalaya ), rising to perpetually snow-covered peaks. The Kathmandu and the Pokharā valleys lying within this mid-mountain region are flat basins, formerly covered with lakes, that were formed by the deposition of fluvial and fluvioglacial material brought down by rivers and glaciers from the enclosing ranges during the four glacial and intervening warm phases of the Pleistocene Epoch (from about 2,600,000 to 11,700 years ago).

The Great Himalaya Range, ranging in elevation from 14,000 to more than 29,000 feet, contains many of the world’s highest peaks—Everest, Kānchenjunga I , Lhotse I , Makālu I, Cho Oyu , Dhaulāgiri I, Manāslu I , and Annapūrna I—all of them above 26,400 feet. Except for scattered settlements in high mountain valleys, this entire area is uninhabited.

The Kathmandu Valley, the political and cultural hub of the nation, is drained by the Bāghmati River , flowing southward, which washes the steps of the sacred temple of Paśupatinātha (Pashupatinath) and rushes out of the valley through the deeply cut Chhobar gorge . Some sandy layers of the lacustrine beds act as aquifers (water-bearing strata of permeable rock, sand, or gravel), and springs occur in the Kathmandu Valley where the sands outcrop. The springwater often gushes out of dragon-shaped mouths of stone made by the Nepalese; it is then collected in tanks for drinking and washing and also for raising paddy nurseries in May, before the monsoon . Drained by the Seti River, the Pokharā Valley , 96 miles west of Kathmandu, is also a flat lacustrine basin. There are a few remnant lakes in the Pokharā basin, the largest being Phewa Lake, which is about two miles long and nearly a mile wide. North of the basin lies the Annapūrna massif of the Great Himalaya Range.

The major rivers of Nepal—the Kosi , Nārāyani ( Gandak ), and Karnāli , running southward across the strike of the Himalayan ranges—form transverse valleys with deep gorges, which are generally several thousand feet in depth from the crest of the bordering ranges. The watershed of these rivers lies not along the line of highest peaks in the Himalayas but to the north of it, usually in Tibet.

The rivers have considerable potential for development of hydroelectric power . Two irrigation-hydroelectric projects have been undertaken jointly with India on the Kosi and Nārāyani rivers. Discussions have been held to develop the enormous potential of the Karnāli River. A 60,000-kilowatt hydroelectric project at Kulekhani, funded by the World Bank , Kuwait , and Japan, began operation in 1982.

In the upper courses of all Nepalese rivers, which run through mountain regions, there are little or no flood problems. In low-lying areas of the Tarai plain, however, serious floods occur.

The rivers and small streams of the Tarai, especially those in which the dry season discharge is small, are polluted by large quantities of domestic waste thrown into them. Towns and villages have expanded without proper provision for sewage disposal facilities, and more industries have been established at selected centres in the Tarai. The polluted surface water in the Kathmandu and Pokharā valleys, as well as in the Tarai, are unacceptable for drinking.

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• Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Valley: A Timeless Cultural Gem

Nestled in the heart of Nepal, Kathmandu Valley is a captivating destination that enchants visitors with its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning architectural wonders. Comprising three ancient cities – Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur – the valley is a treasure trove of heritage sites, spiritual landmarks, and artistic marvels. Let’s embark on a journey to explore the allure of Kathmandu Valley and discover its remarkable attractions.

Rich Historical Significance: Kathmandu Valley boasts a storied past that dates back centuries. The valley was once ruled by the Malla kings from the 12th to the 18th centuries, with each city serving as an independent state. This period witnessed a flourishing of art, architecture, and trade, leaving behind a legacy that still resonates today. The valley was a center of power and culture, attracting artists, scholars, and artisans from far and wide.

Architectural Marvels: One of the highlights of Kathmandu Valley is its exceptional architectural heritage. The valley is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage shrines, including Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Swayambhunath Stupa. These sacred sites are not only important religious landmarks but also showcase the exquisite craftsmanship and intricate details of Nepalese art and architecture. The ancient palaces, pagodas, and temples dotted across the valley are a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of the Newar people, the original inhabitants of the region.

Cultural Diversity: Kathmandu Valley is a melting pot of diverse cultures and traditions. The Newar community, with its distinct language, rituals, and festivals, has played a significant role in shaping the valley’s cultural fabric. Visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant festivities, explore traditional markets, and witness age-old rituals that have been passed down through generations. The valley’s cultural heritage is alive and thriving, providing a unique and authentic experience for travelers.

Artistic Delights: Art enthusiasts will be delighted by the abundance of artistic treasures in Kathmandu Valley. From intricately carved wooden windows and doors to delicate metalwork and stone sculptures, the valley showcases the artistic prowess of its skilled craftsmen. The traditional art forms, such as Thanka painting and pottery, continue to thrive, and visitors can witness the artists at work in their workshops and studios. Exploring the valley’s art scene is like stepping into a living museum of creativity and craftsmanship.

Natural Beauty: While Kathmandu Valley is renowned for its cultural and historical significance, it also offers glimpses of natural beauty. Surrounded by lush hills and majestic mountains, the valley presents picturesque landscapes and panoramic views. Several viewpoints, such as Nagarkot and Chandragiri, offer breathtaking vistas of the Himalayan range. Exploring the valley’s serene parks and gardens provides a peaceful escape from the bustling city and a chance to connect with nature.

Gastronomic Delights: No visit to Kathmandu Valley is complete without savoring its culinary delights. The valley is a haven for food lovers, offering a wide array of traditional Nepali cuisine as well as international flavors. From savory momos and Newari delicacies to aromatic spices and refreshing teas, the valley’s culinary scene is a journey of flavors and aromas that will tantalize your taste buds.

Kathmandu Valley stands as a timeless cultural gem, inviting travelers to immerse themselves in its rich heritage and captivating beauty. With its ancient cities, awe-inspiring temples, and vibrant traditions, the valley offers a unique and authentic experience that leaves a lasting impression.

The historical significance of the valley, with its Malla dynasty and flourishing trade, is evident in the remarkable architectural marvels that adorn its landscape. The UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa, not only showcase exceptional craftsmanship but also serve as important spiritual landmarks. Exploring the valley’s palaces, pagodas, and temples is like stepping into a bygone era, where art and architecture flourished.

Beyond its historical allure, Kathmandu Valley is a melting pot of diverse cultures and traditions. The Newar community, with its distinct language and vibrant festivals, contributes to the valley’s cultural fabric. Visitors can witness traditional rituals, visit bustling markets, and engage with friendly locals, gaining insight into the valley’s vibrant tapestry of customs and beliefs.

Art enthusiasts will find themselves captivated by the valley’s artistic delights. Skilled craftsmen showcase their talents through intricate woodwork, metalwork, and stone sculptures. Traditional art forms, such as Thanka painting and pottery, continue to be practiced, providing a glimpse into the valley’s artistic heritage. The valley’s art scene is a testament to the creativity and craftsmanship that have been cherished for generations.

While Kathmandu Valley is steeped in history and culture, it also offers glimpses of natural beauty. Surrounded by lush hills and majestic mountains, the valley’s picturesque landscapes provide a serene escape. From viewpoints offering breathtaking Himalayan vistas to serene parks and gardens, nature lovers will find solace and tranquility amidst the bustling city.

Moreover, Kathmandu Valley is a culinary paradise, with a diverse range of flavors waiting to be savored. From mouthwatering momos to traditional Newari delicacies, the valley’s gastronomic offerings are a delightful exploration of Nepali cuisine. The aromatic spices, fresh ingredients, and warm hospitality make every meal a memorable experience.

In essence, Kathmandu Valley is a destination that seamlessly weaves together history, culture, art, nature, and gastronomy. It invites travelers to embark on a journey of discovery and connection, immersing themselves in the beauty and vibrancy of Nepal’s capital region. Whether you’re an adventurer seeking ancient treasures, a cultural enthusiast yearning for authentic experiences, or a nature lover in search of scenic vistas, Kathmandu Valley promises an unforgettable and enriching experience that will leave a lasting impression on your heart and soul.

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Travel Guide

30 Interesting Facts about Kathmandu

By Suraj Katwal

Updated On Feb 10, 2023

Well, if you are thinking about Kathmandu valley and want to know the top interesting facts about Kathmandu then let us answer this for you.

Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu , is a bustling metropolis full of history and culture. The city is home to numerous temples, shrines, and many other important historical and cultural sites.

Kathmandu is also a great place to shop for traditional Nepali items, such as handmade carpets, jewelry, and clothing.

Kathmandu is located at an elevation of 1,400 m (4,600 ft), and as such, the city has a very diverse range of things to see and do .

In the city center, you can find Durbar Square, a large plaza that is home to many important temples, including the Temple of the Living Goddess. This square is also a great place to watch, as it is always full of locals and tourists alike.

If you are interested in history and culture, visit some of the other important sites in Kathmandu, such as the Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Swayambhunath Temple. These sites are both spiritually and historically significant and offer a great insight into Nepali culture.

If you’re looking for a city with a rich history and culture and plenty of things to see and do, then Kathmandu is the perfect destination for you.

Check Out: 20 Facts about Pashupatinath Temple

List of 30 Facts about Kathmandu

Kathmandu is a fascinating city with a rich history and culture. Here are some interesting facts about Kathmandu:

• Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal.
• The city was founded in the 2nd century CE.
• Kathmandu was known as “Kantipur” and was later renamed.
• The city was originally called Kantipur, meaning “city of glory.”
• Kathmandu valley is home to the oldest community of inhabitants, the Newar. 
• Kathmandu is also known as the city of temples.
• Kathmandu is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• The city is home to numerous world heritage sites, including Durbar Square, the Swayambhunath Temple, and the Boudhanath Stupa.
• The most famous temple in Kathmandu is the Pashupatinath Temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Pashupatinath.
• Other notable temples in the city include the Swayambhunath Temple, a Buddhist shrine, and the Boudhanath Temple, one of the world’s famous stupas.
• Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by four central mountains: Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri.
• Kathmandu is situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters above sea level.
• The city covers an area of 49.45 square kilometers.
• The famous river in the valley is the Bagmati River, which flows through the city of Kathmandu.
• The Bagmati River is considered sacred by Hindus.
• It is also the largest city in the country, with a population of over 2+ million people.
• The city has a vibrant nightlife and is known for its many bars and clubs.
• Kathmandu is the gateway to tourism in Nepal and a popular destination for mountaineers, trekkers, and adventure seekers.
• In 2015, a devastating earthquake struck Nepal, causing extensive damage in Kathmandu.
• The temples and other infrastructure within the city are currently undergoing a period of reconstruction.
• Kathmandu is also known for its many street food vendors, which offer a variety of Nepalese and Tibetan dishes.
• The city is home to many festivals and events throughout the year.
• The valley is also connected to the cities like Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur.
• The city is a popular destination for shopping, with a wide variety of goods available, including traditional Nepalese handicrafts and Tibetan artifacts.
• The city has a developed economy, with various industries such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and service.
• The city has an international airport, with direct flights to many cities around the world.
• Kathmandu is also a major center for education, with the over highest number of colleges and universities in the country.
• The city is served by Tribhuvan International Airport, which is the only international airport in Kathmandu.
• The best time to visit Kathmandu is from October to December when the weather is pleasant.
• Kathmandu Valley is also home to some educational institutions, including Tribhuvan University, which is the oldest and largest university in Nepal.

Also Read: Facts about Nepal

What is the main religion in Kathmandu, Nepal?

Hinduism is the main religion in Kathmandu and the Pashupatinath temple is a famous Hindu temple located in Kathmandu valley.

What is the main language spoken in Kathmandu?

The main language spoken in Kathmandu is Nepali, Newari (Nepal Bhasa). Also, it is a tourist hub, and people here speak English too.

Can we exchange currency in Kathmandu?

Yes, tourists can exchange different countries’ currencies in Kathmandu as counter exchanges are available all over the tourist area inside the valley.

What is the population of Kathmandu?

According to CBS, the total population of Kathmandu valley is 20,17,532.

If you’re interested in more interesting facts about Kathmandu , be sure to check out these resources which are available in PDF or other versions.

• “Nepal: Guide to the Art and Architecture of the Kathmandu Valley” by Michael Hutt
• “Nepal – Kathmandu” by Lonely Planet
• “Kathmandu Valley – UNESCO World Heritage Centre”

Suraj Katwal

Suraj is a travel enthusiast who believes in finding solace in the heart of nature. He enjoys exploring new destinations, different culture, and encouraging people to travel.

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The City and the Writer: In Kathmandu with Manjushree Thapa

Special City Series/ Kathmandu, Nepal 2013

By Nathalie Handal

If each city is like a game of chess, the day when I have learned the rules, I shall finally possess my empire, even if I shall never succeed in knowing all the cities it contains.

                          — Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities

Can you describe the mood of Kathmandu as you feel/see it?

Kathmandu jostles and jangles; it’s always in a hurry; there’s hardly any time to stop and think here. It has an elegant and sophisticated medieval core built carefully, over centuries, by the Newar people, who settled the city as we live in it today. Laid upon this core is a more hurried, slapdash society, a society of migrants from the countryside driven here by need and aspiration and a pressing desire for a better life. This society grows more frenetic by the day. Kathmandu is also a city of power, a capital city that hoards resources, favoring the few and denying the rest. It has a very real ugliness on display. All of its human drama takes place in an ecologically fragile valley in the foothills of the Himalayan range. Every now and then I glimpse the natural beauty of the valley, and stop in wonder—but mostly I’m caught up in the jostling and jangling.

What is your most heartbreaking memory in this city?

When I was growing up, my cousins and I would have picnics in the paddy fields and wade in the streams. There wasn’t much wilderness here—this was always an urban environment—but there was plenty of greenery: we could always rest in the shade of a poplar tree. Now the rivers are dead, the open spaces are given to construction, and even the fiercest west winds can’t rid the air of toxic particulates. I don’t yearn for what’s gone. Kathmandu’s growth since 1990, when we became a democracy, represents the increased prosperity of Nepal’s citizenry. This matters. I do, however, miss the natural world in my daily life, and wish we could live in a more habitable environment.

What is the most extraordinary detail, one that goes unnoticed by most, of the city?

It’s very easy to forget that the wilderness is close at hand. A half-hour ride out of the city center, and I’m hiking through a rhododendron forest on one of the hills that ring the valley. I couldn’t live in Kathmandu without getting out every so often. Every time I go on one of these hikes, I wonder why I don’t do this more often. I vow to come back soon. Then, back in the city, I get caught up.

What writer(s) from here should we read?

I’ve translated the works of 49 Nepali writers in The Country is Yours: Contemporary Nepali Literature —and this gives only the briefest glimpse into Nepal’s contemporary literary scene.

There’s a very active literary scene here. Most of the literature is written in Nepali or one of Nepal’s over-a-hundred other languages.

In the generation that preceded the present one, Parijat is a must-read. She moved from Darjeeling, India, to Kathmandu in the 1960’s, and in her writings captured the hard intellectual edge of modern Nepal. And though he’s from Darjeeling, India, Nepal likes to claim Indra Bahadur Rai as one of its own, as he writes in the Nepali language. He’s certainly one of India’s best writers.

Among younger writers, I’m very partial to the poems of Bimal Nibha. He’s part of the generation that struggled to bring democracy to Nepal in 1990, and then had to watch so many rights erode over the next fifteen years, as the country suffered through bad governance and a Maoist insurgency. In one of Bimal Nibha’s most iconic poems he challenged the Maoists at the height of their war against the state: I’m an ordinary person / who writes the news who writes poems / who drinks tea and rushes off / a worker who delights and weeps / (Nothing exceptional about me) / Am I not also engaged in a People’s War, Comrade?

But this is just one example. Hundreds of writers and poets produce thousands of new books every year here: it’s difficult for even the most ardent literature-lover to keep up.

One of my favorite poets from here also includes the American expatriate Wayne Amtzis, who writes haunting poems of witness, what he calls “a gathering of evidence.” Some of his work is at www.photo-poems.com.

Is there a place here you return to often?

I find myself always longing for silence here—not just the absence of noise, but the kind of profound silence in which thoughts and emotions clarify. I’ve been able to find this kind of silence in the monasteries of Kathmandu, monasteries in the Tibetan neighborhood of Buddha and on the hills that ring the valley.

Is there an iconic literary place we should know?

There’s a peepal bot, or bodhi tree, growing by the side of the shops in New Road, which is Kathmandu’s bustling commercial district. Till the 1900s, writers and poets and intellectuals would gather around this tree in the evenings, over a cup of tea. The tree was next to the best newsstand in town, where all the international papers and magazines were available. The American library (which closed as part of the budget cuts of the Reagan administration) was nearby. So many Nepali writers learned about American literature—Whitman, and Poe, and the Beat Generation—at that library, and shared their views with each other at the peepal bot.

After 1990, the literary scene grew larger, and also more diffuse and scattered. The peepal bot lost its significance, but it still stands, a memorial of what used to be a site of real intellectual ferment.

Are there hidden cities within this city that have intrigued or seduced you?

Kathmandu is a maze. It’s possible to lose yourself in its circles, which are many, and sometimes interlocked and at other times not. We live side by side with others whose lives are completely closed off to us. As the city grows, new neighborhoods crop up, new societies form—different parts of the city are inhabited by migrants from various parts of the country. The city keeps changing and becoming something other than what I thought it was. Every few years I feel like I have to discover it anew.

Where does passion live here?

There’s a lot of passion here in the public arena—this is most evident in our politics—but ultimately, I think Kathmandu’s passion really lives in the family life. The petit-bourgeois concerns—for slightly sturdier shelter, somewhat tastier food, clothing that’s just a bit more stylish—really predominate. This is very civilizing. It keeps us from allowing political ideology to dominate.

What is the title of one of your stories about Kathmandu and what inspired it exactly?

“Friends” is inspired by my own confusions after I returned to a socially conservative Kathmandu after completing my college education in the US. This was in 1989. I was an America-educated bohemian, a misfit, and I was intensely miserable most of the time.

“Friends” is the story of a friendship between a hippy Nepali-American man and a staid, duty-bound Nepali man who has never left Nepal. They strike up a friendship in Kathmandu’s low-budget tourist district, Thamel, where East and West mingle effortlessly. I spent so much time as a twenty-something in Thamel, where it was possible to meet friends (even boyfriends!) without attracting the censure of Kathmandu society. The story is really my tribute to Thamel.

Inspired by Levi, “Outside Kathmandu does an outside exist?”

Outside Kathmandu is all of Nepal: of that I’m certain. I’m not certain, though, if an outside exists outside Nepal, at least not for me. I tend to bring Nepal along with me everywhere I go.

Other installments in the City and the Writer/Kathmandu special series: 

In Kathmandu with Rabi Thapa

In Kathmandu with Samrat Upadhyay

Manjushree Thapa was born in Kathmandu in 1968, and she grew up in Nepal, Canada, and the United States. She was trained as a photographer at the Rhode Island School of Design, and later studied creative writing as a Fulbright fellow at the University of Washington. She is the author of two novels, The Tutor of History and Seasons of Flight, and a short-story collection, Tilled Earth . Her nonfiction books include Forget Kathmandu , on Nepal’s political upheavals, as well as a biography, A Boy from Siklis: The Life and Times of Chandra Gurung and The Lives We Have Lost , a collection of her essays on Nepal’s Maoist insurgency and peace process. Her stories have appeared in literary magazines in the US, and her essays have appeared in the New York Times , the London Review of Books , and in the print media in South Asia. She also translates Nepali literature into English, some of her translations can be found in The Country is Yours: Contemporary Nepali Literature . She lives in Kathmandu and Toronto.

Nathalie Handal

Nathalie Handal is the author of eight plays and the editor of two anthologies.

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