Kathmandu: Land of Gods & more

Prazakta Sedhain

Kathmandu has also been described variously as “Land of Gods” and as “land of the largest congregations of magnificent historical monuments and shrines ever built”. The City Core has most of the remarkable cultural wealth that evolved during the rule of the Malla kings between 15th and 18th centuries. The city is filled with sculptures, pagodas, temples, stupas and palace buildings of exceptional beauty. There are also 106 monastic courtyards known for their art and piety. Here are some of the information about historical and religious places of Kathmandu in brief:

The meaning of Durbar Square is a place of palaces. There are three preserved Durbar Squares in Kathmandu valley and one unpreserved in Kirtipur. The Durbar Square of Kathmandu is located in the old city and has heritage buildings representing four kingdoms (Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur), built over centuries, the earliest being the Licchavi dynasty. There were further additions and refurbishments during the rule of Mallas and then the Ranas. The complex has 50 temples. Some of Durbar squares are Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar and Shiva-Parvati Temple Hanuman dhoka and the main palace.

Kasthamandap is a three storied temple enshrining the deity of Gorakhnath – a form of the god Shiva. It was built in the 16th century in Pagoda style. It is said to be one of the oldest wooden buildings in the world. The name of Kathmandu is a derivative of the Kashtamandap. It was built under the request of King Laxmi Narsingha Malla and an interesting legend is stated to its wooden construction. The story narrated is about Gorakhnath, who was spotted during the chariot procession of his guru Machhindranath. The tantrik held him under a spell and sought his help seeking materials to build a temple in Kathmandu. Once the boon was bestowed, a huge tree started growing at the location where the present temple exists. With the wood of this single tree, the tantrik built the Kastamantap temple. Once a year a huge ceremony is performed in the temple. On that day people gather around the temple, and they stay up all night. This temple is one of the major tourist attractions too. There are no restrictions on entry to the temple. However, photography is prohibited inside the temple.

Hanuman Dhoka is a complex of structures with the Royal Palace of the Malla kings and also of the Shah dynasty. It is spread over five acres. The eastern wing with ten courtyards is the oldest part dated to the mid-16th century. It was expanded by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century with many temples. Sundari Chowk and Mohan Chowk in the north part of the palace are both closed. In 1768, in the southeast part of the palace, four lookout towers were added by Prithvi Narayan Shah. The royal family lived in this palace till 1886, where after they shifted to Narayanhiti Palace. The stone inscription outside is in fifteen languages and it is believed that it is written with milk mixing it with different colours.

The Boudhanath, (also written as Bouddhanath, Bodhnathn or Baudhanath ), is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal along with Swayambhu, and it is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Kathmandu area. It is known as Khāsti by Newars and as Bauddha or Bodh-nath by modern speakers of Nepali. Located about 11 km far from the center and northeastern parts of Kathmandu, the stupa’s massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. Boudhanath became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Swayambhu, also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west, is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous kings, Hindu followers, are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern parts in the 17th century. It is believed that the Buddha himself visited Swayambhu and gave teachings to the Buddhists there two hundred years earlier.

The Pashupatinath Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (Pashupati). Located on the banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu, Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu, and served as the seat of national deity, Lord Pashupatinath. The temple as it stands today was built anew in the 17th century by King Bhupatindra Malla after the previous building had been consumed by termites. The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Shivaratri or the night of Lord Shiva is the most important festival, attracting thousands of devotees and sadhus which is the main festival celebrated in Pashupatinath.

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