Introduction

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is the capital and largest city in Nepal. Almost 700,000 people live here amidst a swirl of business, industry, politics, old temples and colorful festivals. Kathmandu has expanded into a modern international metropolis while still preserving its ancient culture and architectural heritage. The city thus presents a delightful blend of the old and the new, the charm of the past and the energy of the present. Kathmandu's got history, it's got ancient artistic monuments, and it's also got swanky commercial complexes and fancy roads clogged with late-model cars.

In Kathmandu you will see tantric priests rubbing shoulders with jet-setting businessmen, and kids rollerblading past medieval pagoda temples. Illiterate farmers and foreign-educated industrialists jostle at the marketplace. From exotic bazaars going back to the Silk Road era to high finance, Kathmandu is a kaleidoscope of amazing images.

Commerce is what drives Kathmandu. The capital is also a major manufacturer and exporter of garments and woolen carpets. Kathmandu attracts large numbers of foreign tourists because of its cultural property and superb shopping opportunities, and tourism is a key component of the local economy. Kathmandu offers international-class hotels and restaurants which are known for their quality of service and selection of cuisine. Kathmandu is also Nepal's tourist gateway, with almost 90 percent of the visitors arriving by air at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Kathmandu possesses educational resources of varied standards and branches of learning. Health services are comparable to the best in the region. World-class communication facilities provide local and international connections. There are a number of TV, radio and FM stations (including the KMC's own Metro FM) which keep the city dwellers informed and entertained. Numerous daily newspapers and magazines are published. A range of libraries, art galleries, museums and theaters provide cultural nourishment.

Kathmandu is served by a well-organized local transport system. Taxis, small and large buses, three-wheelers and the likable rickshaw are available for getting around. The capital is the national transport hub, with road connections to various parts of the country. The domestic air network also radiates out from Kathmandu. Major international airlines touch down here. There are direct air links to all neighboring countries and East Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Kathmandu is situated in a valley in the Himalayan foothills at an altitude of 1,350 meters. Along with the other towns in the valley, it ranks among the oldest settlements in the central Himalaya. The story about Lord Manjushree letting out the waters that once filled the valley is well-known. Kathmandu's recorded history begins about 2,300 years ago, according to the inscriptions found so far. Tradition has it that present-day Kathmandu grew from the city founded in the tenth century by King Gunakama Deva. The layout of the original town, before it began spilling out all over, is in the form of Manjushree's sword. The tip points north and the hilt is in the south. The town limits are marked out by the temples of the eight protective mother goddesses which stand to this day. The traditional urban layout is characterized by an arrangement of sacred and residential courtyards and street squares dominated by temples. The decorated houses, courtyards, pagodas, open-air sculptures and richly carved water fountains enhance the mystical ambiance that has fascinated visitors to Kathmandu through the ages.

Kathmandu has been a trading city from times past. Because of its position on the legendary caravan route between India and Tibet, commerce has always been important in the lives of the inhabitants. Merchants of Kathmandu also traveled across the Himalaya to operate trading houses in Tibet. Handicraft like metal casting, wood carving, weaving and pottery were other popular traditional occupations.

Through the centuries Kathmandu has had various names. The name Kathmandu is derived from Kastha Mandap, a twelfth-century rest house in the historic city core. Kastha Mandap means "pavilion of wood", and it is said to have been built from the timber of a single tree. Kathmandu is called Yen in the local language.

Kathmandu has a refined and ancient culture inspired by the convergence of the people's Hindu and Buddhist devotion. The customs, festivals, art and architecture are deeply religious in character. Kathmandu's location on a key Asian trade route has exposed it to varied influences, and they have further enriched local artistic traditions. The high level of craftsmanship can be seen in the exquisite artworks that ornament the ancient temples, palace buildings and domestic houses.

Kathmandu possesses one of the greatest concentrations of architectural treasures in the world, and they are all still part of the living culture. They provide places of worship and are the setting for a roster of annual festivals. Four such temple complexes within metropolitan Kathmandu have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. They are the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square (the seat of ancient royalty), Swayambhu (the Buddhist stupa located atop a hillock which is linked to the founding of the Kathmandu valley), Pashupatinath (one of the holiest Hindu temples in the world) and the Bouddha stupa (the largest of its kind).

Kathmandu has been a densely inhabited urban center from historical times. The indigenous people are the Newars. Over the centuries various peoples have come to settle here, and the present population is a cosmopolitan lot. Many languages are spoken here, principal among them are Nepali and Newari. The national census of 2001 counted 671,846 persons and 152,155 households in the metropolis. The density of population is 13,586 persons per sq. km.

Metropolitan Kathmandu is spread over an area of 50.76 sq. km. as computed from digital data collected by the Kathmandu Valley Mapping Programme during recent field surveys. The city can be separated into five sectors - the Central Sector, East Sector, North Sector, City Core and West Sector. Administratively, it is divided into thirty-five wards.