The Kathmandu Valley is virtually an open air museum of magnificent Hindu and Buddhist art and architecture. What makes this vibrant, if congested, old Asian city so fascinating is that it is a museum in full use today. No matter that a temple structure was built centuries ago for a religious community, it may be part of a active elementary school now, with soccer play, where monks or priests once danced and chanted. There are fifteenth century shrines and temples literally to the left and right as one walks, among crowds, in the busy markets. Hindu men, women, and children are often seen making their morning pujas (prayer offerings of food and flowers) in front of magnificent small and large stone deity images, some are ancient. Buddhists, with prayer wheels circling in their hands, are also observed making their daily Kora (walking meditations) around gleaming white stupas found in many parts of this religious city. Narrow, brick-paved curving alleys remind us of the vestiges of Medieval times among twentieth-century buildings. Hindu culture focuses upon the celebration of many festivals; each featuring dances, costumes, lights and decorations, often with bright marigolds strung in chains. Many celebratory activities are street parades, very accessible to visitors. There are colorful festivals to enjoy most months of the year.

Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, now essentially in big city, were once individual kingdoms rivaling for power until 1768 when they were united. The unparalleled cultural heritage of the valley is a combination of the three. Today, Kathmandu is particularly known for its traditional buildings and temples featuring fine Newari woodwork around doors and windows. Patan is exceptional for exquisite metalwork in silver, gold, and bronze. And Bhaktapur, developed centuries ago and re-built after the 1934 earthquake, is the least changed of the three with its medieval character still intact. Because Kathmandu displays such as a rich array of monuments, UNESCO has awarded our city with the prestigious designation of a World Heritage Site. A good deal of restoration in still in progress.

According to legend, the modern Kathmandu Valley was once a lake. It is said that a God came, possibly from China, and slashed a deep cut at Chobar (now called Chobar Gorge) with his huge sword, allowing the water to drain out and human settlement to begin. Others say that the gorge was made by Lord Krishna. One way or another a lovely valley came to be. The Newars who settled there utilized the higher places for their homes and low lands for crops to protect themselves from flooding.

The Kathmandu Valley of today is in part, modern, but an aura of the exotic past still prevails; that is what makes it so interesting.

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• Kathmandu
• Bhaktpur
• Around Kathmandu Valley
• patan

• nagarkot
• dhulikhel
• pokhara
• lumbini