The Katmandu valley is the historical center of Nepal where kingdoms rose and fell and temples are built, destroyed and re-build. That's how, Nepali art and culture were developed .

The ancient Buddhist stupa of Swayambhunath (commonly known as the monkey temple) a dramatic spot within walking distance of central Kathmandu, is one of the best known sites in Nepal. It attracts a constant stream of worshippers. The hill top site offers a fine view over the valley that is helpful for orienting ownself if someone just arrives.

The most important Hindu temple is Pashupatinath which is located on the eastern side of Kathmandu near Tribhuvan airport. It is center for pilgrims and sadhu (holy men) from all over the subcontinent. A visit here can be combined with Boudhanath (Boudha), another huge Buddhist stupa and the centre for a thriving Tibetan community.

The Kathmandu Valley’s second city, Patan, a short taxi ride from Kathmandu, is famed for its Durbar Square which is packed with a superb variety of temples, as well as many Bahals (Buddhist monasteries).

Bhaktapur, the third largest town in the valley, is towards the eastern end of the valley and its relative isolation is reflected in its slower pace and more distinctly medieval atmosphere. All the above sites can easily be visited as day trips from the capital.

You can find good hikes in the valley, ranging from downhill strolls to more ambitious overnight hikes. If you don’t have the opportunity to trek elsewhere in Nepal, it’s worth visiting one of the famous viewpoints on the rim of the valley, such as Nagarkot or Dhulikhel, from where you can feed your eyes on an unbroken lens of frozen Himalayan peaks.

If you have more time, there are lesser known although important, temples such as Changu-Narayan, located in north of Bhaktapur and a treasure house of Nepali art, Dakshinkali, in the southwestern corner of the valley and the site for animal sacrifices to Goddess Kali, and BudhanilKantha, north of Kathmandu, with a huge 1400-years–old statue of Vishnu.

The valley beyond the cities has certainly changed over the years. Fortunately, however, aspects of traditional life are maintained as the people of the valley coax their livelihood from the land, and temples continue to provide a focal point for their lives. The seasons roll on, and the timeless demands of the fields, the family and the gods remain fundamental priorities.

Short HISTORY

The Katmandu Valley has long been a cultural and racial melting pot, with people coming from both east and west. This fusion has resulted in the unique Newari culture that is responsible for the valley’s superb art and architecture. For more information Newari culture see the society and Religion sections in the Fact about Nepal chapter.
The Newari golden age peaked in the 17th century when the valley consisted of small city-states and Nepal was a vitally important trading link between Tibet and the north Indian plains. It was during the reign of the Malla kings (see History in the Facts about Nepal chapter), particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries, that many of the Valley’s finest temples and palaces were built.

Sorting out who built what (and when) is considerably complicated by the fact that at any one time there was not just one Malla king each of the three city-states in the valley – Katmandu, patan and Bhaktapur – had its own.

The unification of Nepal in 1768 by Gorkha’s king Prithvi Narayan shah signaled the end of the Katmandu valley’s fragmentation. Nepal, an Indo-European language spoken by the khas of western Nepal, replaced Newari as the country’s language of administration.