The Ancient Kathmandu Valley
Most of the Archaeological explorations indicate that Kathmandu and its sister towns are the oldest towns in Asia. Their history dates back to 167 BC and 1 AD. In the year 1992, some workers started digging out a trench for the foundation of a house in Maligaon in Kathmandu. While digging, they found a life-size standing male figure carved in pale sandstone. It was made in the Kushan style and the sculpture was donated by an early Licchavi monarch named Jaya Varman. Many authors have claimed that it is the sculpture of Jaya Varman himself. The most interesting fact about this sculpture is that it is one of the oldest known sculptures in Kathmandu.History of Kathmandu As Per Its Architecture
During the 4th and 9th centuries, the Licchavi kings had established the valley’s most ancient sacred sites. However, it was the Malla kings of 13th to 18th centuries who created the extraordinary environment that Nepal is famous for. The iconic Kathmandu was built by the Mallas and it was centred upon a palace complex with a temple-filled square adjacent to it. The Newars developed a uniquely distinctive style of architecture. The famous “pagoda” temple is a clear example of uniqueness in the architecture of the Newars. During ancient times, the art became so famous that it spread to the court of Kubilai Khan in Beijing.
The valley was later on invaded by King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha in mid 18th century. The Malla kings were unsuccessful in uniting with each other against him and were displaced. After winning against the Mallas, the Shah king relocated his court from Gorkha to Hanuman Dhoka palace in Kathmandu. The king changed and improved Kathmandu’s architecture and added a wing to the palace. Most of the design was in the Newar style.
The History of Kathmandu
As the Shahs established their rule over the Gorkhas, the Ranas became powerful. The first recorded Prime Minister was Jang Bahadur Kunwar in the year 1846. He was followed by a succession of Rana Prime Ministers, which lasted till 1950. The Rana rule from Kathmandu was mainly about governance by a land aristocracy, with the government functioning as a façade.During this period, the Shahs were the monarchs but the real power was with the Ranas. The Nepali Congress party was founded in the year 1946. In 1948, the country’s first constitution, the Government of Nepal act was established. But, then Prime Minister, Padma Shamsher Rana resigned in the wake of opposition to the new constitution from the conservative Ranas. However, by 1950, the Ranas fell into an open conflict with King Tribhuvan as they suspected the Nepali Congress Party’s conspiracy against Rana power was plotted by the King. During this period, Government troops rebelled and over 140 Ranas joined the dissidents.
Historical Changes in Nepal’s timeline
History of tourism in Kathmandu
The 2015 Earthquake!
Members of the SAARC and many other countries like Taiwan, China, USA, UK and many more to name quickly responded by sending aid and rescue. Many NGOs and charitable trust helped the locals to get back to normal life as the U.S. Army, Nepal Army, and the Indian Army chopper were used for the rescue operation and to supply relief material for the people in need.
This had hampered the status of Nepal as a “tourist destination” as most of the sites were destroyed due to the earthquake. A “Nepal is Safe” slogan started circulating in the international market in order to help the country to regain its status as a “tourist destination”. Now, the tourism sector has recovered from the loss in 2015 and the city of Kathmandu has been the centre of attraction for many tourists due to its uniqueness.
Some Interesting Facts!
Here are some interesting facts about Kathmandu,- The name Kathmandu is derived from the 16th century Kasthamandap Temple, which is said to have been made from a single wood.
- The seven groups of historical monuments, buildings, and public spaces make up the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO world heritage site that attracts millions of tourists worldwide.