Origin of Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu valley was known as the Nepal. There are various stories regarding the origin of the Kathmandu. According to the traditional story of Hindus,Kathmandu valley was a lake. Lord Krishna came to Kathmandu in Dwapar Yuga with some milkmen. He cut the hill in Katuwal Daha and water exist out of the valley towards south and Kathmandu became the proper place of human settlement.

However, According to Swyambhu Puran, in the beginning,Kathmandu valley was a lake. Manjushree Bodhisatwocame to Nepal from China. Then, He cut the hill near Chobhar.The water of the lake had flowed out through the gorge and Kathmandu valley and the valley became the suitable place to live.

According to the geologist thousand years ago, Kathmandu valley was a big lake because several rivers around the hills flowed towards the lake. The river brought the fertile soil and gravels in the lake. Gradually, the lake was filled with stone, soil, and gravels. The southern part of the lake was made by the limestone. Slowly, it mixed with water and started to melt. Then, water started to flow out of the valley making gorge wider and wider and making several caves too. After that, the lake was swept away and the valley became the suitable place to live.

Kathmandu valley had very fertile soil and plenty of pasture land. Gopal dynasty was the first dynasty to rule over Kathmandu and ruled about 521 years. After Gopal dynasty, Mahispal dynasty ruled over the valley for 161 years.

After Mahispal dynasty, Kirat dynasty came into the power and ruled about 1118 years. Lichchhavi came into power after Kirat dynasty. Nepal made magnificent development during the rule of Lichchhavi period. So, the Lichchhavi period is known as the golden era in the history of Nepal.

Mallas came into the power after Lichchhavi. They made all round progress in the field of trade, art, architecture etc. The buildings, places, temples, ponds, statues, etc made during the period of Mallas.

Then after, In 1825 BS, the king of Gorkha, Prithivi Narayan Shah defeated the Malla kings of Kathmandu valley and made Nepal the capital of unified Nepal. Kathmandu became the capital city of Nepal. Its total area is 642 square kilometers. Kathmandu is only the only one metropolitan city of Nepal at present.