Kathmandu, Capital city in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Kathmandu is the federal capital in a wide valley at around 1400 meters (4600 feet) elevation, surrounded by forested hills and distant peaks. Narrow lanes lined with multi-story brick buildings open onto broader streets where shops, markets, and residential areas blend together.
A local ruler founded the settlement in the 8th century on a trade route between the Himalayas and the southern plains. Centuries later, a wooden temple built from a single tree was erected, and its name eventually became the designation for the entire city.
Weekly ceremonies at local shrines and temples draw pilgrims and residents who gather to make offerings and recite prayers together. Street vendors on busy squares sell blessed flower garlands and incense sticks that worshippers purchase for their daily rituals.
An international airport sits a few kilometers east of the center and handles arrivals from various Asian countries. Many guesthouses cluster in the Thamel district, from where travelers can walk or take taxis to reach major landmarks.
Over a hundred religious festivals take place annually, with some lasting only a few hours and celebrated at small neighborhood shrines. Visitors can encounter a spontaneous procession or ceremony with musicians and costumed dancers on any given day of the year.
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