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Kirtipur

Tuesday, 24 June 2008 10:01

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Origin of Kirtipur
Kirtipur is one of the oldest settlements in the Kathmandu Valley. This small town is recorded as an ancient capital of Nepal. Kirtipur means “a famed town” in Nepali language is also known as “kipu” and “kyapu”. The location of this small town is different from the other main towns of the valley in the same that occupies the top of a steep rocky hill. This city of glory is inhabited by Newars, which are the earliest settlers in the Valley with their own language and culture.

 

Location
Kirtipur Municipality is part of the Kathmandu District and lies in the hilly region. Geographically, Kirtipur lies in between longitude 27˚ 38’ 30” and 27˚ 41’ 30” E and latitude 85˚ 13’ and 85˚ 19’ N, at altitudes ranging from 1284m to 1524m above mean sea level. The general decline of elevation is from south-west to north-east. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City lies in the northern side, while the Bagmati River separates the Lalitpur District with the Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City on the eastern side. Chalnakhel VDC borders Kirtipur Municipality in the south and Macchegaun VDC in the west.

Temples

The Hindu temples of Kirtipur have same architectural form as that of the temples of the Kathmandu Valley. There are two different styles of temple. One is tiered type built on a square or rectangular plan with a multiple pitched roof; typically of traditional Nepalese architecture. The other is built on a square plan reflecting north Indian architecture.

Among the three tired temples of importance, Bagh Bhairab is probably nearest to its original form Uma Maheshwore has been reduced in size and stripped off many decorative elements. The Narayan Temple, originally a three storied temple, was reconstructed inappropriately as a domestic building. And other temples like Jalabinayak and Bishnudevi are built on a square or rectangular plan with a multiple pitched roof.

Tourism in Kirtipur
Kirtipur, like Patan and Bhaktapur, has many important places of tourist interest. There are many historical temples monasteries, heritage, monuments, and shrines like Bagh Bhairab, Uma Maheshwore, Chilancho Stupa, Adinath, Jalabinayak, Chobhar George, Manjushree Cave (One of the longest cave in South Asia) Taudaha. These are some important cultural and historical heritage of Kirtipur and of the Kathmandu Valley.

Beside these, the old streets and houses of the town, particularly of De Pukhu, Layaku, Mavana Tole, and Tanni Tole and site seeing of Kathmandu valley can be places of tourist attraction.

Kirtipur, one of the oldest towns with unique town plan and interesting temples, could be a major tourist attraction. Small numbers of foreign tourists come to the town to take a brief tour of Chobhar George-the only one outlet of Kathmandu valley and the temples. Major attraction to these tourists is the quality of unexploited urban environment of the town. However, the tourism potentiality still needs to be properly explored.