Image number: 07NEP-1176

Kathmandu, the largest city in Nepal (700,000 people), is sometimes called "Kantipur". The oldest firmly dated building in the earthquake-prone Kathmandu Valley is almost 1,992 years old. Kathmandu is named after a structure in Durbar Square called Kaasthamandap (or Maru Satal), built in 1596 AD by King Laxmi Narsingh Malla. In Sanskrit, Kaasth = "wood" and Mandap = "covered shelter." The original inhabitants are Newars, who speak the language Nepal Bhasa. However, Nepali is the lingua franca of the valley and is the most widely spoken language. The city stands at an elevation of 6235 feet / 2230 meters.