KIIATMANDU. At the foot of the northern range, situated upon the eastern bank of a small river, the Vishenmuttee, in lat. 27° 36' N., and long. 85° 24' E., stands the city of Khatmandu.
It is not the largest of the towns in Nepal, but it is the residence of the maharaja. It is said to have been founded by Raja Gunakamadeva about A.D. 723. In the square in front of the palace are numerous handsome temples. Many of these are like pagodas, of several storeys in height, and profusely ornamented with carvings, painting, and gilding. In front of several of the temples are tall monoliths, some surmounted by figures of old rajas, who founded the temples, others by the winged figure of Garur. They vary in size, from the gigantic pagoda of Taleju to a diminutive shrine cut out of a single stone, with an image a few inches high in the centre. Many of them present a most repulsive appearance, being dabbled over with the blood of cocks, ducks, goats, and buffaloes, which are sacrificed before them. In length Khatmandu may measure about a mile, its breadth nowhere exceeding half a mile. .The
name of the town in ancient books is Gorgool putten ; the Newar race call it Yindes ; whilst among the Parbuttia, or mountaineers, it is styled Kultipur, an appellation which seems to proceed from the same source with Khatmandu, and de rived, it is believed, from its numerous wooden temples, which are among the most striking objects in the city. These edifices are not confined to the body of the town, but are scattered over its en virons, particularly along the sides of a quadran gular tank or reservoir of water. The houses are of brick and tile, with pitched or pointed roofs. On the street side, they have frequently enclosed wooden balconies of open carved work, and of a singular fashion ; the front piece, instead of rising perpendicularly, projecting in a sloping direction towards the eaves of the roof. They are of two, three, and four storeys, and, almost without a single exception, are of a mean and poor appear ance. The streets are exceedingly narrow, and very filthy. See India; Nepal.