KHATMANDU, kfit'inan-doo', KAT MANDU, capital of Nepal (q.v.), situated at the junction of Vishnumati and Bagmati rivers. It is the largest city in Nepal, and was orig inally known as Manju Paten, having been named after the Buddhist saint Manjsri, who tradition says cut the 'barrier of mountains with his celestial sword and released the waters that once flooded the plain of Katmandu. The na tives believe that the irregular, crescent-like shape of the city represents the traditional sword of the war-like saint. Previous to the Gurkha conquest of the country (1769) Kat mandu was the capital of the Newar sover eigns, who reigned over a considerable part of Nepal and adjacent country. The city was once surrounded by strong, high and imposing walls, but these are no longer of military value and have fallen into picturesque ruin in several places. This picturesqueness is added to by the narrow, winding streets, most of which are obstructed in places and generally only wide enough for foot passengers. The four-story brick buildings which form the chief edifices of the city are closely crowded together and throw their shadows for the greater part of the day upon the filthy streets, making them still more unhealthful. The one redeeming
feature in this unsanitary condition is to be found in the many public squares of the city into which the streets lead. In the midst of its filth the city presents a very picturesque ap pearance owing to the decidedly Chinese atmos phere and style of its architecture and its pagoda-like temples, many of them with brass or copper roofs which gleam in the sun so that they are seen from afar from their many storied heights. Many of the doorways are also of the same materials. Wood-carving is everywhere in evidence in the temples, and the facades of private buildings and especially in the projecting balconies or Moorish windows. A British residency is stationedjust outside the city and in the town is a British post office. Pop. about 80,000.