From ancient legends to geological transformations, this journey delves into the Kathmandu Valley, bridging the realms of theology and science.
The Kathmandu Valley was once a vast lake. How did it transform into the livable valley plain we see today?
It is said that in ancient times, there was a radiant lotus in this vast lake, which attracted the Bodhisattva Manjusri to travel all the way from Mount Wutai in China. Upon arriving, he saw that the local people struggled to survive. He then swung his “Sword of Wisdom” and cleaved a ravine through Mount Qiaobal. The water from the lake poured out through the gorge, and the lake transformed into a plain.
From a scientific perspective, the Kathmandu Valley formed due to geological shifts. Around 30,000 years ago, the soft limestone layers at the bottom of the lake gradually collapsed under the immense water pressure, causing the lake’s water level to continuously drop, and eventually, the plain emerged.
Since then, the people have lived and developed on this plain, and eventually, the Kathmandu Valley became the political and cultural center of Nepal. Thanks to Nepal’s geographical location in the heart of Asia, this region further became a key hub for the exchange of ancient civilizations.
Various ideas and cultures flourished here, intertwining thousands of years of history. The Kathmandu Valley became a living epic, etched in red bricks, sandalwood, and prayer flags. Here, travel is no longer a mere observation but an immersion into an ever-unfolding improvisational drama of civilization.
In 1979, the Kathmandu Valley was listed as a cultural heritage site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley includes seven groups of historical sites and architectural complexes, including the Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares, the Swayambhu and Boudhanath Buddhist stupas, and the Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan Hindu temples.
In this open-air museum, which selflessly showcases the changes in history and culture: Hinduism and Buddhism coexist under the same roof, the roar of motorcycles echoes outside medieval wooden window grills, and the sound of 12th-century bronze bells resonates with the shutter clicks of the new century, creating a moment where time and space collide.
In the Kathmandu Valley, every corner leads you into a “time-space wormhole”. As you connect with the echoes of the past, you begin to grasp the meaning of the “eternal moment”.
