Kathmandu - Kathmandu (English spelling)

The capital of Nepal. It is the political, cultural, commercial and land transportation center of the country. It has a population of 671,846 (2001). It is located in the center of the basin, which has long been called the Nepal Valley, and is surrounded by mountains. It is located on the right bank of the Bagmati River, a tributary of the Ganges, at an altitude of 1,350 meters. Its ancient name was Kantipur, and it developed during the medieval Malla dynasty (13th to 18th centuries). Even after the dynasty was divided, it prospered as one of the three Malla kingdoms along with Patan and Bhadgaon, and after the invasion and unification of the Gorkha king in the late 18th century, it became the capital of the Gorkha (Shah) dynasty, where it remains to this day. The indigenous people of the basin are Newars, whose native language is the Newar language of the Tibeto-Burman language, and their talent for crafts and business has left historical buildings and urban planning to this day. The center of the old city is Durbar Square, which has many old temples, including Taleju Temple, Kala Bhairab, the god of destruction, the old Hanuman Dhoka palace with its nine-story tower, and the temple of the living goddess Kumari (selected from among Newar girls and serves until the girl has her first period). Pashupati Nath Temple, a holy place for Hinduism, is located in the eastern suburbs of the city, Bodhnath Temple of Tibetan Buddhism in the northeastern suburbs, and Swayambhunath Temple, which combines a Tibetan Buddhist pagoda and temple with a Hindu temple on a hill to the west, attract many pilgrims. With these historical cultural assets and being the gateway to Himalayan mountain climbing, it has become famous as an international tourist city. As the center of modernization of Nepal, several factories have been built, including the Balaju Industrial Park.

[Ryuzo Takayama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ネパールの首都。この国の政治、文化、商業、空陸交通の中心地である。人口67万1846（2001）。古くからネパール谷とよばれてきた盆地の中心にあり、周囲を山に囲まれている。ガンジス川の一支流バグマティ川の右岸、標高1350メートルに位置する。古名をカンティプルといい、中世のマッラ王朝（13～18世紀）の時代に発展した。王朝分裂後もパタン、バドガオンとともにマッラ三王国の一つとして繁栄し、18世紀後半ゴルカ王の侵入と統一後は、ゴルカ（シャハ）王朝の国都となり、現在に至っている。盆地の先住民はチベット・ビルマ語系のネワール語を母語とするネワール人で、その工芸や商才にたけた能力は、今日まで歴史的建造物や都市計画を残している。旧市の中心は古い寺をもつダルバール広場で、タレジュ寺、破壊の神カーラ・バイラブ、九重の塔をもつハヌマン・ドーカ旧王宮、生き神様クマリ（ネワール人の娘から選ばれ、初経〈初潮〉をみるまで務める）の住む寺などがある。市の東郊にヒンドゥー教の聖地パシュパティ・ナート寺、北東郊外にチベット仏教のボードナート寺、西方の丘上にチベット仏教の大塔や寺、ヒンドゥー教の寺をあわせもつスワヤンブナート寺があり、巡礼者が絶えない。これらの歴史的文化財とヒマラヤ登山の入口にあたるため、国際観光都市として名をあげている。またネパール近代化の中心地として、バラジュの工業団地をはじめ、いくつかの工場も建設された。

［高山龍三］

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