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Nepal carries long history of civilization,
culture, tradition, politics and heritage. Even
Kathmandu valley was thought to be under the
primordial lake. Legend goes that the Vipaswi
Buddha, a holy one, came and sat on the hill of
Nagarjun to meditate. Inspired, he planted the
lotus seed in the lake. Later it bloomed but not
with ordinary blossom, a blue flame emanated
from it and illuminated the image of Swayambhu,
“The self-existent one”. Furthermore the
Bodhisattwa Manjushri came here all the way from
Tibet to meditate and with his sword; he cut the
gorge at Chovar in one stroke, thus draining the
water from the valley. Its early History rested
in legend and myths. However; it was definitely
inhabited long before 7 or 8 BC .from where
starts the political history of the country.
Kathmandu, the present capital of Nepal was
governed by different dynasties .
The presence of the Kirati who came from East &
believed to be of the Mongolian origin was the
first record of the valley as far as the
establishment of powerful kingdom is concerned.
Then Licchavis ruled the valley for long period
and they left very good examples of their love
for Arts and Crafts in the forms of Temples and
other structures. In other words Licchavis were
the people who raised the enthusiasm for arts
and crafts in the heart of the inhabitants and
the examples of the same can be seen embodied in
the heart and soul of the people living here It
was during the period of the Licchavis, Araniko,
the master of wood carving went to China to
spread the essence that was born in Nepal in the
form of Pagoda architecture. The first stone
inscription for the history dated 464 AD. was
from the one of the king of this period. After
the downfall of the Licchavis Mallas. Who came
from the Indian territories were the ones to
give continuance not only to the political
history of this country but also to the
continuance of the spread of the arts and crafts
through the addition of more temples and other
structures.
They brought all the practices of Hindu religion
and irrigated with their own customs in the
valley. Social as well as family life got a
chance to breathe ethical air as they based the
system of the whole society on the Hindu
principle of living a pious and meaningful life.
Still it is worthy to note that their influences
can be seen in each and every corners of this
city and also in the life of every person. Their
love for the art proved the model city till the
date.
The rule of the Mallas was followed by rule of
the Shahs from Gorkha of which the foundation
was laid by Prithivi Narayan Shah in 1768 AD
with his energetic work of Unification of this
country lying in the lap of the mighty
Himalayas. The country that remained divided for
centuries got a chance to merge into one
creating a unified Nepal. It had been a tough
task as the people were divided not only
politically but the main factor behind such
diversity was the ethnicity, culture, tradition,
heritage and way of life.
The process of unification was started from
Gorkha in 1745 AD. Many worthy sons of this
country added their service to the pious work of
unification and the fragrance of the same has
been enjoyed by many since the unification. Now
the country is divided into different
administrative regions and the country is
practicing the multiparty democracy after the
advent of Democracy in the year 1990 AD. |
