Kathmandu
Kathmandu is officially known as the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. In 2011, Kathmandu had 975,453 residents, making it Nepal's capital and most populated city. It is situated at an elevation of 1,400 metres above sea level in the Kathmandu Valley, a major valley on the high plateaus of central Nepal (4,600 feet).
It was traditionally known as the "Nepal Mandala" and has been the home of the Newar people, a cosmopolitan urban civilisation in the Himalayan foothills that has flourished in this valley. Nepalese nobles built palaces, residences, and gardens in the city that served as the country's royal capital for centuries. Formed in 1985, it has served as the regional headquarters of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Nepalese Republic, which was created in 2008, has its headquarters in this city, which is part of the Bagmati Province.
In Nepal's history, art, culture, and economics, Kathmandu is and has been the focal point for many years. In spite of the fact that it has a multi-ethnic population, Hindus and Buddhists constitute the majority. In Kathmandu, religious and cultural celebrations play an important role in the daily lives of the people who live here. A significant portion of the city's economy is derived on tourism. When it comes to new vacation destinations, TripAdvisor placed Kathmandu third among the world's top ten future destinations in 2013 and first in Asia. Known as the "gateway to the Nepalese Himalayas," the city is home to many World Heritage Sites, including the Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, and Pashupatinath. The Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath are all located in the city. Globally, according to the World Bank in 2010, the Kathmandu valley is growing at a rate of 4 percent per year, making it one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in South Asia and first area in Nepal to face the new challenge of rapid urbanisation and modernization on a metropolitan scale.
When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Kathmandu in April 2015, historic neighbourhoods were badly devastated. A few structures have been repaired, while others are still in the process of being reconstructed.