Kathmandu - Old City

For the sake of clarity the following account of the old city of Khatmandu is divided into two sections. Here the name "Old City" refers to the area around Durbar Square and north thereof.

Ancient Bazaar Street, cutting diagonally across the Upper City, creates delightful triangular open spaces, settings for colorful bustling markets and splendid temples. Leaving Durbar Square by its north-east corner the first such intersection is Indra Chowk, in which stands the Akash Bhairava Temple. A little further on a gateway off Kel Tole leads into the Jana Bahal, a monastery dedicated to Shveta Matsyendranath. Next comes Asan Tole, site of the vegetable market, over which Annapurna goddess of plenty presides from her extravagantly