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 ornamented pagoda. Not far beyond Asan Tole, Bazaar Street reaches the boundary of the old Malla city. Here Pratapa Malla constructed the Rani Pokhari, a large water tank. Now changing direction follow the street bearing left from Asan Tole to Thahiti, a crossroads with a large stupa. On the way back from there to Durbar Square detours can be made to the Naradeva and Kankeshvari Temples.