Kirtipur is a town on the outskirts of Kathmandu, roughly 5 km SW from downtown. Kirtipur has a very important place in the history of Kathmandu Valley. The town is believed to have been established between 11th and 12 century AD and later in the 15th century during the Malla period was settled widely and Kirtipur saw itself develop in areas of artistic and historic significance. When Prithivi Narayan Shah, in his quest to conquer and unify small kingdoms, reached Kathmandu Valley, Kirtipur was the first place he attacked. His army was repeatedly defeated until finally Kirtipur fell.
Now Kirtipur is a mix of the old and the new. There are old temples like the Uma Maheshwor and the Bag Bhairab Temples, that are hundred of years old, and then there are modern houses and even a few really beautiful looking Buddhist Monasteries. Walking through the old parts of Kirtipur is like taking a walk back in time. The variety of woodwork and the artistry manifested by them is like a lesson in history. The views of Kathmandu Valley from the Uma Maheshwor temple is simply amazing. On a clear day, the Himalayas can be seen above the city of Kathmandu glistening in the sunlight.
Kirtipur is not quite as popular of a destination as Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur are, however, its place in the history of Nepal and of Kathmandu Valley is just as important.
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