Back to the history of Nepal.

The history of nepal centers on the kathmandu Valley. . Even today, Hill people heading to kathmandu will tell you "Nepalma jaane"-"We're going to Nepal."

 From the beginining the valley has been the center of politics, intrigue, religion, trade, and urban civilization-in short,everything worth recording. Compared to it, life in the Hills was unremarkable, and it continued for centuries unnoted,much as it does today.

The kathmandu Valley's traditional prosperity came from its fertile soil and its strategic location on the trans-himalayan trade route between the india and tibet. Kathmandu was a pleaseant place for caravans to wait out the malarial summers of the southern terai or the winter snows blocking the northern passes into tibet. Traders, scholars, monks, pilgrims, and envoys from many countries journeyed through the valley and left a legacy of diverse ideas and influences.

Despite the constant stream of visitors, out-side historical sources are scanty, limited to a few Chinese diplomats, Christian missionaries, and the British Residents who were forcibly settled in kathamndu in 19th century.local history on the other hand apperas everywhere in the valley. royal edicts were etched in copper-platess,carved onto pillars, or engraved on stone slabs. later came manuscipts of palm leaves or handmade paper, and the vamsavali, historical chrinicles blending myth and history, legend and fact. in a larger sense,, history is encoded in the valley's traditional art and arctitecture and lives on in legends, festivals and customs some over 1500 years old, that act as direct links to the past.