Kathmandu valley lies at the crossroads of ancient  civilization of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists. The city of Kathmandu is named after a structure in Durbar Square called Kasthamandap.

The Kathmandu valley may have been inhabited as early as 300 BCE, since the oldest known objects in the valley date to a few hundred years BCE. The earliest  known inscription is dated 185 BCE. The oldest firmly dated building in the earth-quake-prone valley is almost 1,992 years old. Four stupas around the city of Patan, said to have been erected by Charumati, in the 3^rd century BCE, attest to the ancient history present within the valley. The Kirats are the first documented rulers of the Kathmandu Valley ; the remains of their place are said to be in Patan(called “Patukodon”). The Licchavi Dynasty whose earliest inscriptions date back  to 464 CE were the next rulers of the valley. The Malla Dynasty ruled Kathmandu Valley and the Shah Dynasty  under Prithivi Narayan Shah conquered the valley as he created present- day Nepal.

According to Swayambhu Puran, the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake. The hill where the Swayambhu Stupa rests had lotus plants with beautiful lotus flowers abloom. One story says that the god Manjusri cut a gorge at a place called Kashapaal(Later called Chobhar) with a sword called Chandrahrasha and drained away the waters in order to establish a habitable land.