Panauti

Panauti is a historical city in Nepal, originally it was a small state given by King Bhupatindra Malla as a dowry to his sister. This town has a population of under 15,000 people and a few prominent icons, such as the Indreswor temple and Panauti (Layaku) Durbar square found in the town center. At the end of the 13th century, Panauti was finally integrated into the unified kingdom of Nepal, along with Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, which are all former capital cities of the Kathmandu valley. Panauti was a trading hub along the ancient Salt Trade route between Tibet and India. Actually, the recorded history of Panauti goes back to the first century AD. However, with the end of the Salt trade in the 1950s and the construction of the Arniko Highway in the 1960s bypassing this old town, Panauti has gone into an economic rut.[2] Panauti, consists of a variety of Buddhist and Hindu religious monuments, and is considered to be one of the area's most important medieval sites.[3] Panauti is also steeped in culture and tradition. Visitors will often find colorful stones, petals and other items that are laid out on the pavement to welcome everyone with great hospitality.[4]

Panauti, situated at the confluence of the two rivers Rosi and Punyamati, has been regarded as an important religious site since very early times. In Nepali society, such rivers are considered to be sacred. A visit or just an ablution to such places enables the visitor to be freed from many sins and anxieties, as it is believed to be sacred. Moreover, it is also believed that at Panauti, in addition to aforesaid two rivers, a third river Lilawati also converges making it again a tri-junction called Triveni. However, the last one is said to be visible only to the sheers and the intellectuals. The presence of this at Panauti has added and remarkably enhanced its religious sanctity and popularity as well. On account of this, every festive occasion, a great number of devotees from all across the country pour here for a holy ablution and to pay homage to the nearby Indreshwor Mahadev Temple and other holy sites located here. The site is also regarded as Prayagtirtha of Nepal.

Panauti is one of the oldest towns in Nepal, consisting of many temples that are still present till this day dating back to the 15th century or earlier. It has been debated that Panauti was founded by Ananda Malla (1274-1310AD), others believe that there is a golden scripture dated 1385, which is located within the Indreshwar temple stating that King Harisingh Dev founded the town.

Indreshwar Mahadev temple

The Indreshwar temple is one of the largest and tallest pagoda style temples in Nepal. It was originally built over a lingam in 1294, making it the oldest surviving temple of Nepal. The roof struts embellishing the two lower stories of the temple are distinct Nepalese wood-carving and architecture. The upper section of the temple is hung with pots and pans, offerings from young married couples hoping for a happy and prosperous family life. The temple is in good condition and survived the 2015 earthquake. It is from this temple that the mystical third river of Panauti starts from leading to the Brahmayani temple across from the Tri Beni Ghats.[5]

Unmanta Bhairav Temple of Panauti

The Indreshwar temple is kept in a very well maintained, walled in, compound which is managed by the Panauti Museum.

Other than this temple, there is also the king's palace in Panauti's Durbar Square, which has yet to be excavated to a larger extent in order to reveal more about Panauti. Nevertheless, there are many artifacts and remnants such as stone taps, bricks, water wells and coins found among some of the excavated sections of the palace.

Although Panauti was founded independently, as time went on the influence of Bhaktapur (an ancient Newar town in the east corner from Kathmandu) increased and later became part of Bhaktapur up until the 18th century. In 1763, King Prithvi Narayan Shah annexed Panauti to the larger and greater Nepal.

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Panauti Municipality had a population of 47,549. Of these, 68.6% spoke Nepali, 16.4% Tamang, 14.1% Newar, 0.2% Maithili, 0.1% Bhojpuri, 0.1% Hindi, 0.1% Thangmi and 0.1% other languages as their first language.[6]

In terms of ethnicity/caste, 27.7% were Chhetri, 27.2% Hill Brahmin, 18.6% Newar, 17.4% Tamang, 1.5% Sarki, 1.4% DamaiDholi, 1.2% Kami, 1.0% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.8% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.7% Magar, 0.7% Pahari, 0.5% Rai, 0.4% Gurung, 0.1% Badi, 0.1% Danuwar, 0.1% Musalman, 0.1% other Terai, 0.1% Thakuri, 0.1% Thami and 0.2% others.[7]

In terms of religion, 81.7% were Hindu, 16.1% Buddhist, 1.7% Christian, 0.1% Muslim and 0.3% others.[8]

In terms of literacy, 76.3% could read and write, 1.6% could only read and 22.0% could neither read nor write.[9]

Panauti, consists of a variety of Buddhist and Hindu religious monuments, and is considered to be one of the area's most important medieval sites. It is also considered as the most artistic town in Nepal after Kathmandu Valley.

As every culture has its unique ceremonies and celebration, Panauti holds a number of festivals reflecting the ancient tradition and ancient mythology. One of the most important is the three-day-long Panauti Jatra.

Public Colleges:

• Indreshwor Campus, Panauti-7
• Tej Ganga Multiple Campus, Panauti-8
• Kusadevi Campus, Panauti-2

Private Colleges

• Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute, Panauti-3
• Malpi Institute

During the 1990s, a program of corporation of French Food, funded and enabled the complete renovation of a number of religious monuments and historical buildings within Panauti. This cleansing of the old town through a vast number of networks, allowed to initiate the creation of many new schools.

Nepal's rural to urban migration has been vastly accelerating, with population grow rates in urban areas as high as 7%, which is well over the national population growth rate of 2.3% per annum.[12] Some of Nepal's urban areas now experience inadequate drinking water supply, haphazard disposal of solid waste and human waste, and uncontrolled urban development.[13]

Information Technology Park, Nepal is located in Panauti.

Recently, the Nepal Urban and Environmental Improvement Project has been set up by the government in order to attend to this decentralization situation. The project has five main components:

• Municipal institutional strengthening and revenue mobilization
• Provision of urban and environmental infrastructure
• Provision of supplementary urban facilities
• Community development
• Project implementation assistance.

This project was recently approved in December 2002 and is expected to be completed by the year 2009.[14]

The introduction of urban and rural tourism development in Panauti has enhanced the socio-economic standards within the region. Tourism is a major source of economic, socio-cultural and environmental effect as it reduces the level of poverty within the city. Studies have shown that the local people will benefit from tourism in the region, as well as establishing a new unique tourist destination, while at the same time protecting natural and cultural heritage.

Since tourism has such a large role in the development of Panauti, some of the distinct types are the following:

• Nature-based/Eco-tourism: picnic spots development, establishment of cultural heritage museum, Eco-Circuit Trail and Eco-trek Development.
• Pilgrimage tourism: Improvement of temple site in the study area; improvement and development of pilgrimage tourism facilities; repair and maintenance of religious sites.
• Village tourism: development of individual and community home-stay, community lodge, resort development, traditional cultural instruments, establishment of rural market center.
• Health tourism: Establishment of old people's home, development of resort facilities for therapists, health tourism promotional activities, training to health assistance ad nurses.
• Adventure tourism: bungy jumping, rock climbing, hiking, trekking, biking.
• Research and survey of Panauti: Archaeology and cultural survey.

Other programs include, the development of recreational trails, development of settlements, improved foot trails, development of drinking water and irrigation facilities, establishing an international school of tourism and training local youths regarding cultural heritage.

This project that has been implemented can definitely benefit the less privileged people within the community as it allows them to become more aware of and involved in the development of their residential area. This project also closely worked with the communities, allowing them to feel a part of the project, as they played a key role in the project implementation. For instance, the community helped in designing the water supply system for the city. Furthermore, this project has enhanced the sewerage component, which is the fundamental building block for these people, who are forced to live in the most unhygienic conditions.

To promote local culture, Panauti has one FM radio station Radio Prime FM, 104.5 MHz, which is a community radio station.

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  Streets of Panauti
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  Panauti Temple
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  Panauti during Makar Mela

• Himalayan Park in Nepal