LALITAVISTARA

A holy work of Buddhism wholly in sanskrit verses, this work depicts the life and doctrines of Gautam Buddha. 

LALITPUR

Lalitpur city, widely known as Patan is an ancient city planned in those days with a circular format guarded in four corners by four Buddhist stupas called “Ashok stupas”. Situated quite near Kathmandu towards southeast corner, this city is nothing less than archaeological storage of ancient civilization of Nepal. Artistic temples and chaityas counted here are not less than fifteen hundred and that there are 157 Buddhist Vihar & Vahees ( different kinds of monasteries). The images and idols are in thousands. Durbar Square at the centre of the city is the most revealing  and heart catching area, full of Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines, artistic gateways, images and monuments of various sorts of deities and personages, stone monoliths and medieval kings on top of them and the like. 

Believed to have been built in 299 A.D., this city has its own history most of the times as an independent city state. Patan is specially famous for its skilled artists, craftsmen like mansions, metal workers, sculptors etc., architects and tradesmen. 

LAKES

There are many lakes and springs in Nepal which have peculiarities of their own. It is not that the number of lakes in Nepal is important, but their location, features and peculiarities are noteworthy and interesting. Many of the lakes are visited by tourists, nature lovers and all by amassing enough courage and undergoing adventurous feats. Many lakes are formed by glaciers, landslides and even by earthquakes and so on. A number of lakes are amazingly beautiful or surrounded by beautiful sceneries. Some are famous for historic or cultural importance where as others are peculiar in features, locations and or altitude. Scattered throughout the country, some of the famous lakes are listed below:- 

1. Rara Lake of Karnali zone

2. Phoksumdo Lake of Dolpo district

3. Tilijo lake

4. Fewa Lake of Pokhara city

5. Rupa Lake of Kaski district

6. Begnas Lake of Kaski district

7. Jagdual Lake. situated in the west of Kanjiroba Himal, This lake is
one and half kilometre in breadth and 3 kilometres in length. 

8. Dipand Lake situated in the Pokhara Valley. 

9. Satyavati Lake in Palpa. 

10. Mandan Lake also in Palpa. 

11. Kamini Lake in Bara district. 

12. Suram Sarovar in Bajhang. 

13. Barhakune Lake in Dang. 

14. Sapru Lake in Jajarkot 

KYERUNG

Kyerung is the name of the place as well the name of the language of the communities associated with particular areas like Rasuwa District, Langtang region. It is connected with border areas of Nepal and Tibet. This language is from Sino-Tibetan or Tibeto-Burman group of languages. 

KUSUNDAS

Kusundas are  one of the endangered communities of aboriginal ethnic groups of Nepal. This small community prefer to live separately and alienated from other communities. They choose secluded forest areas for their inhabitation. Sparsely found in the districts of Gorkha, Kaski, Salyan, Pyuthatn, Dang, Dailekh and Surkhet, the Kusundas resemble the Chepangs in their observances. Kusundas are often termed as  Ban Manchhe meaning wild  people and some time as Ban Raja or the kings of the forest. They have their own native language. Some Kusundas call themselves Chhatyals where as many of them do not address themselves by their ethnic surnames. Not to talk of their language and culture, but their communities as well are on the brink of extinction. For their livelihood, they prefer to forage for tubers than to opt for cultivation. They do not drink bovine milk and that cow dung is almost a taboo for them.

KURMA

The second incarnation of Lord Vishnu was in the form of a tortoise i.e. Kurma. In this incarnation, he supported mountain Manthara from sinking into the ocean. It is believed that this mountain on top of the ocean was used by gods as the base to churn the ocean for exploring ambrosia, the nectar for immortality. 

KUMBHESWAR

This is a five-storied pagoda styled temple of Lord Shiva situated in lalitpur district. A natural holy spring here is said to have its source in the famous glacial lake of Gosaikund. The temple was built by King Jayasthiti Mall and the golden finial was added in 1422 A.D. The tank by the side of the temple is sanctified by installing various images of gods and that ritual bathing takes place on the day of janai purnima (Aug-Sep) every year. 

KUMBHAKARNA HIMAL

With several peaks above 20,000 ft. above sea level, Kumbhakarna Himal range stretches from the west of  Khumbu Himal to the upper reaches of the Arun rivers. The imposing feature of this range is further dignified by its highest peak Mt. Makulu which is the 5th highest of the world. 

KUMARI

Kumari is known as the incarnation of the goddess Kali, but she is not so ferocious as the latter. In Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu, Kumari is a living goddess. The presiding goddess of Kathmandu is a Kumari, a girl chosen from among the shakya girls. Including the President and earlier kings of Nepal, all dignitaries and people of Nepal pay homage to her. Other Kumari’s are there in several other monatries and areas in Kathmandu valley who are worshipped in similar way at various locations. For more information on the origin of Kumari and the Kumari Ratha Jatra, a festival to celeberare her, see Kumari Ratha Jatra.

KUMARI RATH JATRA

During Indra Jatra, the rath or the chariot of Kumari is also drawn. This being the dominating feature of that festival, Indra Jatra itself is sometimes considered as Kumari Rath Jatra.

The origin of Kumari Rath Yatra is described in the Chronicles as follows. Formerly kings of Kathmandu had had direct consultation with Kumari on political and various other issues, but once when king Trailokya Malla was playing at dice with her, goddess Kumari noticed a stolen glance of the former’s daughter and since then refused to be seen anymore. The saddened king was later assured by Kumari that she would incarnate time to time as a daughter of someone in the Shakya clan. The practice of choosing a virgin girl and two young boys from amongst the children of Shakyas as the incarnations of goddess Kumari and gods. Ganesh and Bhairav came into being. However, the practice of drawing their chariots started of late during the reign of king Jaya Prakash Malla some two and half centuries ago.