History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c22.s1.2

v1.c22.s1.2

The most noted and extensive of these valleys is the valley of Nepal properly so called. It is surrounded by mountains like the valley of Kashmir and is about 20 miles in length and 10 miles in breadth. A small river (lesser than the Vitastā of Kashmir) runs through this valley and unites with another river in the centre of it. These two riverss are named Bāgmati and Vishnumati and uniting they get out of the valley through a gorge in the southern hills into the plains of India. The valley is about 4700 ft. above the sea level and consequently enjoys a very fine climate which is not very cold. The soil is fertile and the chief crop is of course rice as in Kashmir. Vegetables and all sorts of fruit are grown in this and the adjoining valleys. It is, therefore, very thickly populated and there are several towns in it the chief being Kāthmāndu or Kāntipur which is situated on the confluence of the Bāgmati and Vishnumati and Lalitapātana and Bhātgaon (Bhaktagrama).