Thousands of years ago, it is said that Kathmandu Valley was nothing more than a Himalayan lake. Buddhist chronicles then tell of the coming of Manjushree Bodhisattva who came through Nepal from China to worship Swyambhu (a manifestation of the primordial Buddha) And as an act of worship, he chose this lowest hill in the southern part of the valley, to drain the then existing lake and create this narrow 8 metre passage.
This legendary draining of the lake resulted in the formation of Kathmandu basin. Those of us who live in Kathmandu Valley today are mindful – and thankful too - of Lord Manjushree’s great work.
