Welcome to a journey through the heart of Kathmandu — where history, culture, and architecture come alive. In this video, we explore three of Nepal’s most treasured landmarks: Ranipokhari, the serene royal pond with a love story at its core… Ghanta Ghar, the timeless clock tower that still stands tall… and the majestic Dharahara, a symbol of resilience and pride. Discover the beauty, the stories, and the legacy of these iconic sites that continue to define the spirit of Nepal.
History of Dharhara
Dharahara, also known as Bhimsen Stambha, is a 72-meter-tall historic tower located in Sundhara, Kathmandu. Originally built in 1832 by Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa as a military watchtower, it showcased a blend of Mughal and European architectural styles. The tower was damaged by earthquakes in 1934 and completely collapsed in the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, resulting in significant loss of life. Rebuilt as a symbol of resilience, the new Dharahara was inaugurated in 2021, featuring modern safety upgrades, an elevator, a museum, and a public viewing deck.
History of Rani Pokhari
Rani Pokhari, which means Queen’s Pond, is one of the most historic and sacred landmarks in Kathmandu.
It was built in 1670 AD by King Pratap Malla, one of the most famous Malla kings of Kathmandu, in memory of his beloved queen after the death of their son.At the center of the pond is a beautiful white temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built on a small island. The water in the pond was collected from many holy rivers across Nepal, making it spiritually significant.
History of Ghanta Ghar
Ghanta Ghar, Nepal’s first public clock tower, was built in the early 20th century by Prime Minister Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana during the Rana regime. Located near Ranipokhari in Kathmandu, it was inspired by European architecture and symbolized the beginning of modernization in Nepal. Originally a three-story structure with clock faces on all sides, it was damaged in the 1934 earthquake and later rebuilt. Today, it remains a historic and cultural landmark in the heart of the city.
VOCABULARY
| English | Romanized Nepali | Nepali |
|---|---|---|
| Bhimsen Tower | Dharhara | धरहरा |
| Prime Minister | Mukhtiyar (during late 18th and early 19th century) | मुख्तियार |
| Military | Sainik | सैनिक |
| Tower | Stambha | स्तम्भ |
| History | Itihas | इतिहास |
| Beautiful | Sundar | सुन्दर |
| Ticket | Tikat | टिकट |
| How much | Kati | कति |
| Environment | Batabaran | वातावरण |
| Garden | Bagaicha | बगैचा |
| Clean | Safa | सफा |
| Tree | Rukh | रूख |
| Fountain | phohara | फोहरा |
| Wind | Hawa | हवा |
| Peaceful | Shantimaya | शान्तिमय |
| Lift/Elevator | Lift | लिफ्ट |
| Stairs | Bharyang | भर्याङ |
| View | Drishya | भर्याङ |
| Photo | Photo | फोटो |
| Sit | Basnu | बस्नु |
| Nice place | Ramro thau | राम्रो ठाउँ |
| Road | Bato | बाटो |
| Earthquake | Bhukampa | भूकम्प |
| Story | Katha | कथा |
| Stone tap | Dhunge Dhara | ढुंगे धारा |
| King | Raja | राजा |
| Queen | Rani | रानी |
| Pond | Pokhari | पोखरी |
| Love | Maya | माया |
| Queen’s Pond | Rani Pokhari | रानीपोखरी |
| Walk | Hidnu | हिड्नु |
| Nearby | Xeumai | छेउमा |
| Place | Thau | ठाउँ |
| Clock | Ghadi | घडी |
| Time | Samaya | समय |
| College | Kalej | कलेज |
SENTENCE
| Englsih | Romanized Nepali | Nepali |
|---|---|---|
| This tower is very beautiful. | Yo stambha ekdam sundar chha. | यो स्तम्भ एकदम सुन्दर छ। |
| I came to see Dharahara. | Ma Dharahara herna ako ho. | म धरहरा हेर्न आएको हुँ। |
| How much is the ticket for one person? | Ek jana ko tikat kati ho? | एक जनाको टिकट कति हो? |
| I want two tickets. | Malai duita tikat chahiyo. | मलाई दुईटा टिकट चाहियो। |
| This environment is very peaceful. | Yaha ko vatavaran ekdam shanta chha. | यहाँको वातावरण एकदम शान्त छ। |
| The garden is clean and green. | Bagaicha sapha ra hariyo chha. | बगैँचा सफा र हरियो छ। |
| I’m going by the lift. | Ma lift bata janchu. | म लिफ्टबाट जान्छु। |
| I’m going by the stairs. | Ma sidhi bata janchu. | म सिँढीबाट जान्छु। |
| This place is good for taking pictures. | Yo thau photo khichnako lagi ramro chha. | यो ठाउँ फोटो खिच्नको लागि राम्रो छ। |
| Rani Pokhari was built by King Pratap Malla. | Rani Pokhari Raja Pratap Mallale banaunu bhaeko ho. | रानी पोखरी राजा प्रताप मल्लले बनाउनु भएको हो। |
| Now I’m walking towards Rani Pokhari and Ghanta Ghar. | Aba ma Rani Pokhari ra Ghanta Ghar tira hiddai chhu. | अब म रानी पोखरी र घन्टा घरतिर हिँड्दै छु। |
| Rani Pokhari is beautiful and peaceful. | Rani Pokhari sundar ra shanta chha. | रानी पोखरी सुन्दर र शान्त छ। |
| The temple is in the middle of the pond. | Mandir pokhariko bich ma chha. | मन्दिर पोखरीको बीचमा छ। |
| Ghanta Ghar is one of Kathmandu’s oldest towers. | Ghanta Ghar kathmandu ko purano stambha ho. | घन्टा घर काठमाडौंको पुरानो स्तम्भ हो। |
| This Clock Tower is very old. | Yo ghanta ghar dherai purano chha. | यो घन्टा घर धेरै पुरानो छ। |
| This is a memorable moment. | Yo smaraniya chyan ho. | यो स्मरणीय क्षण हो। |
We also recommend the Ling App, the easy path to hard languages. Ling makes hard languages easy and joyful to learn. Ling does this by deeply understanding the cultures and languages our users explore. Click on the banner below to sign up for a Ling account now.
