Welcome to the Bagmati River Knowledge Base and Resource Centre!!!

Rivers have very high environmental value. The environmental status of any river anywhere indicates the environmental status of that region in the world. In the context of Nepal, these rivers not only have environmental value but they also have high social, cultural and historical value.

The Bagmati River is one of those rivers in Nepal which flows through the Kathmandu Valley and seperates Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The river originates at Bagdwaar on the northern hills of Kathmandu valley and flows through several important parts of Kathmandu including the temple of Lord Pashupatinath, the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal. The river mixes with Bishnumati at Teku Dovan and crosses Chobar gorge on the south of the valley where Chobar temple complex is situated, to flow out of the Kathmandu valley to finally reach terai region. Numbers of other Hindu temples are also located on the banks of this river. In this way, the Bagmati River is considered as a holy river both by Hindus and Buddhists.

The Bagmati River, the study area and its catchments are very important for Nepal due to its civilization. The river originates at Bagdwaar, 15 km northeast of Kathmandu in Shivapuri hills (2731m). Its tributaries include:

1. Bishnumati, Tukucha, Dhobi Khola, Manohara and Hanumante flowing from North and Northeast part;
2. Nakhu khola, Khodku Khola, Godavari and Gundu Khola from South;
3. Triveni khola and Balkhu khola from west part of the valley.