conclusion

All over the valley, authorities are making renewed efforts to conserve and maintain the remaining historical ponds. A great deal of success in the beautification and maintenance of ponds like Rani pokhari , Gahana pokhari, Nag pokhari and kamal pokhari,as well as Siddha pokhari in Bhaktapur, have been source of great encouragement. Such site can give a boost to tourism besides serving as inviting places to relax in for the local as well.
Besides, pokharis offer the cities a better chance to breathe because of the open spaces they provide in the midst of concrete jungles. In addition, people are now realizing the wisdom of their ancient predecessors in that they had rightly given so much importance to conserve water through the extensive construction of such reservoirs.

HITES AND POKHARIS

In fact one could say that the valley itself was born of a pond (albeit a very large one). According to mythology, the kathmandu Valey was originally a lake known as Nagdaha that was full of snakes (naga. snake deity, daha; lake). It was drained by a Buddhist sage named Manjushree who had come to Swayambhu for meditation. It is, of course, but a myth. What is true, however, is that in the architecturally rich eras of the Licsvi (2nd to 9th century) and malla (14th to 16t century) reigns, many wonderful stupas, temples, and monasteries were built along with numerious it is(stone spouts) and pokharis (pond) as well.

DESCRIPTION OF NAG POKHARI

Nag Pokhari is situated in Nax!l, close to and on the eastern side the erspwhile Royal palace (now a museum), has a tall stadue of a Naga King(Serpent God) at its center. Nag Pokari coms next only to Rani Pokhari in terms of historical and cultural importance. And ip's not only because of its location, situated as it is in a very important locality with kther significant heritages ndarby, including, of courSe, the palace* This pond, now well preserved and with a park !round it, especially comes to life during Nag Pancami. Gahana Pokhari is located but a short distance away and it, too, is maintained and well taken car of as a result of which it as become the centerpiece of the Handigaun area.

PONDS OF BHAKTAPUR

Once upon a time, Bhaktapur, too, had numerous ponds. Today, according to bhaktapursansar.com, there still are 33 of them in the city. Siddha Pokhari or Ta Pukhu (Big Pond) located at Dudhpati(at te entrance of the city) is said to have ben built in the 15th century during the reign of King Yaksha Malla. It turns into a focal point especially during the Dashain festival (October-November). Considered to be the oldest pond in Bhaktapur, it measures 275 meters by 92 meters and there are quite a lot of fish in it. Another big pond is Barhe Pukhu(lotus pond) located at kamal Vinayak northest of the city . Ancha Pukhu, to the north of the city has a stone image of the reclining Lord Vishnu at its center, and it is a place where many religious events take place.

PONDS OF KATHMANDU

In Kathmandu it self, Rani Pokhari (literally, Queen Pond) is the best known and most beautiful of all the in the valley. Its original Newari names was 'Nub Pukhu"(new pond) and it was probably named so because there already were numerous ornamental ponds in valley before it was built. Rani Pokhari and its immediate vicinity encompass about three and a half ecters(62 ropanies). Located opposite Durbar High School In the Ratna Park area, it is rectangular in shape and as a Shiva temple (balgopaleshwar mahadev) as its center. Dating back to the 17th century, it was built by king Pratap Malla to console Queen Anantapriya on the demise of her youngest son .The temple is open to the public once a year during Bhai Tika, the final day of the Tihar Festival, when it is visited by hose having no siblings. On the four corner of the pond stand temples dedicated to Ganesh,Bhairab narayan and Saraswati.

PONDS IN PATAN

The Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City Office (LSMC) states that there are 25 pokharis in the city today with the major ones being Prayag, Jawalakhel and Pim Bahal. Pim Bahal Pokhari
Was built in the 14th century and is one of the more famous ponds in Patan. How ever, it had lain in a state of neglect for a long time. This ancient city has somehow had some trouble maintaining its historical ponds. According to a recent news report, however, three ponds – Nehoo, Saptapatal and Purnachandi- have been earmarked by the LSMC for extensive repair and renovation. This is mainly an attempt to recharge the pond by harvesting rainwater in order to solve the city's acute drinking water problem.

NAGADAHA

Nagadaha in Dhapakhal VDC of lalitpur District is a natural pond that covers of five hectares (around 100 ropanies). And some 8 km southwest of kathmandu is situated Matatirtha pokhari (mata:mother, tirtha:pilgrimage / sacred site), which is visited once a year in April-May by those whose mothers have passed away. The rituals here involve a dip in one of the two adjacent pond followed by other rites. About 8 km north of kathmandu, in Budhanilkantha at the base of Shivapuri Hill, is a large 5th-century stone statue of Sleeping lord Vishnu reclining on a bed of snakes and seemingly floting on the water in the middle of pond. It is one of all religious site (read ponds) in the valley.

LUMBINI

LUMBINI is the birth place of Lord Buddha and about 327km southest of the capital is a revered pilgrimage destination for Buddhist worldwide and a World Heritage Site. The Sorawling Lumbini Gardens is spread over eight square kilometer and its center of attraction is the historic Mayadevi Temple with the famous Ashoka Pillar nearby. To the south of this is the sacred ponds, Puscarini(or Holi Pond), where queen Mayadevi is said to have taken a bath just before giving birth to Siddhartha Gautam, who later came to de known as Lord Buddha. Prince Siddhartha is also believed to have had his first purification bath in Puskarini

MAJOUR PONDS IN NEPAL

There were numerous ponds in the valley serving such important purposes, encroachments due to urbanization has resulted in only a few still surviving. One of Katmandu's biggest ponds, Lainchaur Pokhari, has long disappeared. Now, in its place stands the Nepal Scouts building. In Pattan, among the few remaining ponds today (sod fortunately the most ancient one) is Guita Pukhu (puku in newari mans pond) lagankhel Pukhu, wish was built by King Ashoka Varma, is another old and important pond. Among those in the valley tat still remain, Taudaha(in Chobar), Nagdaha (in Dhapakel), Siddhi Pokhari (in Patan) and Kathmandu's Rani Pokhari, Nag Pokari, Kamal Pokhari and Gahana Pokhari are some of the better known onces.

HISTORICAL PONDS IN NEPAL

The historical city of janakpur has more than 100 ponds and lakes having great religious and cultural significant. Many of them have been totally ignored, resulting in there eutrophication (the process by which a water body files up with dissolved nutrition from fertilizers or sewage there by encouraging the growth and decomposition of oxygen-depleting plantlife and endangering other organism). According to an NGO-ECHO (Environment Convservation and Health Organization, Janakpur)-among the once important ponds that have now became extict are Janak Sarowar, Amrit Kund, gopal Sar, Payshune Sar and Baldev Sar . Other ponds on the verge of extinction include Dewan Pokhari. Rishi Parashuram(a famous sage of Rayaman mythology) is said to have taken a long dip into lake known as Parasuram Kunda to cool down his anger after confronting Lord Ram over the breaking of the secreat bow during the prenuptial ceremonies of Ram and Sita the picturesque pond is located on the way to Dhanushadham from janakpurdham.