The Dhobi Khola (Nepali: धोबीखोला; sometimes known as Rudramati) is a tributary of the Bagmati River which is almost entirely in Kathmandu District of Nepal.[2] The river originates in Shivapuri Hill and Muhanpokhari, north of Kathmandu Valley, and is mostly fed by springs and rainfall.[2][3] The Dhobi Khola's mouth is located at Bijuli Bazar (sometimes called Buddhanagar) where it merges with the Bagmati River.[2]

Dhobi Khola
Dhobi Khola River flowing under the Bijuli Bazar Arch Bridge, 2023 - note the rubbish-dumping lorries
Dhobi Khola is located in Bagmati Province
Dhobi Khola
Mouth of Dhobi Khola River
Native nameधोबीखोला (Nepali)
Location
CountryNepal
ProvinceBagmati Province
DistrictKathmandu District
Physical characteristics
SourceMuhanpokhari
 • locationNagarkot
 • coordinates27°42′17″N 85°28′57″E / 27.70480242820259°N 85.48250150808195°E / 27.70480242820259; 85.48250150808195
2nd sourceDhobidhunga
 • locationShivapuri Nagarjun National Park
MouthBagmati River
 • location
Bijuli Bazar, Kathmandu
 • coordinates
27°40′44″N 85°20′02″E / 27.67894373060504°N 85.3339635541958°E / 27.67894373060504; 85.3339635541958
Length18.2 kilometres (11.3 mi)[1]
Width 
 • minimum10 metres (33 ft)
 • average15 metres (49 ft)
 • maximum20 metres (66 ft)

Dhobi Khola's banks have been used as a dumping ground by private organizations and municipalities.[3] In 2018, volunteers had removed about 30 metric tonnes of solid waste from the river, as part of the Mega Bagmati Clean-up campaign.[4] The same year, a 5 ft in length and 1 ½ ft in width carving described as a "headless, armless figure has been dubbed simply as a ‘nari murti’ or female figure" was found dating back to the Licchavi-era.[5] About 4 ropani (0.5 acres) of land belonging to the river was "illegally registered in the names of individuals under the pretext of updating the land survey map".[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Pandey 2014, p. 23.
  2. ^ a b c Aryal et al. 2016, p. 22.
  3. ^ a b Pandey 2014, p. 7.
  4. ^ "Dhobi Khola clean-up caps 200-week mark". The Kathmandu Post. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Venus of Dhobikhola". The Kathmandu Post. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  6. ^ Lamichhane, Prashant (3 May 2019). "4 ropani at Dhobi Khola illegally registered in names of individuals". My Republica. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.

Citations edit