Kathmandu is the capital and largest city of Nepal, located in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. Situated at an elevation of 1,324 metres (4,344 ft) above sea level, it serves as the nation's primary governmental, financial, industrial, and cultural centre.
The city is located within the Kathmandu District. According to the 2021 Nepal census, Kathmandu has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, while the surrounding metropolitan area houses approximately 4 million people. Historically, the city was known as Kantipur from ancient times until the medieval period and is also referred to as Kasthamandap.