By Dikshya Koirala,Kathmandu, July,1: The beauty of Kathmandu lies in the pleasure of little discoveries. At every intersection of this ancient city, you will be greeted by the sight of small temples made of wooden and brick structures, with intricately carved windows and doors. On a stroll around the valley, you will come across narrow alleys that lead you to a courtyard where a flock of pigeons circle a gilded stupa.
One of these pleasurable discoveries in Kathmandu is the centuries-old “Pote Market”. Indra Chowk is a bustling financial hub and main street of downtown Kathmandu. This street snuggled at the centre of the city is situated between the halfway point of the Asan and the historical centre of Basantapur.
In one of the intersections adjacent to Indra Chowk, you will discover the Pote Market that is more than 350 years old. “Pote” is a collection of small glass beads garland worn by married Brahmin/Chhetri women. It is also used by women of other communities like Gurungs in festivals like Loshar.
The back side of the Pote Market is called Wang: Gha. Here, you see stone-carved statues of different gods and goddesses. This location is identified by the three stone pots.
It is believed the original name of this place was Gha, which in Newari refers to three stone pots. The history of this market goes back to King Pratap Malla who ruled Kantipur from 1641 AD to 1674 AD. During his rule, Kantipur was successful in extending its border on both sides and earning a .
