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

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  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

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