|
 Lalitpur,
city
in
Nepal,
on
the
Baghmati
River,
in
the
Kathmandu
Valley,
just
south
of
Kathmandu.
Lalitpur
is
the
administrative
center
of
Lalitpur
District.
The
area
surrounding
the
city
produces
barley,
wheat,
millet,
oats,
corn,
rice,
potatoes,
and
vegetables.
The
city
is
known
for
its
metalwork,
brassware,
woven
textiles,
matches,
and
handicrafts;
an
industrial
area
was
established
in
the
1960s.
The
site
of
Lalitpur
is
very
old,
having
parts
of
ancient
walls
and
Hindu
temples
dating
from
the
3rd
century
BC
and
Buddhist
temples
of
the
15th
and
16th
centuries.
Founded
about
AD650,
Lalitpur
was
the
capital
of
the
traditional
first
king
of
Nepal.
During
the
Middle
Ages
the
area
was
alternately
an
independent
Newar
kingdom
or
tributary
to
Kathmandu
or
Bhaktapur,
until
the
Shah
dynasty
conquered
it
in
1768.
The
city
was
formerly
known
as
Patan;
the
present
Sanskrit
name
is
now
in
official
use.
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