Kathmandu the largest city and capital of Nepal and the namesake of the KathmanduValley. Once thought to be the fabled and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu is now a hub for independent travelers as well as a growing vacation spot catering to all budgets. Kathmandu is said to have been founded by king Gun Kamdev in 723 AD. According to legend, the area was a lake in the past, but the Buddhist god Manjushri cut open a hill to the south and allowed the water to flow out, making the region habitable. The origin of the present name is unclear, but one of the more likely theories is that it was named after Kastha-Mandap ("temple of wood" in Sanskrit), after a pagoda carved from the single tree on the order of King Laxmi Narashingha Malla in 1596. The first thing many visitors may notice about Kathmandu is the general lack of street names (except for major roads such as Tri Devi and Ring Road) and address numbers. In most cases directions are given relative to the nearest chowk or tole, an intersection or square. Swayambunath or the "Monkey Temple" gives a great views over the city. King's Palace has giant fruit bats hanging from the tall trees and 20 foot-tall bamboo. Thamel Chowk is perfect for dinner and shopping with lots of restaurants and shops. Freak Street is the historic home of western hippies seeking enlightenment and Nasal Chowk shows statues, temples and the Rana museum.