Idea #753 – Visiting Khokana and taste its mustard seed oil, in Nepal
Khokana is a small traditional Newar village, located about 8 kilometers south of Kathmandu, on the outskirts of Patan. Since ancient times, Khokana has been known primarily for the production of mustard oil. It was also the first city in Nepal to have electricity, in 1911 under the government of Prime Minister Rana Chandra Shamsher.
The main temple of Rudrayani, established by King Amara Malla as early as the 15th century to try to cure spreading epidemics, is said to have been the origin of the appearance of the city. The latter would have developed by the migration of the Maharjans and the Dangols of Pachali Bhairav, as the many similarities in the cultures and traditions of the inhabitants of these two places tend to prove.
Khokana is included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage, representing a vernacular village and its mustard seed industrial heritage. It was terribly shaken by the 2015 earthquake and is struggling to be restored.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Khokana, Karyabinayak, Népal
