Ikha Pukhu

Ikha Pukhu is one of Kathmandu's historically significant upstream reservoirs, built during the Lichhavi period as part of the city's sophisticated water management system. The pond sat at a higher elevation than the old city core, designed to recharge the shallow aquifer that fed Kathmandu's network of hiti (stone water spouts) and dug wells. Together with Rani Pokhari and the now-lost Lainchaur Pokhari, Ikha Pukhu formed the trio of major upstream water bodies that sustained the medieval capital's water supply.

The pond was originally linked to the deidhā (rajkulo) canal system that brought water from the foothills into the city, ensuring it remained recharged even during the dry months. The traditional clay-lined bed and dry brick masonry walls allowed controlled groundwater infiltration while releasing water pressure — an engineering principle that kept the pond structurally stable through centuries of seasonal expansion and contraction.

Ikha Pukhu is located in the Chhetrapati area, a historic neighbourhood on the western edge of old Kathmandu known for its traditional Newari architecture and the Chhetrapati chowk — a central gathering space with a distinctive circular pavilion. The pond has been reduced in size by urban encroachment but retains its ritual significance. Local families perform degu puja (dewali, the worship of ancestral lineage deities) at the pond's banks during the festival season, continuing a tradition that once took place at ponds across the valley.

The pond is a short walk northwest of Kathmandu Durbar Square and can be visited together with the Asan Bazaar and the surrounding old-city lanes. Visit in autumn or winter for the clearest views of the pond's remaining stonework and the surrounding heritage architecture.