The primary approach to the temple is from the eastern side, where 365 ancient steps lead up the steep forested hillside. The base is about a 20-minute walk from the center of Kathmandu. This staircase is the only route pilgrims would consider and is the most memorable way for any visitor to experience the stupa. However, an alternative is to drive or take a taxi to the west side, where there are only a few steps to climb to the top. Kathmandu is also known informally as KTM or the tri-city.[5] According to a census conducted in 2011, Kathmandu metropolis alone has 5.2 million inhabitants, and the agglomerate has a population of more than 7.5 million inhabitants.[6] The metropolitan city area is 50.67 square kilometres (19.56 sq mi)[7] and has a population density of 123,225 per kmò. The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley of central Nepal. It is surrounded by four major mountains: Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri. Kathmandu Valley is part of three districts (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur), has the highest population density in the country, and is home to about a twelfth of Nepal's population.
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