south a final

1
Group 9A South Asia
2
Kathmandu

• LocationNepal (Capital)
• Population 1,081,845 (2001 Census)

Not just a Bob Seger Song
3
History Aspects Highlights

• Largest metropolitan city in Nepal
• Found within the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, where
  inhabitance dates back to 900 bc.
• 1768 Conquered from the British, by King
  Prithvi Narayan Shah and became the capital of
  modern Nepal in 1769.
• Lies within the mid-mountainregion of the
  Himalayas, elevation 4,500 ft.
• City was rebuilt after 1934 earthquake and post
  World War I, added to city urbanization.

4
Economy

• Kathmandu is the nations main business center and
  largest market.
• Trade accounts for 21 of citys finances
• Manufacturing and exporting of garments and
  woolen carpets account for 19 of finances
• Agriculture, Education, transport, hotel and
  restaurants each account for 10 or below of
  city finances.
• Tourism is a key component of the citys economy,
  due to the citys direct air links to all
  neighboring countries and East Asia, the Middle
  East and Europe
• Currency Nepalese Rupee (1 US 76.04 Rupee)

5
Politics Government

• Prime Minister Madhav Kumer
• Metropolis Board consists of the Mayor, Deputy
  Mayor, 35 Chairpersons and 2 nominated members
• Mayor is the head of the Metropolitan City
• Elected directly by the people for a five year
  term.
• Metropolis Council consists of 177 elected
  representatives and 20 nominated members
• Council meets twice a year to review process,
  approve annual budget and make policy

6
Population Socio-Dem

• Population 1,081,845 people within Kathmandu.
• Ethnic Groups Newars, Brahmins, and Kshetris
• Languages Spoken Nepali Newari
• Major Religions Hinduism (80.2) Buddhism
  (10.7) Islam (4.2)
• Male 69.7
• Female 55.9

7
Tourism

• Durbar Square Old palace of the Newar Kings
• Shah Kings Palace Two parallel streets catered
  with shops, restaurants, and hotels.
• Old City Home to many Buddhist Hindu temples
  and palaces (est. 17th century)
• Freak Street
• Popular hippie destination in the 1960s 1970s
• Key stop along the hippie trail, hippies
  gathered in large numbers to spend months in
  search of Tranquility and Nirvana.

8
Landmarks

• Festivals Traditional Buddhists and Hindu
  culture is observed by year round festivals
  taking place within the city.
• Mountaineering Starting point for native led
  hikes into the Himalayan mountain region
• Durbar Square Lies in the heart of the city
• 15th to 18th century built palaces of Nepalese
  Royalty.

9
The Future

• Kathmandu is the largest and most urban city in
  Nepal
• Buddhist and Hindu culture thrives within the
  city
• Kathmandu has been a trading city forever.
  Because of its position on an ancient trade route
  between India and Tibet.
• Kathmandu's urban development within its region,
  thriving cultures, and consistent trade and
  market will allow the city to flourish in years
  to come.

10
Ahmendabad

• LocationIndia
• Population 4,970,200

11
Highlights

• Ahmedabad is the sixth largest city in India.
• It is a key political hub of the Gujarat state of
  India and was formerly the capital of Gujarat.
• This major city is positioned along the Sabarmati
  River.
• Ahmedabad was founded in the 15th Century.

• It is highly regarded for its aesthetic
  beauty.
• It is a vital logistical point among Indian
  cities to transport goods, services and ideas.

12
Progression In Session
Old City When established, the region of
Ahemedabad that is now known as the Old City, was
developed with little engineering expertise or
expansion planning. Roads, buildings and other
critical infrastructural aspects of the city are
inefficient, not to mention the lack of style and
substance.

• New City
• The New City is Ahmedabads
• claim to fame. As a bustling
• economic unit, Ahmedabad
• has committed a large portion
• of its funding resources to
• invests in improved roads,
• businesses and scenery.
• Its leaders and citizens have
• made great strides in creating
• well respected city within a
• growing region of the world.

13
Politics Government

• Ahmedabad is the main administrative headquarters
  of the Gujarat District and is led by a mayor.
  The current mayor is Kanaji Thakor.
• It was formerly the capital of the Gujarat State,
  for a ten-year period from 1960-1970.
• The City of Ahmedabad initiated the Golden
  Quadrilateral Project. Its priorities were
  focused toward improving transportation,
  increasing trade and providing ease of access
  among the New City and Old City.
• Municipal government was permanently established
  in the mid 19th Century and has since proven
  invaluable to Ahmedabads past accomplishments,
  current national prominence and future success.

14
Demographics

• Its population density is 551/ km².
• As of 2001, the population of Ahmedabad was 81.2
  urban and its urban population is growing because
  the city has thrived off of its economic success
  and strategic location.

15
Historical Aspects

• Ahmedabad was first developed off of the banks of
  the Sabarmati River, but has grown in size and
  population since.
• While control of the city was never very
  consistent early on, it was temporarily protected
  by a fort that surrounded six miles of Ahmedabad
  to shield off foreign attacks.
• Ahmedabad finally gained stability in the late
  16th Century under the rule of a Mughal Emperor
  named Akbar.
• It became a powerful center of trade and helped
  propel the region to worldwide acknowledgement.
• A famine occurred in 1630 and wreaked havoc on
  the city.
• Great Britain took control of Ahmedabad and its
  resources in 1818, improving its image and
  helping to create many of its modern asset.

16
Origin

• The city of Ahmedabad was originally known as
  Karnaviti when King Karendev I defeated King
  Ashapal to establish the city on the Sabarmati
  River.
• It was conquered by a separate Muslim Dynasty in
  the Fifteenth Century and its name was changed to
  Ahmedabad as a result.
• A sultanate, basically a political region, was
  created and Ahmedabad had been a capital of the
  sultanate in Gujarat for 162 years, spanning the
  time period 1411-1573.

17
Prominent Citizens

• King Karendev I- Winner of a war to conquer the
  land now known as Ahmedabad
• Akbar-Mughal Emporer who held reign of the region
  during its original economic boom

• Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad- Two
  independent leaders who ended Mughal rule of
  Ahmedabad
• Mahatma Ghandi- Opposed British rule over
  India and travelled through Ahmedabad to protest
  British taxes

18
Geography

• Dry Climate
• Elevation of 55 meters above sea level
• Temperature has ranged from 5º Celsius to 55º
  Celsius
• Well connected to other major Indian regions by
  railway, highway and waterway.
• It has a land area of 8,707 km².
• Swiftly growing, as investment heightens in the
  New City and surrounding areas.

19
Economy

• Ahmedabad is a consistent and dependable city to
  boost the economy of India through major ports
  for exporting and importing goods, along with
  capital and infrastructural investment.
• It is a booming center for textile, chemical and
  industrial manufacturing.
• Its inner-city economy is quite prosperous and
  diverse, consisting of a unique selection of
  shops, service oriented businesses and
  transportation systems that rank among the best
  in the entire country of India

20
Cultural Identity

• The majority of the citizens of Ahmedabad speak
  Gujariti, which is clearly derived from the state
  of Gujarat itself.
• A second spoken language is known as Hindi, and
  although it is common, Hindi is not the primary
  language of choice.

21
FOCUS The Samarati River Basin

• A critical location for the region to depend on
  both agriculturally, industrially and for overall
  survival.
• Avg. Annual Rainfall- 750 mm
• Current population- 11.75 million, 51 Urban.
• Ahmedabad holds about 50 of this regions
  population
• Projected Population in 2025- 20 million

22
The Future

• Ahmedabad basically saved itself by constructing
  the New City in an effort to improve upon the
  shortcomings of its prior territorial claims.
• The city has been instrumental in terms of
  improving Indias image as a growing economic
  force and has proven itself competent at
  exploiting its abundance of natural resources
  efficiently.
• The population will continue to grow and GDP
  appears poised to rise as well, provided
  Ahmedabads economic investments continue to
  flourish.

23
Kabul

• LocationAfghanistan (Capital)

Population 3,450,000
24
Geography

• Kabul city is located in the Greater Kabul
  Province, it lies between the Hindu Kush
  mountains along the Kabul river

25
Historical Aspects

• Kabul was established around 1500
• Between 1500 and the mid 1800s Kabul was fought
  over by Mughal Empire and the Safavid Dynasty of
  Persia as it was in a prime for trade
• 1776 Ahmad Shah Durrani (ruler) moved the
  capital of Afghanistan to Kabul
• 1878 1879 British invades again resulting in
  another massacre 
• 1900s King Amanullah Khan rose to power and
  reformed the city
• 1940s The city took off in growth especially
  in industry leading to paved streets, better
  schools, native entertainment
• From 1978 to  2001 the country has been in a
  continuous state of war
• 1979 Soviet Invaded Afghanistan, commanding
  Kabul for the next decade
• 1993 The city turned to a downward slope,
  electricity and water had gone out
• During this time of war 90 of Kabuls buildings
  were destroyed, the people who did not die fled
  the city for safety
• In 2001 America intervened the Afghan Northern
  alliance came to retake control of the city at
  this point
• Present Day the city is slowly redeveloping
  with help from foreign investment, and the people
  are starting to return.

26
Culture

• Major Ethnic groups are
• Pashtun (Majority ), Tajik (second largest
  group), Hazara, Aimak, Turkmen, Baloch
• Languages
• Main Language is Pashtu
• Other Language is Afghan Persian, and Turkic
• Major Religion is Islam (99)
• Other religions include Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis,
  and Jewish
• The Mullah is an important part of Muslim life,
• Any man who can recite the Koran can be a mullah
  (a male religious leader or teacher)
• Kabul is a very diverse city with many different
  people, so much so that some people seem as
  though they are living in different centuries.

27
City Life

• Kabuls population growth rate is about 2.6
• During the early 1800s Kabul was thought to be
  the best and cleanest city in Asia
• While much of the city contains modern buildings
  and shops, many of the people live in mud huts
• There is still a large population of people
  living in poverty as well, with children begging
  on the streets and looking for work.
• Many streets remain unpaved as well as open
  sewers throughout the city
• Woman still are dictated by the Taliban however
  are beginning to obtain more freedom though still
  following family rules

28
Economy

• Do to war conditions over the past 30 years the
  citys economy has been hit hard.
• Between 1992 and 2001 Kabul University was closed
  down and mostly destroyed due to the war, it was
  rebuilt and reopened in 2001
• People of Kabul described the time period prior
  to 1978 as the golden age under rule of King
  Zahir Shah where the different ethnic groups and
  tribes of Afghanistan lived harmoniously
  together they thought of themselves as Afghans
  first, intermarried and mixed socially
• The main products produced in Kabul include
  textiles, processed food, wood products and
  chemicals
• The current governor of Kabul province is Haji
  Din Mohammad.

29
Landmarks

• Kabul Museum was built in 1922, it is two stories
  high
• Kabul University opened in the 1930s
• Kabul Zoo build in 1967

30
The Future

• The future off Kabul is looking better as it is
  continuing to reconstruct all that it lost in the
  80s and 90s.  So far banks and hotels as well
  as shopping centers have been reestablished.  In
  the future Kabuls population will continue to
  grow as well as their tourist industry.  With so
  much history the city has lots of stories to
  tell.

31
Colombo

• LocationSri Lanka

Population3,450,000
32
Geography

• Located on the West Coast of the island
• Colombo is the worlds largest manmade harbor
• Gem cutting is Colombos specialty
• The oldest districts of the city are the Fort and
  the Pettah
• The Fort the focal point of government and
  commercial activity
• The Pettah a district of small shops, markets,
  and sidewalk stalls 

33
Historical Aspects

• Settled by Arab traders during the 8th century
• The Portuguese arrived in the 16th century and
  built the port to protect their spice trade
• The Dutch gained control in 1796
• Colombo served as an allied naval base during
  World War II
• Became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1982

34
Economy

• Handles the majority of Sri Lankas foreign trade
• Manufacturing industries based on the processing
  of raw materials for export
• Numerous factories are located around the city
• Commercial center of the island
• Spice Industry

35
Government

• The mayor is Uvaiz Mohammad Imitiyaz of the Sri
  Lanka Freedom Party
• The form of government is a Mayor council.
• Council members and the mayor are elected through
  local elections every five years

36
Culture

• Vel Festival
• Celebrated by Hindus
• Held in honor of Lord Sri Murukan, the God of War
• Includes street entertainment, elephant
  processions, music, ceremonial dancing, fireworks
  and more
• World Spice Food Festival
• Includes but is not limited to Cuban American,
  Moroccan, Arabian, Italian, Spanish/Portuguese,
  Chinese, Thai, Indonesian Balinese, Korean, and
  Sri Lankan cuisine.
• Began in 2005

37
Landmarks

• There are many parks and sporting fields
• Close to Mount Lavinia Beach and the National
  Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka
• The Clock Tower
• The Presidents House
• Presidential Gardens
• St. Lucias Cathedral

38
Dhaka

• Location Bangladesh
• Population 7,000,000

39
Historical Aspects

• The area which is now known as Dhaka was founded
  during the 10th century.
• It served as the Mogul capital of Bengal from
  1608 to 1704 and was a trading center for
  British, French, and Dutch interests before
  coming under British rule in 1765.
• March 26, 1971 was the declaration of
  Bangladesh's independence.
• December 16, 1971 marked the end of the
  independence war of Bangladesh.  Dhaka then saw a
  rapid and massive growth of the city population
  in the post-independence period, as migrant
  workers from rural areas across Bangladesh moved
  to the city.
• The city suffered heavy damage during the
  Bangladesh war of independence (1971). The
  romanized spelling of the Bengali name was
  changed from Dacca to Dhaka in 1982.

40
Highlights

• Dhaka is known as The City of Mosques with more
  than 700 mosques
• Dhaka is now one of the top 20 most populous
  cities of the world.)

41
Economy

• The main government in Dhaka is the Dhaka City
  Corporation which is a self-governing corporation
  which runs the affairs of the city. The
  incorporated area is divided into several wards,
  which have elected commissioners. The mayor of
  the city is elected by popular vote every five
  years, and the position is presently held by
  Sadeque Hossain Khoka.
• Dhaka suffers from high crime rate as well as a
  lot of political and religious violence
• Dhaka is one of the world's leading rice- and
  jute-growing regions. Its industries include
  textiles such as jute, muslin, and cotton as well
  as food processing, especially rice milling

42
Demographics

• The population is growing by an estimated 4.2
  per annum, one of the highest rates amongst Asian
  cities. Much of this growth is due to migration
  from the outer rural cities
• It is projected that by 2025, Dhakas population
  will be approximately 25 million people

• The people of Dhaka are prominently Islam,
  with the second largest religion being Hinduism,
  followed by Buddhism, and Christianity
• The population literacy rate of the city is
  estimated at 62.3

43
Thimphu

• LocationBhutan
• Population98,676

44
Highlights

• Officially became a city in the mid 20th Century.
• Rural immigration into Thimpu has helped to
  propel the citys economy and provide with a
  steady stream of resources.
• Thimphu is Bhutansbiggest city and thecapital
  as well.

45
Geography

• The Climate consists of subtropical tendencies
  with occasional monsoons.
• Thimphu has mild temperature summer seasons and
  cool winter seasons
• A wet period occurs from May-September while the
  rest of the year is considered dry.
• Thimphu is positioned along the Wang Chhu River
  Valley. The valleys forests and water sources
  are increasingly threatened by pollution and
  measures such as the Thimphu Structure Plan

46
Economy

• Norzin Lam
• A present day entertainment district that
  features stores, restaurants, theaters and public
  centers.
• It represents the culmination of an expansive
  effort to adapt to a larger urban population.
• Clock Tower Square
• Newly renovated hub for shopping, food and retail
  interests.

47
Economy

• The Thimphu economy relies on growing local
  markets, continued infrastructural investment and
  a commitment to tourism.
• The main source of economic production however,
  involves animal upkeep such as yak rearing and
  agricultural farming. Rice is the most popular
  locally grown crop followed by wheat.
• Key places of interest include the Jigme Dorji
  Wangchuck National Park

48
City Life

• Dzongkhags are districts of Bhutan. There are
  twenty such districts in existence.
• The name of these regions is due to the language
  spoken, known as Dzongkha.
• Additionally, the Dzongkhags are divided into
  smaller and smaller units, specifically
  onedrungkhag and ten gewogs.
• Administrators head all Dzongkhags in a similar
  fashion to that of a city council. There are also
  citizen representatives and officials who develop
  and coordinate social and professional
  activities.

49
City Life cont.

• 60 of the households are supplied with
  electricity.
• Thimphu is one of only two national capitals in
  all of Asia to exist without traffic lights on
  roads. Traffic officers are used instead.
• A monument known as The Memorial Chorten is
  Thimphus most revered structure, and was built
  following a notable Kings sudden death.

50
Culture

• Thimphu was originally ruled by a king as a small
  settlement until recognized as a city.
• Thimphu is home to the worlds largest Buddha
  statue.
• It is required that all newly built buildings
  reflect traditional Buddhist heritage.

51
The Future

• Thimphu has made impressive strides to adapt to
  rapidly evolving 21st Century cultures.
• A major asset is the citys relatively recent
  boost of funding directed toward education and
  tourism, which are two key factors that may be a
  driving force for its economy.
• Century of the Monarchy may have been a vital
  moment in Thimphus history, because it sparked a
  sense of national pride to improve existing
  monuments and celebrate historic traditions with
  modern flare.
• Private secondary schools have increased steadily
  as well as diversified opportunities in higher
  education

52
Work Cited

• KABUL
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabul
• http//www.afghanistans.com/Information/People/Rel
  igion.htm
• Lewin, Brent. "Daily life in Kabul.(CULTURE)(City
  overview)." World and I 22.2 (Feb
  2007) NA. Academic OneFile. Gale. Michigan State
  University Libraries. 27 Oct. 2009  lthttp//find.
  galegroup.com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/gtx/start.do?prodI
  dAONEgt.
• COLOMBO
• Vel Festival, Colombo, Sri Lanka. (2009).
  In Colombo Events Guide. Retrieved October 20,
  2009, from World Events Guide http//www.worldeve
  ntsguide.com/event/4205/Colombo-Sri-Lanka/Vel-Fest
  ival.html
• Sri Lanka-World Spice Food Festival-2009. (2009)
  In taste and share. Retrieved October 20, 2009,
  from taste and share http//www.tasteandshare.com
  /events/sri-lanka-world-spice-food
• Colombo. (2009). Retrieved October 20, 2009,
  from StateUniveristy.com http//encyclopedia.stat
  euniversity.com/pages/4803/Colombo.htmlixzz0URI7b
  fRq
• Colombo. (2009). In Encyclopedia Britannica.
  Retrieved October 20, 2009, from Encyclopedia
  Britannica Online http//Britannica.com/EBchecked
  /topic/126117/Colombo
• Colombo. (2009). In The Columbia Encyclopedia.
  Retrieved October 20, 2009, from The Columbia
  Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Encyclopedia.com htt
  p//www.encyclopedia.com

53
Work Cited

• DHAKA
• http//www.virtualbangladesh.com/bd_cities_dhaka.h
  tml
• http//travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/cities
  /city_dhaka.html
• http//www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Dhaka
• http//www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293936-s203/Dha
  ka-CityBangladeshHistory.html
• AHMEDABAD
• http//www.ahmedabad.com/history.php. 2009. Web.
• Assessment of Sabarmati River Basin, India. CPSP
  India.
• http//www.oecd.org/secure/pdfDocument/0,2834,en_
  21571361_34281952_35641667_1_1_1_1,00.pdf. 2009.
  Web.
• THIMPHU
• http//www.bhutan.gov.bt/citizen/famCom_index.php
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thimphu
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzongkhag
• http//www.thimphu.gov.bt/pictures.php