Sunakothi

Sunakothi is a small town located about 4km south of the main Lalitpur town in Lalitpur District. According to 2011 Nepal census, Sunakothi has a population of 10,092 living in 2397 individual households. Most of the people living in Sunakothi are Newar. The offshoot road near the Satdobato segment of the Ring Road leads to Sunakothi. This road ultimately leads to Lele and is referred to as Laxmi Prasad Devkota Marga (Satdobato - Tika Bahirab).Thecho is situated on the southern part of Sunakothi, Bungamati and Bhaisipati on west, Dhapakhel on east and Khumaltar and Nakhipot on North.GeographyThe town is spread over an area of 3.08km2. On the north of Sunakothi lies Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City. On the west, Nakhu River separates Sunakothi from Sainbu and Bungamati. Sunakothi is bounded by Dhapakhel on the east and Thecho on the south and sampang chowk in the north.EtymologyThe old name of Sunakothi was Bhringar Grama named after the temple of Bhringareshwor Mahadev. There are two myths regarding how the name ‘Sunakothi’ came into being‘Sana’ refers to funeral procession in Newari. The village is said to have been inhabited by people who helped in funeral works. They hence had a social group of families or Guthi called Sanaguthi. According to popular saying, the ‘Sunakothi’ word evolved from ‘Sanaguthi’According to another myth, when the local temple of Swornapur Mandir was worshipped wearing a Kush Ring (a ring made out of Hay), it turned into a gold ring which translates to Sunko Authi in Nepali. A greedy Brahmin (higher caste in nepali) in order to achieve more gold had hit the shiva linga with an axe. The damages in the linga can still be seen. Thus the name of the place is said to have gradually changed into Sunakothi from Sunko Authi.