Near the base of Mount Everest in the Indian subcontinent, Nepal's Kath- mandu Valley is a place of immense cultural richness. The Kathmandu Val- ley, with its seven World Heritage Zones, evokes wonder in the visitor with its sheer number of religious structures and monuments. Beyond these monu- ments and their immediate environs, however, there are other, less well- known sites and resources important to the physical and social well-being of the indigenous people, the Newari. The settlements in the valley, most notably the city of Patan, are characterized by a tight urban fabric relieved only by pub- lic squares, which often include wells, waterspouts, drinking fountains, or other access to potable water. The wa- tering places in and around Patan are of particular interest because they reflect the architectural, artistic, social, and engineering heritage of this ancient people. Unfortunately, the international pressure to preserve the monuments of the Kathmandu Valley's World Heritage Zones has overshadowed and in some ways adversely affected these sites of critical local importance.

This paper examines the traditional water sources of the Newari people in and around the city of Patan by situat- ing these sites in their physical and cultural contexts. Moreover, it highlights the ongoing challenges preservationists face in maintaining key components of daily life in Newari communal society