Exploring Ga Hiti: Your Guide to Kathmandu's Traditional Stone Water Fountains - Nepal Purple Travel Guide

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Ga Hiti Stone Spouts offer a fascinating glimpse into the ingenuity and sustainable design of the Newar civilization who designed this ancient water management system. Often overlooked by tourists, this site is one of 573 Stone Spouts in the Kathmandu Valley.

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What are Ga Hiti Stone Spouts?

The name ‘Ga Hiti’ comes from the Newar language, where ‘Ga’ refers to a specific locality (in this case, this neighborhood), and ‘Hiti’ means ‘stone spout’. Together, Ga Hiti simply means ‘the stone spouts of Ga’. These traditional stone waterspouts are fed by rainwater that is channeled down to the Stone Spouts by gravity. The channels are a sophisticated system that is designed to regulate the water flow, purify the water, and avoid blockages through an advanced drainage system.
Hitis have been a central feature of community life in the Kathmandu Valley for over a thousand years.

Historical and Cultural Significance of Ga Hiti Stone Spouts

Stone Spouts were first built during the Licchavi Kingdom in the 5th century AD during king Brisasdev’s reign.
Ga Hiti, however, was built during the Malla period, likely in the 14th or 15th century. It is part of an elaborate network of dhunge dharas (stone spouts) that once supplied clean water to entire communities. These systems were fed by underground channels that tapped into natural aquifers or spring water sources. Intricately carved stonework depicting gods, mythical creatures, and symbolic motifs make the site not only functional but also spiritually significant.
Locals historically used Ga Hiti for everything from drinking and bathing to religious rituals. Women in the community would gather here in the mornings to fetch water and socialize, making it a cornerstone of daily life.
The water coming out of the four spouts at Ga Hiti looks like it's flowing from the mouth of a Makara, a mythical creature that is like a vehicle for Ganga, the Hindu goddess of water. Hindus believe that a king named Bhagirath was the one who brought the River Ganga down from the sky to Earth. That's why you'll often see a figure of Bhagirath carved or placed right under where the water comes out of the spout.
An idol of Lord Vishnu is found on the top of the main spout, to its left is the idol of Uma Maheshwor (popular theme in Hindu art and sculpture showing the divine couple Shiva (Maheshwara) and Parvati (Uma) sitting together), and to the right is the idol of Lokeshwor (crucial figure in Buddhism, representing the active embodiment of compassion for all living beings; ‘Lokeshwor’ is a Sanskrit term that translates to ‘Lord of the World’).

Ga Hiti Stone Spouts Today

After modern piped water systems were introduced in the Kathmandu Valley in the 19th century, many traditional stone spouts have fallen into disrepair, dried up due to urbanization and changing water tables, or have been destroyed. It is reported that in 2019, 94 of the original 573 stone spouts were destroyed or lost, and only 224 still produced water. The daily output was around 0.64 mio gal (2.4 mio l) of water per day.
Interestingly, 43 of those dispensed water from municipal water supply, instead of their original natural source.
Ga Hiti remains one of the 224 that still functions year-round. Efforts by local communities and heritage conservation groups have helped preserve this and other sites and maintain their water flow.
Today, Ga Hiti continues to serve nearby residents – it is not designed as a tourist attraction, so please be respectful.

Visiting Tips for Ga Hiti Stone Spouts

• Admission is free.

• Best Time to Visit: The site is accessible all day, but mornings are ideal to see locals using the spouts for washing themselves, brushing teeth, doing laundry, etc.

• Etiquette: This is still a functional water source, so please be mindful of the locals using it.

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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel

Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.

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