Page:Picturesque Nepal.djvu/123

 goddess Taleju, or Tulaja devi, is the protectress of the ruling family of Nepal, and it is related that Prithi Narain, the Gurkha conqueror of Katmandu, having offered a human sacrifice in this temple, was visited in a dream by this deity, who expressed her displeasure at the act. Towards the centre of the city there arises, far above all other buildings, a stone tower or column, the most striking, but probably least interesting erection in Katmandu. It is about 200 feet high, and is a notable landmark from all parts of the valley. Built by the Gurkha General Bhim Sen, it was not raised for any particular purpose but merely as a freak, and has since been called Bhim Sen's folly. A legend, repeated with great solemnity with regard to this building, maintains that Jung Bahadur, the great hero of all the Gurkhas, for a wager jumped his horse from the top of the column to the pavement below, the animal being killed, but the reckless rider escaping unhurt. The true account of this act—for the tradition is based on an actual episode—states that during the course of construction