Nepal is still one of the least urbanized countries in the world, with only 17 % of the Nepalese population living in urban areas in 2012 (WB 2014). Thus, the country is in a phase where it is undergoing significant spatial transitions, and it faces a new urban future: villages are abandoned, towns change into urban areas and cities grow and sprawl. Urban growth occurs in big cities, but smaller urban areas are equally challenged by the spatial transformation. In Nepal, as on global scale, urban growth urgently needs attention and needs to be understood; extensive research is necessary to comprehend the future challenges from these spatial changes. Continue reading →