Kathmandu is known as “City of Temples”. Kathmandu is the largest capital city of Nepal. It is a bowl like valley surrounded by high hills and situated in the centre of Nepal. Kathmandu has many palaces, mansions, stupas, temples, heritage houses and is also equipped with good hotels to stay and places to eat.
Newars are the ethnic group of Kathmandu and majority of them are Hindus and Buddhists. Kathmanduities have maintained their historical festivities which form a major part of their lives.
Basantapur Durbar Square
Like Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Durbar (palace) is another living museum of medieval time. Durbar Square is One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. Glorious architecture, narrow alleys, beautifully carved doors and windows, it is sure to give you another most satisfying trip in this wonderful Himalayan country. It is located at the centre of old Kathmandu. Durbar square hosts massive buildings with great architecture and artefacts. You can find many old houses with beautifully carved windows and doors. Kings of the time must have put efforts to make this city so beautiful.
The entire square was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, but it was badly damaged by the 2015 earthquake that struck Nepal but is being restored.
Things to do in Durbar square:
- Visit Kasthamandap (wooden pavilion) which is a three-roofed building. It is believed that Kasthamandap is built from the wood of a single tree. It is widely accepted in Nepal that name of Kathmandu was derived from Kasthamandap. Durham University research shows that it was built in 7th century.
- Taleju temple is quite beautiful and worth seeing from a distance as it is a restricted premise even for Hindus. Hindus are allowed only once a year during 9th day of Dashain festival.
- Kumari Ghar (Kumari House) is where the living goddess Kumari lives in.
- Basantapur has many alleys to explore the living museum of the past.
- You can buy handmade crafts with street vendors as souvenirs but make sure to bargain as much as you can.
- It is about 15-25 minutes from Kings Way and Thamel.
- Entrance fee for Foreigners is NRs. 1,000.
Thamel and Garden of Dreams
Thamel is a tourist hub. You can find budget hotels, plenty of shops to meet your needs from souvenirs to trekking gears and eateries including drinks. It’s good place to stroll around and socialise with other tourists.
Garden of Dreams lies on the eastern side between Thamel and Royal Palace. It is within 5 minutes walking distance from Thamel centre. You can escape the crowd and the noise to enjoy peace in this garden with ponds, greenery and varieties of fauna. It costs NRs. 200 to enter the garden.
Wander around Ason
Ason and surrounding areas has been the most popular shopping hub for many many years not only for Kathmanduities but to all Nepalese. Ason is really big market place where Nepalese can find anything that they can’t find anywhere else and offers great bargain. The shops are on the ground floor of homes where home owners used to live on the upper floors but this has changed a lot. Most of the shops are rented by others these days.
Most of these houses were built more by grandparents or great grandparents of the current owners. It is another living museum of the past. It is only about 5-10 minutes walking distance from Basantapur Durbar Square.
Royal Palace and Kingsway
Kingsway represent modern Kathmandu. Kingsway is the main road in front of main door of Royal Palace (Nepal is not a kingdom anymore but the palace is still known as Royal Palace – Raj Durbar in Nepalese language). At the other end you will see Ghantaghar (Clock Tower) on the left and Nepal’s oldest college Tri Chandra College which was built in 1918.
Kingsway has five star hotels with casinos, exclusive eateries and high end shops.
Pashupati Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the world. Many Hindus around the world visit this temple of lord Siva. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the main part of the temple and it is prohibited to take photos or videos inside the main temple.
It is situated in the banks of Bagmati River. The temple is built in Pagoda style and it is the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal. The temple Gajur (pinnacle) is made of gold and the 2 levels of copper roofs are covered by gold. All four doors are covered by beautifully carved silver sheets.
Non Hindus are allowed around the temple. Most of the tourists visit to see how the dead bodies are cremated.
It is about 7 kilometres from city centre and entry fee is NRs. 1,000.
Boudha
Boudhanath is one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. It is another UNESCO World Heritage site in Nepal. It is about 36 metres high and looks beautiful when lit up at night. There are many monasteries around it. Boudha is popular among Tibetan Buddhists. It is located in north east side of Kathmandu and about 9 Kms from Thamel. It costs NRs. 100 for SAARC visitors and NRs. 400 for other nationals to enter Boudhanath Stupa.
Swayambhu Nath Temple (Monkey Temple)
Located in northwest of Kathmandu valley, it takes about 20 minutes by a car from Kathmandu city centre. It gives you panoramic view of Kathmandu valley. This is one of the holiest Buddhist stupas in Nepal. It is unique to other stupas and believed to be one of the oldest stupas dating back to 460 AD.
You can drive to the top and climb only few steps to the temple but it would be a good experience to climb the whole 365 steps from the bottom while viewing small stupas passing several monkeys on your way. It costs NRs. 50 for SAARC visitors and NRs. 200 for other nationals to enter
Other areas if you have a time to visit
Nagarkot
Nagarkot is popular for panoramic view of the Himalaya Tops and look sunrise. It is cooler than Kathmandu valley. It takes about 2 hours from Kathmandu in car and just over 30km from Kathmandu. There are many good places to stay and to eat.
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is another city in Kathmandu valley. It is a living museum of medieval time. You will be amazed to see this beautiful city. With pagoda style sky-high temples, glorious architecture, narrow alleys, beautifully carved doors and windows, it is sure to give you one of the most satisfying trips. It takes about 40 minutes by a car from Kathmandu city centre. Entry fee to Bhaktapur is NRs 100 for SAARC country visitors and US$ 15 (NRs 1,500) for non-SAARC country visitors.
Patan
Patan is another city in Kathmandu valley. You do not want to miss travelling to this city. It takes about 20-30 minutes from Kathmandu city centre by a car. Entry fee is NRs 250 for SAARC Nationals and NRs 1,000 for other nationals.
Kopan Monastery
This is a beautiful Tibetan monastery located on the outskirts of Kathmandu. You can take a taxi or do 2-3 hours of hike.
If you want to meditate, then this is the place to do it. Kopan Monastery offers a variety of meditation courses, variety of accommodation (US$7-$20) and meals. It is in a perfect tranquil location. You can travel to Kopan Monastery in the morning from Kathmandu and join the morning meditation classes. You can find more about Visitors Guide in Kopan Monastery site .
Hike to The Champa Devi Temple
Located at an elevation of 2,285m south west of Kathmandu, it consists of a Buddhist Stupa and a Hindu Shrine. You can hire a car to Pharping village which is 19 KMs from Kathmandu and takes about an hour to Pharping. Then you can hike 2 hours hike to the top.
You can view central and western Himalaya Tops like Langtang, Gauri Shanker, Jugal etc. This is a great day hike, for those who don’t have the time, money or the effort required to do long hikes.
It takes 1-1½ hours to come down to Pharping. It is much cooler than Kathmandu valley.
How long do I stay in Kathmandu?
You can spend few days to many in this City of Culture but if your destination is not only Kathmandu, 2-3 days will be adequate.
What time of year is best to travel to Kathmandu?
Kathmandu can be travelled any time of the year. June and July is Monsoon period so heavy rains can be expected.
What type of accommodation available in Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has the only international airport in Nepal so it is the most visited place in Nepal by tourists. There are many different types of accommodation available to suit any budget and enough accommodation available any time of the year.
Costs
Varies depending upon what you want to do, where you want to stay and where you want to eat. The prices are affordable in Nepal compared to other country destinations.
There are nominal entry fee to enter different areas. Nepal government’s official page Welcome Nepal has all the entry fees listed on its website.
Climate
Climate in Kathmandu is considered pleasant. Kathmandu is hilly area so every elevation varies slightly. It is around 1400 metre metres. Rainfall is low in winter and high in summer which is monsoon season. Average humidity is 75% in Kathmandu.
Autumn (September – November)
Sep: Min 16-20, Max 26-32 Degree Celsius
Oct: Min 10-15, Max 24-28 Degree Celsius
Nov: Min 4-9, Max 20-25 Degree Celsius
Winter (December – February)
Dec: Min 1-5, Max 16-20 Degree Celsius
Jan: Min 0-5, Max 15-20 Degree Celsius
Feb: Min 1-5, Max 16-20 Degree Celsius
Rainfall: Low
Spring (March – May)
Mar: Min 5-10, Max 22-26 Degree Celsius
Apr: Min 8-12, Max 25-30 Degree Celsius
May: Min 12-16, Max 25-30 Degree Celsius
Summer (June – August)
Jun: Min 15-22, Max 26-30 Degree Celsius
Jul: Min 18-24, Max 28-30 Degree Celsius
Aug: Min 18-24, Max 24-30 Degree Celsius
Rainfall: High
Transport
If you are staying in Thamel or Kingsway, few of the above are within a walking distance. Normally your tour operator will organise Kathmandu tour which consists of transport and a tour guide. If you are travelling on your own you can ask your hotel to book a hire car which comes with a driver.
Public transport means are too crowded and it’s best to avoid these. It’s a normal practice that taxi drivers do not run on meters. Try to bargain as much as you can. Rickshaw ride is fun to try.
Travel Time
Walking distance to within an hour unless you are planning to travel outside valley.
What to carry: A couple of bottles of water, dust masks
Transport: Recommended to book a car with driver with hotel management
Travel Time: 40 minutes in average from Kathmandu city centre
Dining: You can find few good restaurants. Avoid eating raw foods and tap water.
Shopping: Handicrafts, painting, thanka
