Flavorful Asia

Experience Kathmandu: Insider’s Guide to Nepal’s Capital City

Nepal is one of the landlocked countries among SAARC members. Nepal is famous as the gateway to the beauty of the Himalayas, but apart from the Himalayas, Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is home to many more places to visit. Kathmandu is the capital and largest metropolis of Nepal with a population of around 5 million people. If you want to travel to Nepal, you should first visit Kathmandu. Many people do not want to prioritize a city like Kathmandu on their sightseeing list because they come to see the mountains, but Kathmandu shines in its own glory with its traditions, commerce, and various architectural monuments.

Sightseeing in Kathmandu

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal is one of the most sacred and famous temples for Hindus. It was built for the service of Lord Shiva, and thousands of people from India and Nepal flock here every year to worship Lord Shiva. Saints of various natures can be seen here.

Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath Stupa, if you list the famous Buddhist temples of Nepal, will be among the top three. It is located on the hilltop west of Kathmandu city, where 365 stone steps have to be climbed to get there. Of course, before climbing the stairs, look at the monkeys. More than a hundred monkeys have been living in the temple area and around it for a long time. All these monkeys are considered holy by the Nepalese. They believe that all these monkeys were born from lice on the head of Buddha Deity Manjushri and have been here since her time. This temple is one of the oldest temples in Nepal. Its existence dates back as early as the fifth century. Hopefully, the earthquake of 2015 did not cause any damage to this place. The temple is heavily crowded with tourists most of the time, so 7 am to 7:30 am is the best time to visit Swayambhunath temple. Among the parts of the temple are the Buddha Amideva Park, the stupa or pillar in the west, and the staircase in the east, of course. The temple can be visited for a fixed fee, and the local priest charges a separate fee to take you inside the temple and participate in their religious rituals.

Boudhanath Stupa

Boudhanath Stupa, located 7 km from Thamel, is one of the must-see places for Nepalese tourists. It is one of the largest stupas in Asia. It is so big that it can be seen from far away.

Kopan Monastery

Kopan Monastery is a hidden gem in Kathmandu. Tibetan monks come here to meditate. It is possible to get a 180-degree view of the entire city of Kathmandu from Kopan Monastery. Earlier, not many people knew about this place, but now after the publicity, this place is very popular among tourists for its architectural beauty.

Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan, Bhaktapur

The ancient side of Kathmandu is centered around Durbar Square in Basantpur, located south of Thamel. The King of Nepal and his family members lived here until the 19th century. The place is so unique and a witness to the heritage that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1979. Apart from the royal palace, many Hindu and Buddhist temples of the 12th century are found here. Durbar Square (Kathmandu Durbar Square) is only 700 meters away from Thamel. A lot of pigeons are seen here, which adds a different sweetness to the tour. Worth seeing in Durbar Square are Sada Bhairab or Seto Bhairab, Jagannath Temple, Teleju Temple, Indrapur Temple, and Mahendraswar Temple. Unfortunately, the southern side of the temples along with the palace was severely damaged in the earthquake of 2015. Yet it is possible to guess its former beauty even by looking at its present-day remains. Due to the renovation work, the ticket price of Durbar Square has gone up, but hopefully, it is within reach for the citizens of SAARC. There are two other Durbar Square-like monuments of historical importance near Kathmandu Valley at Patan and Bhaktapur. Although the earthquake damaged these two places, it was not as severe as Durbar Square.

Thamel

Thamel is the tourist heart of Kathmandu. Thousands of hotels, souvenir shops, hiking shops, restaurants, and bars sit here to give a glimpse of the vibrancy. Rows of shops and hawkers set up various stalls on the streets hoping to attract tourists from morning to midnight. Thamel Marg is the main road of the area, which is decorated with colorful flags. The sound of singing bowls and the smell of incense are found here. Mandala Street is another street in Thamel famous for its bookstores and coffee shops. From Gorkha sticks to singing bowls, pashmina chadors, mandala wall paints, and many more, you can buy anything from Thamel.

Garden of Dreams

Garden of Dreams (Garden of Dreams) is located in Kaiser Mahal, Kathmandu. It is a neo-classical garden. The garden was created in 1920, and its design is consistent with all modern European gardens. This place attracts tourists to see the architectural view and the festivity of trees.

Singha Durbar

Singha Durbar or Singha Palace is a palace of the Rana Dynasty in central Kathmandu, a blend of neo-classical, Palladian, and European architectural styles.

Asan Bazar

Asan Tole or Asan Bazar is a fresh vegetable and fruit market in Nepal. From home-brewed local drink rakshi to a variety of spices to fruits with no local names, everything is available here. Farmers from outside Kathmandu come here every day to sell their produce. Asan Tolle acts as an out-of-town supermarket for up-close viewing of local things and people that can add a unique dimension to travel. Besides, there are two temples worth visiting near Asan Toll namely Annapurna and Krishna, which are famous for their structure and location.

Best Time to Visit Kathmandu

October and November are the best times to visit Kathmandu. At this time, the weather is dry but less cold than other times; it marks the beginning of winter. As the sky is clear, it is comfortable to travel, and the preparation for trekking can be done well. It is better not to visit Kathmandu in September because then there may be various difficulties due to monsoons. Even though the weather remains dry till April, it is a good time for winter, but Kathmandu does not experience snow, and sometimes the temperature drops to zero degrees, so those who love winter can go during this time. March to mid-April or mid-September is a good time to visit Kathmandu if you don’t like crowds or want to travel cheaply after the season.

How to Get to Kathmandu

You can go by air from any part of the world, and if you want to go to Kathmandu, you have to book a ticket at the Tribhuvan Airport there.

Where to Stay

There is no better place to stay than Thamel as there are numerous hotels/backpacker hostels dotted all over Thamel. Good double-room budget hotels can be found here between 1000 to 1800 rupees. A 400 rupee single-room hotel is also here. If the budget is a bit higher i.e., 3000 rupees or more, then many good hotels with deluxe room meals are available. However, Thamel’s hotels and their prices and looks are so varied that it is possible to find good hotels cheaply by walking around and checking a few hotels instead of booking in advance.

What to Eat

The local food of Nepal is rice thali. So wherever you go in Kathmandu, it is impossible not to eat rice. Rice is accompanied by fish, chicken, salad, raita, vegetables, and leaves on the plate. As Nepal is a cold country, Momo is popular there. There are numerous momo shops in Thamel and other places in Kathmandu. Besides, there are teas and coffees of different flavors and colors. They also make tea from flower petals and sell them on the streets. Also, modern food choices are now available in Kathmandu.

Where to Shop

Thamel is the best place for shopping in Kathmandu because there are so many shops and beautiful goods that cannot be found anywhere else in Kathmandu. But in this case, it should be noted that as a tourist area, the prices here will be unusually high. So the cost of shopping depends on how well you bargain and how well you know things.

Kathmandu Travel Cost

If a group or two or three are together, the cost is reduced a lot in the case of traveling to Kathmandu. If traveling to Kathmandu and other sightseeing places (such as Pokhara), a 2-3 day stay will cost around $300 to $320 per person for food and sightseeing. Since the places to see in Kathmandu are very close, the cost is not that much. Besides, if you are a citizen of a SAARC country, you will save some more money. Tickets to the temples are available for nationals of SAARC countries at about a third less than for foreigners. A plate of food is available in Nepal between 150-300 rupees. So if you can handle the cost of accommodation, food, and travel, it is possible to visit Kathmandu easily.

Kathmandu Travel Tips

  • Nepalis are extremely hospitable and helpful. Since it is a Hindu kingdom, be respectful of religious customs as much as possible while visiting for food or their temples.
  • Better rates are often available from money exchanges outside the airport rather than exchanging money at the airport.
  • But it is better to buy the mobile sim from the airport if one wants to buy it.
  • Since Nepal is a cold country, it is better to know the hot water system before taking the hotel.
  • On-arrival visa requires a passport, photocopy of passport, color passport size photograph, return ticket and hotel booking information (may take a long time), dollar endorsement, NOC if employed, and ID if a student.

Some Essential Phone Numbers

  • Police (Emergency) – 100
  • Tourist Police – 4247041
  • Department of Immigration – 4223509/ 422453
  • Night Taxi – 4224374
  • Ambulance (Red Cross) – 4228094
  • Ambulance – 102