Arriving in Kathmandu for the first time, our small, doddering taxi dropped us mid-street, amidst a whirlwind of chaos, and we were hit full-on with a sense of busy, busy, busy.
The first breathe of dusty air filled our lungs along with a heavy taste of pollution, it was stifling. We dodged the foray of mopeds and rickshaws, heavy backpacks in-tow, and were enveloped with a felling of uncertainty! But it was a feeling that quickly faded, replaced by the pull of great adventures, and the charm of a city so different!
A city that once it grips you with all its charms and delights, is hard to escape. Not that you’d want of course!
We loved everything there! The super tasty food, the comical horns of passing rickshaws, the intricate shrines and temples decorated with swathes of colorful prayer flags. Even the ornately carved wooden doors that conjure up a sense of magic and mystery, as to what treasures they hide.
Exploring the warren-like streets and back-alleys rewards the curious with a treasure trove of history and culture. Streets heavily perfumed with incense, and the smells of fragrant spices; full of markets, hidden temples and intoxicating traditions – streets completely beguiling to the common traveler.
Best Places To Visit In Kathmandu
There’s so much to do in this chaotic city, and it’s hard to know where to start so we’ve put together this list of the best places to visit!
Thamel
Thamel, also known as Taitha Banal is the bustling, beating heart of the city. It’s also the main tourist area in Kathmandu, so it can be a little overwhelming, especially for first time visitors.
Behind the tourist facade lies plenty of old world charm, so shake off the trekking touts and you can get lost for hours stumbling across hidden temples and old shrines.
Thamel is also a great place to get kitted out for your trekking adventure. There’s a lot of cheaply made, fake goods, but shop around and you can still find some good quality gear at bargain prices.
There is plenty of tour shops and trekking agencies in Thamel. If you don’t want to buy any trekking gear there are also many places that you can hire it from. You can hire everything from sleeping bags and trekking poles to boots and jackets.
Durbar Square
Durbar square, also known as Hangman Dhoka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the heart of the old town.
The old royal palace is surrounded by a courtyard of pagoda style temples and spiritual shrines, it’s a great place to explore and watch the friendly locals making their daily prayers and rituals. There is also a smaller palace building housing the Living Goddess (Royal Kumari).
It’s sad that the area was so badly damaged by the 2015 earthquake, some of the temples were completely destroyed and others are still being braced by wooden timbers. Experiencing Durbar Square is a must for first-time visitors, but it’s hard to be drawn back to the area with the recently increased high entry-fee. The fee used to be NPR 500 it is now NPR 1000.
Entrance Fee Is NPR 1,000
The area is open daily and throughout the night
Boudhanath Stupa
A visit here is sure to be on everyone’s list when visiting Kathmandu. This Bhuddist Stupa dates back to the 14th century and lies at the center of an ancient trade route to Tibet. In the past it was a place frequented by Tibetan merchants as they offered up their prayers.
This deeply symbolic Stupa is the largest in Nepal, it stands at 36 meters in height and dominates the skyline. The Buddha’s eyes are depicted on each side of the gilded tower, whilst the 13 levels of the spire represent the 13 stages of nirvana. The top of the spire is laden with colorful prayer flags that string-out over and across the Stupa, it’s a truly impressive sight!
The Stupa and surrounding monasteries are best visited early morning or evening time where you can watch people go about their daily prayers.
The Entrance Fee Is NPR 400
Boudhanath Stupa is open daily and throughout the night
Pashupatinath Temple
This large Hindu temple complex is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and classified as one of the four most important religious sites across Asia.
The complex is located along the banks of the Bagmati River and is also a place where open Hindu cremation ceremonies are carried out. Many people find these cremations disturbing but we think it’s a case of being open minded to other cultures and their traditions.
The area has a large complex of ornate buildings and temples across various tiers, but the main temple is off limits to non-Hindus. A visit here is best in the late afternoon when you can also stay and watch the daily Aarati ritual, which starts at 6:00 pm and lasts for around an hour.
The Entrance Fee Is NPR 1,000
Opening Times 4:00 am till 9:00 pm daily
Swayambhunath Temple
Grab your daily dose of exercise as you scale the 365 stairs to this hill-top Stupa. Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as Monkey Temple is a sacred pilgrimage site, considered holy to Tibetan Bhuddists and is second only to Boudhanth Stupa. The site has a large white Stupa at the top of the stairs, and features a complex of smaller shrines, temples and a Tibetan Monastary.
The area is also home to hundreds of mischievous monkeys (always fun to watch), and the views over the city and across the valley alone make it worth the climb.
The Entrance Fee Is NPR 200
The temple is open daily and throughout the night
Garden Of Dreams
The Garden Of Dreams can best be described as an island of serenity amidst the chaos of Kathmandu. These walled, Edwardian-style gardens feature European-inspired pergolas and verandas, flower gardens and a large pond. It’s a great place relax and take a breath from the sometimes exhausting streets of Kathmandu. You could enjoy a coffee in the peaceful surroundings or take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful gardens.
The Entrance Fee Is NPR 200
Opening Times 9:00 am till 10:00 pm daily
Patan
Patan is another great place to explore and the Patan-Durbar-Square is full of ornate temples, ancient palaces and Hindu and Buddhist statues. There was some damage to the area from the 2015 earthquake, and there is ongoing restoration, but that shouldn’t deter you from a visit here.
Take the time to explore the many narrow alleyways that branch off from the main square. You may stumble across unique street art adorned on the many walls, or discover some of the many smaller temples, proudly guarded by stone lions.
The Entrance Fee Is NPR 1,000
The square is open daily and throughout the night
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur was one of our favorite places to visit! This ancient Newar city was founded in the 12th century, and the name Bhaktapur translates to City Of Devotees. The area is a great place to explore, and has a more relaxed pace than other parts of Kathmandu, helped by the fact traffic isn’t allowed into the old city.
The whole city has a rich concentration of culture, monuments and history. There are also three main squares in Bhaktapur each with their own temples and fascinating structures.
When you’re not watching the intoxicating traditions of the friendly locals, you can explore the narrow side-streets full of handicraft stores and small cafes.
Entrance Fee Is NPR 1,500 – This fee is payable upon entry into the city and gives you access to the whole area.
Indulge In All The Delectable, Nepali Food.
Pretty much any type of food can be found in Thamel, but don’t be put off in trying all the local Nepali dishes! There’s a great variety of dishes and street food snacks all of which are ridiculously cheap and tasty.
Momo and Dal baht are staple dishes in Nepal and can be found pretty much anywhere.
Momo can be eaten as an entree or main as they are quite filling. They come in three varieties, vegetable, buffalo and chicken, and come with a spicy chutney. Great with a cold beer!
Dal bhat is a Nepali style thali, there are different variations of the dish but most consist of steamed rice, curried veg or chicken, Dal (a cooked lentil soup) and pickles, nom.
There’s also plenty of street food snacks to try in Kathmandu. You can find Indian style snacks such as samosas and pani-puri as well as Nepali snacks such as sel-roti, which is a deep-fried doughnut/bagel type of snack.
We really enjoyed the jeri snacks (pictured below). They are a spiral shaped, sweet snack made from gram flour, saffron or turmeric and dipped syrup.
Any trip to Nepal wouldn’t be complete without a trek into the mountains. After our time in Kathmandu we went to Pokhara and from there completed the Mardi Himal Trek and visited Ghandruk Village.
If you’re looking to stop off at a traditional village on the way to Pokhara then Bandipur is a great place to enjoy a slower pace and if you’re lucky, get amazing views of the Himalayas.
