places to visit Kathmandu
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10 places to visit Kathmandu- Is kathmandu worth a visit?Best thing know about Kathmandu

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Planning a trip to Nepal? Then Kathmandu is the first place you will be exploring. Let us guide with this list of places to visit Kathmandu.

Nepal attracts around a million foreigners every year. Tourists from all around the globe travel to Nepal to cross off the various things-to-do-before-I-die list activities. The geographically diversified landscape resulting in different thrilling adventures gives an adrenaline rush. If you are traveling to this nation of majestic Himalayas for the first time, you are going to get a lot of Goosebumps.

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal will be your first stop in Nepal. Kathmandu has made to the Trip Advisor’s “Traveller’s Choice” top 25 cities to visit and the top in Asia. There are a lot of things to do in Kathmandu that will keep you engaged. The so-called “city of the temple” has fascinated people with its beauty. There are many secret places to visit in Kathmandu throughout the year. Here is a complete travel guide to Kathmandu city.

Contents

Kathmandu Introduction

Kathmandu is a small city- you can say like the size of a peanut geographically but rich in natural and cultural beauty. The city with around 2000 years old history is said to be formed after drying off of a big lake. The name ‘Kathmandu’ was given from the ‘Kasthamandap Temple’ which is located at Durbar Square. Kasthamandap means a shelter made from the wood of a single tree. The valley is situated at 1400 meters asl.

Nepal is famous for its altitudinal variations- the lowest being 100 m asl to the highest point of the earth- i.e Mount Everest 8848m.
There are lush green meadows, deepest gorge, and serene hills. Kathmandu, being a valley, has many hill stations like Kakani, Dhulikhel, Nagarkot, Chandragiri, and Shivapuri.

What is kathmandu famous for:

  • Sightseeing the cultural and religious heritages and witnessing festivals
  • Short treks around kathmandu Valley
  • Moutain biking around Kathmandu valley

Best time to visit kathmandu:

October to December; and from mid February to May (torrential rainfall during July to September -which some of you may enjoy a lot). The weather of Kathmandu is mild throughout the year. So you can enjoy the beauty of Kathmandu at any time of the year.

Major Attractions of kathmandu:

  • Temples like Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, Changu Narayan, Dakshinkali (half a day trip to each temple)
  • Stupas and monasteries like Swayambhunath, Bodhnath, Kapan (half a day trip to each spot)
  • Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares (half a day trip to each spot)
  • Hiking around Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun, Sundarijal, Nagarkot (one day trip and can be extended)
  • Mountain Biking around Kathmandu valley – especially around the hills (around a day)
  • Sunrise, sunset, and panoramic views of the mountains from Nagarkot – an hour’s drive from Kathmandu city. Recommended for overnight stay.
  • Paragliding in the southern part of Kathmandu, over the Godvari Botanical Garden.
  • Festivals like Seto Machhendranath in Kathmandu, Rato Machhendranath in Patan during April; Dashain, Tihar, Holi, Chhath in October to November all around Kathmandu valley; Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur in mid April; Shivaratri in Pashupatinath Temple in February March, Gai Jatra in Kathmandu during August or September
  • Recreational visits to discos, bars, and casinos (during the night)
  • Enjoying a variety of meals (lunch, dinner) in restaurants in tourist hubs like Thamel, Durbar Marg, Patan, Bhaktapur.

Places to visit in Kathmandu City:

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Within the small area, Kathmandu is full of interesting things to observe. There are people belonging to various cultures and they have their own monuments. There are over 130 of such cultural sites in Kathmandu. Here are some ‘must visit places’ around the city.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

If you are looking for best places to visit Kathmandu, start the hunting from Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Also called Basantapur Durbar Kshetra, this is one of 3 royal palaces of Kathmandu Kingdom. There are architectures depicting the talent of craftsmen over the centuries. The monuments had their own pride- it was home to ancient kings where they legitimized their kingship.

Over the area, there is Basantapur area to the south, temples to the west and a local market in the northeast. You can also see a building where the living goddesses, Kumari lives.
Many festivals (jatras) are performed on special occasions.

Swyambhunath

Swayambhunath, the oldest monument in the valley is known as Monkey Temple. It was erected back in the 5th century by the great-grandfather of King Manadev. In Tibetan ‘Swayambhunath’ means ‘Sublime Trees’. This indicates the varieties of flora found on the hilltop where the stupa stands.

This is not just random places to visit Kathmandu, but has has historical importance as well. There are 365 stone steps on the entrance where many people move up and down each morning to burn the calories. At the top, there is a Buddhist stupa with four eyes watching the valley. There are other many small shrines and temples each beautiful than the other. There is also a Buddha Park with three huge statues of Amitabha Buddha, Padmasambhava, and Avalokiteshvara.

Pashupatinath

Pashupatinath is among the best temples to visit in Kathmandu. This is a highly acclaimed religious place for Hindus all around the globe. The temple located at the bank of Bagmati River is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built 5th century, which was later reconstructed in the 19th century.
Pashupatinath definitely boosts your inner self with its calming environment. Every day at around 5 pm, the worshippers do Aarti (a special worshipping) which is truly mesmerizing.
If you are looking for places to visit Kathmandu, Pashupatinath is not a place you’d want to miss visiting.

Boudhanath

This is another sacred monastery- a pride of Nepal. Bouddhanath is definitely the best places to visit Kathmandu.

There is a huge Mandala upon which the stupa rests. There is 108 small depictions of Dhyani Buddha and the prayer wheel engraved with the mantra. The place was reconstructed to look even more beautiful after the 2015 earthquake.

Like all three above, Boudhanath is also in the UNESCO world heritage site.

Best place to eat in Kathmandu:

Every time you visit a new place, the hunger for the unique taste of food unavoidable. Just like great places to visit Kathmandu, the city also has great place for your hungry stomach. It will leave you shocked with its culinary magic. Here are some places you should definitely give a try.

Tukche Thakali Kitchen:

You must have heard of Nepalese Dal Bhat Tarkari combination. Well, do you know that the real taste of this combination comes from the Himalayan region of Nepal made by the people who are also called Thakali?

The Thakalis have a special set of this combination that will memorize your tongue. There are many Thakali Kitchens in Kathmandu, but they aren’t the authentic one as the other. Over Lazimpat-Utter Dhoka, there is a famous restaurant, Tukche Thakali which will blow you away.

There is also some of those in Thamel like Mustang Thakali Chulo.

Himalayan Java:

There are some authentic Himalayan Java coffee centers in Kathmandu- one at the end of the Basantapur Durbar Square. It has been promoting Nepalese Coffee since 1999 AD and serves the best coffee in town.

Lazimpat:

Lazimpat is a famous tourist area with some of the most luxurious hotels. Every one of them has their own uniqueness and will keep you surprised. The live music along with devouring delicacies will also add to the fun.
To name a few there is Trisara, Irish Pub, Votto, and Antique Bar.

Thamel Kathmandu:

Thamel, the tourist hub has varieties of restaurants with the best cuisines. Thamel is not just another places to visit Kathmandu, but a unique paradise in itself.

If your tough have any specific craving, here’s a list:
• Italian-
o La Dolce Vita Restro
o Fire and Ice

• Continental-
o Roadhouse Café
o Bon Appetite Café

• Confectionaries and cakes
o Third Eye Bakeries
o Everest Bakery

• Bars, live music and clubs
o Purple Haze Rock Bar
o Reggae Bar

And for the vegans and vegetarians, check out OR2K.

Do and don’t in Kathmandu City tour

  1. Always carry a mask- the pollution of Kathmandu can get you badly sick
  2. The traffic can go crazy sometimes; be prepared
  3. Internet speed might disappoint you, it’s very slow. You can take a local SIM card then use the cellular data which might give better performance.
  4. There might be occasional electricity blackout- keep torchlight with you. Even though the “periodic electricity blackouts’, does not exists there might be some technical blackouts.
  5. Nepal is a quite safe travel destination, but be careful with your belongings
  6. Cycling inside the valley might not be so good, ride out to the valley
  7. People in Nepal like to negotiate the price for everything, so you can also enjoy some haggling for the best deals.
  8. If you ever take a cab or a taxi, always to negotiate the price beforehand.

Conlcusion:

So this is it. Have a great stay in Kathmandu.

Let us know your best places to visit Kathmandu in the comment section below.
Good Luck!

About Shobita Neupane

Shobita is a co-founder of Travel Diary Nepal. She is a passionate traveler and a content writer. Her favorite quote is Fly so high until your problem looks smaller and the dream seems closer.

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