Nepal is one of the most beautiful places in the world. You will find many attractions in Nepal that your head will turn to look at it twice.
Among many places to visit in Nepal, the capital holds most travellers’ attention. Kathmandu is after all the entry point for foreign travellers. Although the summers can be hot and dusty, if you step aside from the main highways, you’ll find another world out here. Narrow lanes with enough shade to keep you away from the sun. Tiny cafes and restaurants to sedate your hunger.
Kathmandu, the city of temples will completely surround you with spirituality and energetic energy. There is just so much to see here, you will need a week’s plan to complete your Kathmandu valley tour.
Inside the Kathmandu valley lies the main city itself and its neighbouring cities. All of which explode with intricate Hindu and Nepalese architecture. There are three main cities in Kathmandu valley – Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur and one ancient city – Kirtipur.
So, if you are planning a trip to Kathmandu this season, there can be so many things to do and see. But with the help of this blog, hope you will find amazing things to do in Kathmandu.
Thamel: Backpackers Home
For a traveller, the neighbourhood of Thamel is the best place to stay in Kathmandu. It is in fact an interesting place to begin your exploration. Within the backpackers and vacationers, you can find all kinds of accommodation catering to your budget.
The cafe culture in Thamel is insane, from cosy coffee shops to high-end restaurants. The bars play music up until 4 AM. The party-goers have the opportunity to hop in and out of party venues as they please.
But do not worry, all the hostels/hostels are away from the major party centre. So if you are an early sleeper, rest assured you’ll get a sound sleep.
Swayambhu: City Panaroma
To get a riveting sight of Kathmandu valley, you need to visit Swayambhu. Often said to be a monkey temple, it is not associated with monkeys at all. It is just that, there are monkeys all around the temple.
Swayambhu or Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the most visited temples in Kathmandu. It has been a prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site since the 5th century AD.
Make sure to avoid Saturdays since it has packed with people. The best time to visit is on weekdays, early in the morning. You will not miss a breathtaking view of the city from the top and a gorgeous sunrise.
Since there are two ways to get to the top, you can get a cab to the parking of Swayambhu and take an easy way downhill via rock-hewn steps.
Pashupatinath Temple: Sacred Site for Hinduism
While Swayambhu offers a panoramic view of the city, Pashupatinath Temple will baffle you with burning incense and sacred cremation. It is the top attraction in Kathamndu you must visit.
This temple receives over a million devotees during Maha Shivaratri. It is best to avoid it during the festive season. Otherwise, it is peaceful and ideal to chant some prayers.
But as a visitor, you’ll have to pay a certain amount, you can consider this offering as a form of charity if you want. Once inside the complex, you can wander around and explore the sacred place.
Bear in mind that this place of worship is also for a public cremation. The last rites are performed on the riverfront within the temple.
Boudhanath Stupa: The Largest Stupa in Nepal
Being the largest stupa in the country certainly holds interest among travellers. And once step inside the massive Boudhanath Stupa complex will capture your attention.
Right from the entry, you’ll be greeted with this white pagoda structure and colourful prayer flags. It is absolutely mesmerizing to see it in person.
You can take a clockwise round around the stupa and spin the prayer wheel for luck. There are shops and cafes on the outer edges of the stupa from where you can capture the moment in a picture.
Ason and Mangal Bazaars: Local Souvenirs and Food
While you get everything you want at Thamel, it can get pretty pricy being a tourist district. But at Ason and Mangal Bazaars, you’ll get everything at a local price, if you bargain of course.
This is Kathmandu’s thriving area that’ll tickle your pink and amaze all of your senses. Oftentimes, locals come here to shop and eat, so you can expect to find almost anything.
From street food to spices, gifts to essential goodies. You can bring a big bag with you to store all of your purchases.
Taleju Temple: Breathtaking Temple Architecture
Kathmandu being a temple city has no shortage of beautiful temples. However, one temple, in particular, is the Taleju Temple.
Located at the northern end of Durban Square you’ll find this temple surrounded by local and foreign tourists. The most inspiring thing to see here is the temple’s architecture, it is very intricately designed.
While the inside of the temple is not open to the public you can take a good hour to explore the exterior of the building. If you visit during any Hindu festival, you may get an opportunity to enter the temple.
Bhaktapur: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
A trip to Bhaktapur is a blessing in disguise. Although because of the 2015 earthquake, most of the temples have crumbled down. While some still stand with support.
Yet, you can see how impactful the 7.3 magnitude earthquake really was.
Getting to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu won’t take long if there is no traffic to keep you waiting for hours. But once you arrive make sure to explore Durban Square, Taumadhi Square and the Nyatapola Temple. One of the major tourist sites to visit in Bhaktapur are 55 Window Palace, the Dattatreya Temple as well as the Pujari Math.
Shivapuri National Park: Escape the City and into Nature
Not far from the city of Kathmandu is a nature park called Shivapuri. If you feel like you need a break from city exploration, enter the national park.
This incredible area provides instant relief. It is an ideal place for quick hikes to the top of the Shivpuri hill station, almost 9,000ft. From the top, you can get an uninterrupted view of the first, summits and vistas.
Shivapuri National Park is an ideal full-day hiking trip from Kathmandu with your friends. You can also see some spectacular waterfalls, especially during the monsoon season.
Momo: The Nepali version of Dumplings
Nepal has tons of food options, from delicious buff cuisine to heartwarming thukpa and the favourite of many, momo.
While this cuisine is famous worldwide and called by many names in different countries, it is known as momo in Nepal and India.
Now you must be wondering where to get the best momos, don’t worry. Kathmandu has a lot of momo stalls and cafes that serve some of the best momos in town. You won’t be disappointed.
Mount Everest: View from the Top
Not many of us cannot climb the tallest mountain in the world, but we sure can hover above it. How? You can book a helicopter or airline and take an hour-long ride above Everest.
The ride may cost a bit depending upon the mode of the vehicle but it is an experience of a lifetime. The incredible vistas and the mighty snowcapped Everest is soul-satisfying sights to watch.
Your pilot will give you enough time to take in the beautiful scenery with your eyes and camera. There are two major airlines that offer Mount Everest tours – Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines from Kathmandu Airport itself.
That being said, you can also book a helicopter tour that will take you through the Mount Everest range and land you at the Everest base camp.
FAQ
Mount Everest is by far the most famous attraction in Nepal. Millions of tourists visit Kathmandu annually to climb or take a chopper ride over the tallest mountain in the world. Besides that, Nepal is famous for its temples and animals like the Red Panda, Tibetian Wolf, and Snow Leopards.
Yes, if you plan to spend your holiday only in Kathmandu, you can. You can explore the Thamel district of Kathmandu and explore the cafes and shops. Indulge in the nightlife of the city, Thamel has tons of bars to spend a pleasant evening. Sightsee around the different Durban Squares of the city like Kathmandu Durban Square and Patna Durban Square. Lastly, take in the view of the city from Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple).
On a clear day, you can see Mount Everest from the Chandragiri Hills. You can enjoy a cable car ride up the hill and see the majestic view of the Himalayan ranges and Mount Everest.
