Namaste everyone, this article will cover everything about Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Kathmandu here means the entire Kathmandu Valley which covers three different districts of Nepal i.e. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. The heart of Nepal, Kathmandu is situated in the central part of the country and surrounded by hills and mountains. Kathmandu is also known as the City of Temples.
Talking about the history of Kathmandu, it has been a melting pot of diverse cultures, religions and traditions. It was originally inhabited by Newars of the country who then facilitated trade, culture and religion. Later on several dynasties like Malla’s, Lichhivi’s and Shah’s, who helped in the development of the Valley.
As every foreigner visiting Nepal has to land at Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu, it becomes the first place for them to visit. I have seen there are several tourists who have arrived or are thinking of visiting Nepal, but do not know about the places of Kathmandu. Either you have to hire your guide or you can read this article about all places of Kathmandu to visit. If you are a pilgrim from India, then this article is perfect for you.
So, if you are a tourist outside Nepal and arrived at Kathmandu, then you can visit the following places of Kathmandu. You can plan accordingly about which places are your priorities. So the lists are:
- Pashupatinath Temple
- Swayambhunath Temple
- Bouddha Stupa
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square
- Patan Durbar Square
- Basantapur Durbar Square
- Thamel
- Narayanhiti Museum Palace
- Chandragiri Hills
- Dakshin Kali Temple
So, let me give you the details and specialties about all the above mentioned places.
1. Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath is one of the famous and sacred Hindu temples of Lord Shiva located in the World. Every year many pilgrims from India or all over the world come to visit this temple to worship Lord Shiva.Built in the Nepali Pagoda Style temple has a Golden Pinnacle. Located at the bank of Bagmati river, it is very recognized for Aryaghats(where funerals happen for dead bodies). There is everytime someone’s dead body is burning , even at night but still considered as the most holy place. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
For entering the temple, there are no fees. First you have to deposit your shoes or belts at a place which is also free. After that you can enter the temple but using a mobile phone or clicking photos inside the temple is strictly disallowed. And also if you want to do specific Puja only from your side then you can do so by paying donations in the name of the temple.
And the most important factor which brings people there are evening prayers(Sanjh Aarati), which happens when it is actually dusk. You can also watch that prayer closely if you volunteer by paying some amount in your or your family names.
Entry Fees:
There is no fees for Indian and Nepali Pilgrimage. However, foreign and other SAARC nationals has to pay NPR 1000 to visit the temple.
Key Points:
- Visit the Temple
- Evening prayer is must(especially Shiv Tandav)
- Watch the process of pyres
- Meditate
- Prevent yourself and your stuff from monkeys
2. Swayambhunath Temple
Swayambhunath Temple (Stupa), also known as the monkey temple, lies at the top of the Kathmandu Valley depicting panoramic views of the city. It has been a sacred religious place for the Buddhist pilgrims. Talking about its name history, it is said that at first the Valley was all the lake and this stupa emerged spontaneously from the lake and that’s why it is named as Swayambhu, which means self-arisen.
This stupa is surrounded by the temples, prayer flags, prayer wheels, carvings, etc which increases its ethnicity. It has also been recognized as a UNESCO heritage list. It holds immense religious significance as a place of meditation, prayer and pilgrimage. It is open for 24 hours.
Entry Fees:
For Nepalese: No Entry fees
For SAARC Nationals: NPR 50
Other Countries: NPR 200
Key Points:
- Visit nearest landmarks like temples, ponds,etc.
- Protect yourself from Monkeys
- Morning time is preferable for good view
- Don’t come back from the gate after clicking photos.
3. Bouddhanath Stupa
Similar to Swayambhu, Boudhhanath is also a stupa for Buddhist, which is one of the largest stupa in the world. It is also listed in the UNESCO World heritage list. The huge Mandala of Boudhha including the eyes of Buddha from all four sides, symbolize the awareness of Buddha. The pilgrims or visitors rotate the Stupa three times, spinning prayer wheels and chanting mantras, clockwise. Also, you can go inside there and do prayers with large prayer wheels. You can also go up to Mandala removing your shoes and click some good pictures.
Entry Fees:
For Nepalese: Free
SAARC Nationals: NPR 100
Other Nationals: NPR 400
Key Points:
- Cultural shops around the stupa make it a best
- Eat Laphing at any nearest point
- Visit Buddha Park
4. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is also a UNESCO World heritage site located in the Bhaktapur district. It is the world Durbar having medieval architecture and vibrant culture. It was the Royal palace of ancient Malla Kings. This Square is surrounded by temples, palaces, courtyards, etc.
It demonstrates the ancient Nepal architecture along with beautiful wooden carvings preserved since the 15th Century.
This palace is also renowned for its 55 windows craftsmanship. You have to go through the Golden gate to enter this 55 Windows Palace.
Entry Fees:
Nepalese: Free
Chinese and SAARC Nationals: NPR 500
Foreign Nationals: US$18
Key Points:
- Don’t forget to taste Juju Dhau(Local Sweet Curd)
- Try some of the famous streets food there
- Visit Nyatapola and Bhairavnath Temple
- Shop at nearby locations some ancient crafts
5. Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square is also a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Lalitpur. It shows the ancient Newari architecture of Kathmandu valley covering several temples, courtyards, palace, etc. There are many places you can go through like Krishna Mandir, Golden Temple, Patan Durbar, etc. There is also a Patan Museum which you can go through to see ancient arts and crafts.
Entry Fees:
For entering Durbar Square including Museum, there is specific entry fees as:
Nepalese: NPR 30
Chinese: NPR 1,000
SAARC: NPR 250
Foreigner: NPR 1,000
Key Points:
- No entry fees to visit outside area
- Visit nearby places for local foods and beverages
- Evening is the best time
6. Basantapur Durbar Square
Basantapur Durbar Square is another historical and cultural site listed in UNESCO. It is also known as Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is the place of several palaces, temples, statues, etc. showing wonderful craftsmanship of ancient Newars. There are several pagoda style temples, wooden and stone sculptures. It is also a cultural hub of Kathmandu where several religious ceremonies and cultural events happen, which make it a center of attractions for both locals and tourists. Basantapur Durbar was the most affected historical place during the recent earthquake of Nepal. You can also visit the nearest landmarks like, Taleju temple and Kal Bhairav Temple.
Entry Fees:
Nepalese: No fees
Chinese : NPR 1,000
SAARC Nationals: NPR 500
Foreign Nationals: NPR 1,000
Key Points:
- See the famous Hanuman Dhoka Temple and also Jail
- Visit Kumari Ghar (House of Living Goddess “Kumari”)
- The streets foods are awesome there
7. Thamel
Thamel is the Central part of Kathmandu which is also the main tourist hub. The vibrant atmosphere of this place is always in the eyes of the Visitors. This place is famous for enjoying the nightlife in Kathmandu. The beautiful lighting of Thamel makes everyone’s eyes mesmerize the surroundings of Thamel. There are several shops where every kind of nepali cultural product like handicrafts, jewelry, cloths, etc. can be found. All the foreigners coming to Nepal prefer to stay at Thamel. This place is also famous for clubbing and lodging. Further, if you are planning for adventures in Nepal, you can book your tickets there as you can find several travel companies located there.
Key points:
- Enjoy the night life at pub or clubs
- Try some really good foods
- Best place for getting tourism service
- Festivals are good time to visit
8. Narayanhiti Museum Palace
Narayanhiti Palace, located at the heart of Kathmandu holds historical and cultural significance. It was made by the Royal Shah dynasty in the 1960s. Surrounded by the gardens, chambers, courtyards, etc. this palace holds the entire beauty of Kathmandu. Despite its influence, it has the dark history of a tragic Massacre that happened inside the palace. It is the place where the entire family of Late King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya was murdered. Later on, this palace was converted into a Museum, which shows culture, royal palace and its beauty including the dark walls. It has been the famous tourist place of Kathmandu.
Entry Fees:
Nepalese Students: NPR 50
Nepalese Citizen: NPR 200
SAARC Countries: NPR 500
Other Nationals: NPR 1,000
Key Points:
- Visit the nearest Durbar Marg
- Shop at Durbar Marg
9. Chandragiri Hills
Chandragiri Hills located at the altitude of 2550 m is the hill station of Kathmandu from where the entire Kathmandu valley is visible. There are several ways to go there like hiking, motor bikes and Cable Cars. Cable Cars are the most used way to go up. Chandragiri Hills has the longest Cable Car service of about 9 minutes of experience along with the scenic view of Kathmandu Valley along with the chilled weather and greenery. Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple is the only temple to visit there which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. People often go there to stay the night and there is only one resort named Chandragiri Hills Resort. There are also several recreational activities like Zip Lining, Swing, Pony ride, etc.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday- 8 AM to 5 PM
Saturday & Sunday- 8 AM to 6 PM
Break Time- 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Ticket Prices:
One Way
Nepalese: NPR 495
SAARC Nationals: NPR 790
Chinese Nationals: US$ 9
Other Nationals: US$ 13
Both Ways
Nepalese: NPR 825
SAARC Nationals: NPR 1320
Chinese Nationals: US$ 16
Other Nationals: US$ 23
Key Points:
- Enjoy the Cable Car ride
- Try atleast zip line or Swing
- Visit the temple and get blessings from Viral Tiktoker Priest
- Don’t forget to see Mt. Everest and Langtang Himal
- Stay a night if possible
10. Dakshin Kali:
Again from a religious perspective, Dakshin Kali temple is located a few Km away from center Kathmandu, nestled in the lush greenery surrounded by hills and forests. This temple is dedicated to Hindu Goddess Kali, and also one of the most important Shakti Peethas. People often visit this temple at the time of Dashain Festival (Dussehra). You can reach there by several ways like public bus, taxis, bikes, etc including hiking. Tourists visit this temple for interacting with locals and gathering information about Nepali cultures and rituals. Also there are several locations from where tourists can watch different scenic views of Kathmandu and nearby areas.
Key Points:
- Can perform hiking in nearby trails in the morning
- Taste of Nepali Cuisine at nearby stalls
- If you are visiting at Tihar time, you can visit white house nearby for seeing enormous lights of Kathmandu Valley
Along with the above places, there are yet several small or beautiful places where you can visit. They are:
Narayansthan: It is a place where great statue of Sleeping Lord Vishnu lies. Shivpuri National park is nearest attractions.
Sanga: Few Km away from Bhaktapur, where big standing statue of Lord Shiva lies
Garden of Dreams: It is a Neo classical historical garden with immense greenery, beautiful flowers, fountains and peace.
Dharahara and Sky Tower: Located in Center of Kathmandu, Dharahara is a nine story tower ans sky tower is famous for its height and adventure. Ghantaghar and Ranipokari is also nearby attractions.
And many more!
So above are the few top places of Kathmandu as per me which I have given a brief introduction. As I already mentioned to you, Kathmandu is the City of Temples, so every famous place contains religious angles along with its beauty and history.
If you are a visitor outside Nepal, you can just simply use google maps for getting location. Nepal is a place where tourists are well respected, so you can take advantage of this in a positive way. You can freely ask for any help from anyone and they will be ready to provide you information.
At last also if you want to get in touch with me then you can contact me from this website contact me page or through my Instagram. I am writing this blog for your help and I will also be happy to assist you any further in case it is needed.
Thank you for reading ! Safe Travel !
