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Kathmandu
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Kathmandu brings together Himalayan culture, sacred temples, historic squares, lively markets and unforgettable valley sightseeing in Nepal, and local culture.

Valley of Temples and Courtyards

Kathmandu is Nepal’s historic capital, set within a broad valley ringed by forested hills and distant Himalayan ranges. Its central districts unfold through a dense sequence of brick courtyards, carved wooden windows, shrines, monasteries and busy market streets. At Kathmandu Durbar Square, former royal architecture stands alongside temples and the Kumari Bahal, home of the living goddess Kumari. Nearby, Asan and Indra Chowk reveal the city’s long commercial life through spice stalls, devotional goods, textiles and everyday trade.
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Sacred Landscapes and Living Traditions

Religion is part of Kathmandu’s daily rhythm rather than a separate attraction. Swayambhunath rises above the western city on a wooded hill, while Boudhanath’s great white stupa forms the spiritual focus of a large Tibetan Buddhist community. At Pashupatinath, the Bagmati River passes one of the Hindu world’s most revered temple complexes. These sites remain active places of worship, so bells, incense, butter lamps, prayer wheels and ritual processions are encountered amid ordinary urban life.

Contemporary Kathmandu

The city also has a modern, international character. Thamel’s narrow lanes contain trekking agencies, bookshops, cafés and restaurants, while Patan and Bhaktapur, in neighbouring parts of the Kathmandu Valley, offer further Newar architecture and craftsmanship. Around the capital, hillside viewpoints and rural trails provide a change of pace, but Kathmandu itself rewards unhurried exploration: its most revealing details are often found in a small bahal courtyard, a neighbourhood shrine or a market lane beyond the principal monuments.

When is the best time to visit Kathmandu?

Best: March, October–November · 22–27°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January1620
February1935
March (best)2446
April3058
May3279
June3475
July3473
August3471
September3166
October (best)2749
November (best)2226
December1718

Getting to and around Kathmandu

How to get there

Tribhuvan International Airport lies in Kathmandu and is Nepal’s principal international gateway, with domestic connections also serving destinations across the country. From the airport, taxis and pre-arranged transfers are the usual ways to reach central neighbourhoods. Long-distance buses connect Kathmandu with Pokhara, Chitwan and other Nepalese centres, although journeys can be affected by road conditions, weather and traffic. The capital is linked by road to the Indian border and to the hill districts, but Nepal has no railway connection into Kathmandu suitable for ordinary international visitors. There are no regular passenger ferry links to the city. Check current entry, road and flight arrangements before travelling, as transport conditions can change quickly.

Transportation

Central Kathmandu is best explored on foot in short sections, although pavements can be uneven and traffic makes road crossings demanding. Local buses and minibuses serve the wider valley but may be crowded and difficult to navigate without local knowledge. Taxis are widely used; agreeing that the meter will be used, or confirming the fare before departure, is sensible. Ride-hailing and taxi-booking options may be available but can change over time. Traffic congestion is common around Thamel, New Road, the airport and major religious sites. Cycling is possible for experienced riders, while hiring a private car with a driver is more practical than self-driving for longer valley visits.

Best attractions in Kathmandu

Kathmandu’s principal sights trace a dense map of royal, religious and commercial life. Kathmandu Durbar Square gathers palace courtyards, pagoda temples and the Kumari Bahal around the former Malla and Shah royal centre, while Swayambhunath, known to many visitors as the Monkey Temple, crowns a hill with Buddhist shrines and broad valley views. Boudhanath offers a powerful sense of ritual around its great white stupa, particularly as pilgrims turn the prayer wheels along the circular route. At Pashupatinath, temple courtyards and riverside ghats form one of Nepal’s most important Hindu pilgrimage complexes. The Garden of Dreams provides a quieter historic garden near Thamel, and the Narayanhiti Palace Museum introduces the country’s recent royal history. Wandering through Asan and Indra Chowk adds a more ordinary but equally revealing attraction: a living market landscape of spices, brassware, textiles and devotional goods.

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Best landmarks in Kathmandu

Kathmandu’s landmarks embody the valley’s intertwined Hindu, Buddhist and royal traditions. Kathmandu Durbar Square is defined by its palace courtyards, tiered temples and the richly carved Kumari Bahal, whose brick façade and timber detailing belong to the living religious culture of the old city. Swayambhunath’s hilltop stupa and shrines form one of the capital’s most recognisable silhouettes, while Boudhanath’s vast white dome and gilded pinnacle anchor an important Tibetan Buddhist community. Pashupatinath, beside the Bagmati River, is a major Hindu pilgrimage complex with shrines, ghats and ritual spaces; access to the principal temple is reserved for Hindus, though visitors may observe parts of the surrounding complex respectfully. The Garden of Dreams represents a later, neo-classical strand of Kathmandu’s architectural history, contrasting with the dense brick urbanism of the historic quarters.

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Neighbourhoods in Kathmandu

Best restaurants in Kathmandu

Kathmandu’s food culture reflects Newar heritage, Himalayan migration and influences from across South Asia. Newari specialities such as samay baji, a platter of seasoned grains, meat, pickles and fermented elements, are served in traditional eateries and contemporary restaurants; bara, a savoury lentil pancake, and yomari, a sweet steamed dumpling, are also closely associated with the valley. Momo dumplings appear everywhere, with fillings and sauces varying between kitchens, while thukpa and Tibetan-style breads reflect communities from the north. Thamel has the broadest concentration of restaurants, cafés and bakeries serving Nepali, Tibetan, Indian and international food, whereas Asan and the old city offer more local snacks and small eateries. Kathmandu’s tea shops, dal bhat restaurants and market stalls provide a useful contrast to its increasingly polished dining rooms, with vegetarian choices widely available.

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Best bars in Kathmandu

Kathmandu’s evening life is concentrated chiefly in Thamel, where narrow streets contain live-music venues, relaxed bars, cafés and establishments serving visitors after trekking or sightseeing. The district ranges from quiet rooftop and courtyard settings to louder late-night venues, though the atmosphere changes with the season, regulations and individual business schedules. Elsewhere, Jhamsikhel and nearby Lalitpur have a more local and expatriate-oriented selection of bars, restaurants and small live-music spaces, while cultural performances and traditional music provide alternatives to clubbing. Evening walks around Boudhanath can be atmospheric, but religious sites remain places of worship rather than nightlife venues. Visitors should expect traffic, uneven pavements and occasional noise, and should use reputable taxis or arranged transport when returning to accommodation late.

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Best nightclubs in Kathmandu

Kathmandu’s evening life is concentrated chiefly in Thamel, where narrow streets contain live-music venues, relaxed bars, cafés and establishments serving visitors after trekking or sightseeing. The district ranges from quiet rooftop and courtyard settings to louder late-night venues, though the atmosphere changes with the season, regulations and individual business schedules. Elsewhere, Jhamsikhel and nearby Lalitpur have a more local and expatriate-oriented selection of bars, restaurants and small live-music spaces, while cultural performances and traditional music provide alternatives to clubbing. Evening walks around Boudhanath can be atmospheric, but religious sites remain places of worship rather than nightlife venues. Visitors should expect traffic, uneven pavements and occasional noise, and should use reputable taxis or arranged transport when returning to accommodation late.

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Best shops in Kathmandu

Shopping in Kathmandu moves from wholesale market lanes and devotional bazaars to trekking retailers, craft shops and contemporary boutiques. Asan is the city’s traditional trading quarter, crowded with spices, grains, brass vessels, incense and household goods, while nearby Indra Chowk is associated with textiles, clothing and jewellery. Thamel caters more directly to visitors with trekking equipment, woollens, books, singing bowls, handicrafts and souvenirs, although quality and provenance vary between sellers. Fairly traded lokta paper, carved wood, cotton and wool textiles, paubha-inspired art and handmade metalwork reflect Nepalese craft traditions, but buyers should ask about materials and avoid antiquities or wildlife products with questionable provenance. New Road offers mainstream clothing, electronics and department-style retail, providing a useful contrast to the specialist shops and market culture of the older districts.

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Kathmandu essentials

Currency and Payment
Nepal’s currency is the Nepalese rupee, abbreviated NPR. ATMs are available in Kathmandu’s main visitor districts and commercial areas, though machines can occasionally be out of service or impose transaction limits. Hotels, established restaurants, trekking agencies and larger shops commonly accept international cards, while smaller cafés, market stalls, taxis and local eateries generally require cash. Contactless payment is not universal, so carrying modest amounts of rupee notes is useful; small denominations are particularly convenient for taxis, refreshments, donations and minor purchases. Notify a card provider before travel and retain a second payment method, especially when planning excursions outside the capital.
Safety
Kathmandu requires ordinary urban precautions, particularly in crowded markets, on public transport and around major festivals, where bags and phones should be kept secure. Traffic is a more immediate practical hazard than many visitors expect, so use marked crossings where available and take care at junctions. Dust and air pollution can be noticeable, especially in dry periods; travellers with respiratory conditions may wish to carry appropriate medication or a mask. Earthquake preparedness is relevant because Nepal is seismically active, although visitors should follow current official guidance rather than assume a particular risk level. When walking after dark, use well-trafficked roads and reliable transport, and take care on poorly lit or uneven streets.
Emergency Situations
In Nepal, police can be contacted on 100, the fire service on 101 and ambulance services on 102. Ask hotel staff, a reputable local contact or a nearby police post for assistance if language or location makes an emergency call difficult. International visitors should carry travel insurance details, passport information and any essential medical records, while remembering that emergency facilities and response times may be more limited than in many European or North American capitals. For serious trekking or altitude incidents outside Kathmandu, specialist evacuation arrangements and insurance are especially important. The city has hospitals and private clinics, but confirm current access and payment requirements before non-emergency treatment.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress modestly when visiting temples and monasteries, cover shoulders and knees where local practice indicates, and remove shoes before entering many sacred interiors. Walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas and prayer wheels, and avoid touching religious objects or people’s heads. Ask permission before photographing ceremonies, monks or worshippers, and observe signs marking areas restricted to non-Hindus, including parts of some temple complexes. Use the right hand, or both hands, when giving or receiving items, and accept that bargaining is normal in many markets but not everywhere. Tipping is discretionary rather than a universal obligation; a modest amount for good service is generally welcomed, while respectful behaviour matters more than ostentation.
Local Tips
Kathmandu’s old commercial core is easiest to understand as a chain of connected areas: Thamel serves visitors, while Asan, Indra Chowk and the lanes around Kathmandu Durbar Square reveal the city’s everyday trade and neighbourhood shrines. Set aside separate visits for Boudhanath and Pashupatinath, which are close enough to combine but each deserves time for observation. Morning is often the most comfortable period for walking, before traffic and heat intensify. Keep an eye on air-quality conditions and allow flexibility for festival processions, road delays or public events. The Kathmandu Valley is culturally interconnected, but Patan and Bhaktapur are distinct cities rather than neighbourhoods of Kathmandu.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
Helloनमस्ते[namaste]
Goodbyeअलविदा[alavida]
Yesहो[ho]
Noहोइन[hoin]
Please/You're welcomeकृपया[krupaya]
Thank youधन्यवाद[dhanyabad]
Excuse me/Sorryमाफ गर्नुहोस्[maaf garnuhos]
How are you?तपाईंलाई कस्तो छ?[tapailai kasto cha?]
Fine. And you?ठिकै छ। तिमी त?[thikai cha. timi ta?]
Do you speak English?तिमी अंग्रेजी बोल्नु हुन्छ?[timi angreji bolnu huncha?]
I don't understandमलाई सम्झिन्छैन[malai samjhinchhaina]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseकृपया मेन्यू हेर्न चाहन्छु[krupaya menu hernu chahanchu]
I don't eat meatम भांसा खाँदिन[ma bhansa khandina]
Cheers!भिन्देश![bhindesh!]
I would like to pay, pleaseकृपया म भुक्तानी गर्न चाहन्छु[krupaya ma bhuktani garnu chahanchu]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!मद्दत गर्नुहोस्![maddat garnuhos!]
Go away!हट्नुहोस्![hatnuhos!]
Call the Police!प्रहरीलाई फोन गर्नुहोस्![praharilai phone garnuhos!]
Call a doctor!डाक्टरलाई फोन गर्नुहोस्![daktarlai phone garnuhos!]
I'm lostम गुम्भिएको छु[ma gumbhieko chu]
I'm illमलाई बिमारी छ[malai bimari cha]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...म खरिद गर्न चाहन्छु...[ma kharid garnu chahanchu...]
I'm just lookingम फेरि हेर्न आएको छु[ma feri hernu aeko chu]
How much is it?यसको मुल्य कति हो?[yasko mulya kati ho?]
That's too expensiveयो धेरै महँगो छ[yo dherai mahango cha]
Can you lower the price?के तपाईं मुल्य कम गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ?[ke tapailai mulya kam garnu hunncha?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?कति बज्यो?[kati bajyo?]
It's one o'clockएक बज्यो[ek bajyo]
Half past (10)दसबज्योको आधा[dasbajyoko aadha]
Morningबिहान[bihan]
Afternoonदिउँसो[diunso]
Eveningसाँझ[sanh]
Yesterdayहिजो[hijo]
Todayआज[aaj]
Tomorrowभोलि[bholi]
1एक[ek]
2दुई[dui]
3तीन[tin]
4चार[char]
5पाँच[pach]
6छ[chh]
7सात[saat]
8आठ[aath]
9नौ[nau]
10दस[das]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?कहाँ छ...?[kaha cha...?]
What's the address?ठेगाना के हो?[thegana ke ho?]
Can you show me (on the map)?के तिमी मलाई देखाउन सक्छौ (नक्सामा)?[ke timi malai dekhaun sakchau (naksama)?]
When's the next (bus)?अर्को कति बज्यो (बस)?[arko kati bajyo (bas)?]
A ticket (to ....)एक टिकट (....सम्म)[ek ticket (....samma)]

History of Kathmandu

Early Valley Civilisations

The Kathmandu Valley has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and archaeological evidence points to early settlements around its fertile basin and waterways. Later Newar communities developed sophisticated urban, agricultural and artistic traditions across the valley. The lake-drainage story associated with the bodhisattva Manjushri belongs to Buddhist tradition rather than documented history, yet it remains central to the valley’s cultural identity. By the early medieval period, settlements linked to present-day Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur had become important centres of trade, religion and craft. Their location between the plains of South Asia and the Himalayan passes encouraged contact between Indian and Tibetan cultural worlds, helping shape the distinctive architecture, festivals and religious coexistence that still characterise the capital.

Licchavi and Early Urban Development

The Licchavi period, conventionally dated from about the fourth to the eighth centuries, is the earliest era for which Kathmandu Valley inscriptions and monuments provide substantial evidence. Licchavi rulers supported Hindu and Buddhist institutions, irrigation works and trade, while Sanskrit inscriptions record the activities of courts, religious foundations and landholders. The valley’s urban centres grew around temples, water conduits and agricultural settlements, establishing patterns that influenced later city building. Although much of the visible architecture dates from subsequent centuries, the religious sites at places such as Pashupatinath and the wider system of sacred spaces developed through this long process. The period also strengthened links with northern India and the Himalayan region, contributing to the valley’s plural artistic and religious culture.

The Malla Kingdoms and Newar Art

From the twelfth century, Malla rulers played a major role in the political and cultural development of the valley. After the kingdom fragmented in the fifteenth century, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur became rival courts, each investing in palaces, temples, water systems, festivals and public squares. This competition produced the refined brick, timber and stone craftsmanship associated with Newar architecture. The three Durbar Squares preserve the clearest expression of that era, although earthquakes, rebuilding and later urban change have altered them. Malla patronage also supported the interwoven Hindu and Buddhist traditions visible in the valley’s iconography, ritual calendar and monastic courtyards. Kathmandu’s historic centre therefore reflects both royal ambition and the skills of the artisan communities who built it.

Unification under the Shah Dynasty

In 1768, Prithvi Narayan Shah, ruler of the Gorkha kingdom, conquered Kathmandu and brought the valley into the expanding Kingdom of Nepal. The political centre shifted towards Kathmandu, which became the seat of the Shah monarchy and the principal administrative capital of the new state. Unification connected the valley more firmly to territories across the Himalayan foothills, but it also changed established political relationships among the valley’s cities and communities. The capital became increasingly important as a centre of government, diplomacy and commerce. Many later institutions and patterns of migration grew from this transformation, while the older Newar urban fabric continued to provide the ceremonial and architectural setting for the expanding state.

Rana Rule and a Closed Capital

The Rana family dominated Nepal’s government from 1846 until 1951, formally retaining the Shah monarchy while concentrating executive power in hereditary prime ministerial rule. Kathmandu’s political landscape changed through the construction of palatial compounds, administrative buildings and formal gardens influenced by European styles, including the complex now associated with Singha Durbar and the Garden of Dreams. For much of this period, Nepal maintained limited contact with the outside world, and the capital remained relatively secluded compared with South Asian cities connected by colonial railways and ports. The end of Rana rule in 1951 opened the country to wider diplomatic, educational and commercial exchange, accelerating Kathmandu’s transformation from a court city into a modern national capital.

Modernisation, Tourism and Earthquakes

After 1951, Kathmandu expanded rapidly as Nepal developed new government institutions, roads, schools, public services and international connections. Tourism grew alongside interest in Himalayan mountaineering and trekking, and districts such as Thamel became associated with travellers, equipment shops and hospitality. Urban growth placed pressure on historic neighbourhoods, traditional water systems and the valley’s agricultural edges. The 2015 earthquake caused extensive damage to monuments and homes across Kathmandu and the wider valley, including parts of Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath. Reconstruction has been gradual and sometimes contested, balancing seismic safety, conservation standards, living religious practice and the needs of residents. Contemporary Kathmandu consequently combines rapid metropolitan change with an active effort to protect its historic urban inheritance.

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Discover Kathmandu with Evendo - a 100% free app-based travel guide that covers attractions, landmarks, shops, restaurants, hotels, tours, and more!

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  • History of Kathmandu
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Planning a trip to Kathmandu? Look no further than Evendo, your all-in-one travel guide app that ensures you make the most of your visit. Whether you're gazing at the majestic Swayambhunath Stupa, exploring the historic Patan Durbar Square, or seeking tranquility at the Garden of Dreams, Evendo has you covered.

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