Kathmandu Travel Guide: 8 Must-See Attractions
We have planned a 3-day and 2-night itinerary for you in Kathmandu, showing you the must-see attractions in Kathmandu. Friends who like religious and historical tourism must not miss it!
Flight Tickets to Kathmandu
Travelers can travel to Nepal by land or by air. By land, travelers can take a long-distance bus from India or Lhasa, Tibet, to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. If traveling from Hong Kong, you can find cheap flights to Kathmandu on Skyscanner.
Hong Kong residents holding a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport need to apply for a visa when traveling to Nepal. You can apply for a visa at the Nepalese Consulate in Hong Kong before departure, or apply for a visa on arrival when entering the country. Note: The common currency of Nepal is the Nepalese rupee, and the exchange rate is approximately 1 Hong Kong dollar to 13 Nepalese rupees. In terms of time difference, Kathmandu is 2 hours and 15 minutes behind Hong Kong.
The Best Time to Visit Kathmandu
Kathmandu has a pleasant climate, with an average temperature of about 20 degrees throughout the year. The local rainy season is from May to September. The best travel season to Kathmandu is from September to April of the following year. The weather in Kathmandu during this time is dry and cool, making it ideal for hiking and other outdoor activities.
Transportation in Kathmandu
Like other Nepali cities, tourists in Kathmandu usually choose taxis or chartered cars as transportation. You can also take a sightseeing bus to visit various attractions in Kathmandu.
8 Must-Visit Places to Visit in Kathmandu
- Thamel District: Thamel District is a gathering place for tourists, and many tourists live in this area. There are travel agencies, restaurants, souvenir shops, bookstores, and map shops in Thamel District. Visitors can also find charter companies here. Find a restaurant in Thamel to have breakfast before setting off to explore various attractions in Kathmandu.
- The Garden of Dreams: Skyscanner recommends you go to Tamil’s pure land “The Garden of Dreams” for breakfast. The Garden of Dreams is part of the palace built in 1920 by Field Marshal Kaiser Shamsher of the Nala family. Compared to the noisy Thamel district, it is a peaceful and relaxing garden. The architecture in the garden has a distinctive neoclassical style, with carefully trimmed green plants and a spacious pool, which makes people feel relaxed and happy. There is a coffee shop in the corner of the courtyard where visitors can dine and plan their itinerary.
- Kathmandu Durbar Square: Kathmandu Durbar Square is close to Thamel and can be reached from Thamel by taking an electric tricycle, rickshaw, or bus in the city. Durbar Square is the Palace Square, an area with the most Nepali religious and ethnic characteristics. This is the center of Kadu, filled with Nepalese monuments from the 16th to 19th centuries. Kathmandu Durbar Square is very large, and there are many temples worth stopping to see. Even if you spend a day, you can only take a look at them.
- Patan Durbar Square: Not far from Kathmandu Durbar Square is the ancient city of Patan, formerly known as Lalitpur, which means “City of Art”. Patan was once an independent kingdom and had several monuments built by the Malla dynasty monarchs between the 16th and 18th centuries. Patan has more historical buildings than Old Palace Square in Kathmandu. They are all antique Nepali-style buildings with exquisite carved statues and decorations inside and outside. The colonnades, idols and window frames of Patan are decorated with exquisite carvings and are rare works of art.
- Pashupatinath Temple/Burn Temple: Pashupatinath Temple was built in the 19th century and is one of the most important Hindu temples in Kathmandu. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the main temple. Hindus hold cremations at Pashupatinath Temple, so the temple has a resounding nickname – “Cremation Temple”. Many tourists who are interested in Hinduism will stand on the bridge or sit on the other side to watch. It is recommended to pay attention to etiquette when watching the cremation ceremony and maintain due respect for the deceased and his family.
- Boudhanath Stupa: Boudhanath Stupa is the largest round stupa in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Kathmandu. The huge white dome of the Boudhanath Pagoda symbolizes a generous and caring mind. There is a square minaret above the dome. The spire is golden and there are huge Buddha eyes painted on all sides. The pagoda is surrounded by prayer flags fluttering in the wind, in five colors: red, green, blue, white, and yellow, representing the five basic elements that make up the world. When Nepali believers pray at the Boudhanath Stupa, they will circle clockwise, pull out rosary beads, recite scriptures, and turn the prayer wheel.
- Swayambhunath Temple/Monkey Temple: Swayambhunath Temple is located in the west of Kathmandu. There are many monkeys here that are not afraid of people, so it is also called the “Monkey Temple”. There is a pagoda on the top of the “Monkey Temple”. Although it is smaller than the Boudhanath Pagoda, it is still worth watching. After climbing to the top of the “Monkey Temple”, you can overlook the entire Kathmandu Valley, so it is recommended that you come at dusk to enjoy the beautiful dusk scenery of Kathmandu.
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located about 14 kilometers east of Kathmandu and is the best-preserved ancient city in Nepal. Badgang Durbar Square is surrounded by various pagodas and temples, so it is also known as the “open-air museum”. When you come to the square, you must admire the gold-painted gate on the north side, the 55 black-painted sandalwood carved windows of the Old Palace (55 Window Palace), and the Temple of the Goddess Batsara next to it. The Batsara Goddess Temple is a Hindu temple with a beautiful shape and fine carvings. There is also a large bronze bell hanging outside the temple.
- Thamel: Finally return to Thamel for the end of your journey to Kathmandu. Book lovers will not be lonely in Tamil because there are many bookstores in the area. Pilgrim’s Bookstore, the largest and most famous one in the area, in addition to books on mountaineering and the Himalayas, you can also find books on various other subjects.