This is a travel guide to the 8 best places to visit in Kathmandu, the Capital City of Nepal. Get to know all the tourist attractions and make your own itinerary in 2024!

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Kathmandu, the ancient Capital City of Nepal! At a glance, you will find yourself in haphazard traffic-jams, while people patiently cut through one another with rough-and-sharp driving! All the vehicles are rushing ‘fast and furious’ and the plastic packets are flying around the footpaths within an unsanitary non-existent garbage-disposal system. And there is more. Way more.

All the Best Places to Visit in Kathmandu

But, it has its charm, to say the least, despite its provocations. A culturally evolving Capital with layers of history and monasteries. On the streets, in Nepali faces. Here are 8 best places to visit in Kathmandu in 2024, especially if you have a tight schedule and may not be able to explore this heritage space more flexibly. Even though these places are touristy, you can feel the vibrations of Nepal, the Newari culture to be precise, through the cuisine, old buildings and a harmonious religious balance.

Let’s jump right into the Kathmandu Travel Guide!

1. Boudha Stupa is My Favourite Place in Kathmandu

The Buddha eyes are in all directions. For hundreds of years, Boudhanath Stupa has held high the Buddhist belief of tranquility and beauty with its omnipresent eyes.

A mammoth dome represents the earth, and on top of it stands a Buddhist pyramid tower, with Buddha Eyes in all four directions. The philosophy is to procure consciousness above earthly illusions. The 14th-century architectural stupa truly became the epitome of Tibetan Buddhism in the 1950s when the Chinese refugees immigrated to Kathmandu.

2. Swayambhunath is A Revered Buddhist Temple

Swayambhu, meaning ‘Self-Created ‘ or ‘Self-Existent’. Hindus and Vajrayana Buddhists of central and southern Nepal revere the golden spire crowning a conical wooden hill. Swayambhunath Stupa, or ‘Monkey Temple’ is an enigmatic holy shrine that was born out of a mythical light. 365 steps up on the hill, the Newari Buddhists circle counterclockwise around the stupa. The eyes, a symbol of Buddha‘s all-seeing presence, and the third eye, grant the symbolism of Buddhism.

Among Buddhist chaityas and temples with statues of Tantric and shamanistic deities, a Hindu temple of Harati Devi signifies religious intermingling, and is certainly one of the best places to visit in Kathmandu!

Also read – Thunderstorm at Australian Camp While Solo Camping in Nepal

3. Pashupatinath Temple & the Cremation Ground

Moving forward, on the banks of the Bagmati river on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu lies the Shiva temple, Pashupatinath. Death rites and open-air cremations are in perpetuity by River Bagmati which later enmashes in the sacred river Ganga. The temple itself is a copper-and-gold-plated masterpiece in the palate of traditional Hindu architecture, with four main doors covered with silver sheets, and ‘gajur’ with gold pinnacles.

“Another culturally shocking thing in Pashupatinath, the finest exposure for those visiting Nepal, is the image of local women washing clothes downstream the river. The waters of Bagmati contain animal fat because of the ashes of cremated Shiva followers easily wash the dirt from linen. It is believed that this is how soap was invented.” (Source: https://pashupatinathtemple.org)

4. Visit Hanuman-Dhoka Durbar Square

Hanuman-Dhoka Durbar Square, this complex of beautiful temples and shrines was built between the 12th and 18th centuries in the pagoda style embellished with intricately carved exteriors. Kathmandu Durbar Square, with its old temples and palaces, epitomizes the extent of religion and culture in Nepal. It is here that the kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations are solemnized. Until the early 20th century the Durbar Square was the kings’ residence. It is a living open museum of Nepal now, and a famous tourist attraction in Kathmandu.

The Durbar Square area is actually made up of two sub-areas. The outer complex has numerous temples like Kumari Ghar, Kasthmandap, Shiv-Parvati Temple, Jagannath Temple, Big Bell etc, while the inner complex comprises the old palace area, Hanuman-Dhoka and its courtyards like Nasal Chowk, Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, Lohan Chowk, Mohan Chowk, Basantapur Durbar and others.

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All the vehicles are rushing ‘fast and furious’ and the plastic packets are flying around the footpaths within an unsanitary non-existent garbage-disposal system.

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The Hanuman-Dhoka Royal Palace is included in the Protected Monument Zone along with other private buildings. The site is enlisted in the World Heritage Site of UNESCO along with six other monument zones of the Kathmandu Valley.

Tip for travellers: If you intend to visit Hanuman-Dhoka Durbar Square for multiple days, make a visitor’s pass at the entrance which is valid for a week. You will have to show your passport to get the week-special pass.

Also read – Annapurna Base Camp Trek – Lost in the Old Route of Nepal

5. Narayanhiti Royal Palace to Understand the Recent History

It was in this building the royal massacre of 2001 happened.

After the establishment of The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Narayanhiti Palace was turned into Narayanhiti Museum and was inaugurated on 15th June 2008. It is named after a Sikhara-style Narayan temple located on the eastern part of the palace compound and a water fountain next to the temple. Since water fountain is called Hiti in the Newari language, the palace was named Narayanhiti. 

Kathmandu’s Royal Palace was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1934. King Tribhuvan’s two daughters also died in that earthquake. The present structure of the palace was designed by an American architect Benjamin Polk. Later on, following the royal massacre, the building was demolished. Bullet wounds are still drawing breath at open corners.

6. Kaiser Library Houses Thousands of Books

I was told at the gate that this library cannot be visited without prior permission. It was also under construction, which could be the reason, I am not sure.

The Kaiser collection encompasses almost 28,000 volumes of books and documents in philosophy, religion, social science, astronomy, hunting, medicine, history, and literature. 95% of the books are written in English, and the rest are in Nepali, Sanskrit, and Hindi, according to their official website.

7. Kopan Monastery is A Buddhist Learning Centre in Kathmandu

The stupas and the statues of Kathmandu Valley find a conjugated frame from Kopan Monastery, sitting atop a hill.

It all began when two lamas, Lama Zope Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe, fled Tibet in 1959 only to meet in the Indian refugee camp of Buxa Duar and further migrate to Nepal. Their vision morphed into Kopan Monastery, created with the intent of doling out Tibetan Buddhist knowledge to young Himalayan monks and nuns.

Today it has nurtured itself into one of the biggest Galug monasteries in Nepal with 380 monks and 369 nuns. It’s a residential school, yet Kopan Monastery allows tourists to visit the inside of the monastery.

Also read – The India-Nepal Border Crossing by Land Via Gorakhpur

8. Thamel is A Touristy Marketplace

Nightlife, tourist shopping market, and backpackers’ hostels – That’s Thamel, designed to be a proper tourist destination in Nepal, and touristy it is! With overpriced souvenirs, shady dance bars, and budget-friendly hostels for backpackers, foreign tourists are more in number than Nepalese people on the streets of Thamel.

What to Eat in Kathmandu

Newaris are the inhabitants of Kathmandu and their cuisine is distinct in elaborate spreads and alcoholic pleasures. The Newari Cuisine distinguishes the characteristics of the Newari people from Nepal’s Himalayan counterparts. You can expect Samaya Baji, Green Mo:Mos, Sel Roti, Yomari, Chatamari, Mushroom Sadeko, and Juju Dhau on your monster plate!

Also read – A Vegetarian’s Guide to Newari Food

Where to Volunteer in Kathmandu

Volunteering is one of the best ways to spend time in Kathmandu! Many volunteering opportunities are available all over the city, and you can easily find them on Workaway. I personally would not recommend the place where I volunteered, because it didn’t turn out to be a fruitful experience. It was an NGO only by the name of it; it was mostly an old American expat’s loneliness ailment to surround herself with some external company in the name of volunteering. Not too bad, but it had its consequences. So, no, I won’t recommend it. But there are plenty of opportunities around Kathmandu for a positive and impactful cultural understanding.

If you are interested in Buddhism and you want to volunteer at a Buddhist monastery, connect with Kopan Monastery. They mostly take male volunteers, but you can still speak to them as a woman. They are considerably flexible with their volunteering program, as they need volunteers to teach English to the little monks.

Looking for A Place to Stay?

Wondering where to stay? The budget-friendly hostels are mostly in Thamel, close to the tourist attractions but also that means, submerging yourself into the chaos. Well… Here are a few backpackers’ hostels you can consider.

• Mystic Vibes Fitness Commune
• Big Tree Hostel
• Happy Donkey Hostel
• Rambler Hostel
• Hello KTM Hostel

For private rooms, you can choose from here. It’s a beautiful and responsible travel-gesture to stay at a Homestay rather than a hotel. Homestays are often run by locals, with greater chances of being exposed to the local culture. Your money also goes directly to the local family.

• Peace Homestay
• Monkey Temple Homestay
• Mum’s Homestay, A Nepali Family Stay Experience
• Drakon Nest Homestay
• Shine Homestay
• Swagat Homestay

How to Reach Kathmandu

By Air

Tribhuvan International Airport is the country’s sole international air hub. Various airlines like Jet Airways, Air India, Indigo, Qatar Airways, Silk Air, Etihad Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Airlines, Air Asia, Air China, Air Arabia, and Fly Dubai offer flights connecting the Capital City to numerous destinations worldwide.

By Train

While direct trains to Kathmandu from India are unavailable, travelers can embark on a train journey from Jainagar, India, to Janakpur in Nepal. From Janakpur, reaching Kathmandu is possible by bus or cab. But there are no train services within Nepal.

By Road

Opting for road travel presents a convenient route from India to anywhere in Nepal. Buses and tour operators offer services from major Indian cities. Direct buses are available from Gorakhpur and Patna in India. Traveling by car is also feasible, but it’s essential to carry toll fees and transport permits for border crossings.

Also read – Things to Do in Pokhara Nepal As A Tourist

Getting around

Getting around Kathmandu is not at all difficult. All of the city is connected beautifully through busways and small auto rickshaws. If you prefer cabs, the most famous cab services in Nepal are Pathao and InDriver.

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With that ends the guide to the best places to visit in Kathmandu. The tourist attractions are historically scattered with Royal Palaces and traditional architectural patterns. Also, if you are planning a trip to Nepal, read this Nepal Travel Guide for an extensive step-by-step understanding of Nepal’s treasures.

Where all have you been in Kathmandu?

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