By air
Tribhuvan International (KTM), ~6 km
Nepal & Bhutan · Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal
Temples, stupas and old palace squares
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to November and March to April — clear and dry
Don't miss
Boudhanath
Swayambhunath
Pashupatinath
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Things to do
Circling Boudhanath at dusk
Swayambhunath's hilltop stupa
The evening aarti at Pashupatinath
Thamel's streets
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Etter Studio · CC BY 2.0
What to pack
Layers, a mask for the dust, modest clothing for temples
A quieter corner
Kirtipur, a hill town just outside the valley's bustle
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kathmandu?
October to November or March to April, when it's clear and dry.
What should I pack for Kathmandu?
Layers, a mask for the dust and modest clothing for the temples.
What are the must-do experiences in Kathmandu?
Circle Boudhanath at dusk, climb to Swayambhunath's hilltop stupa and watch the evening aarti at Pashupatinath. Leave time for Thamel's streets too.
What should I eat in Kathmandu?
Momos, dal bhat and, if you can, a Newari feast: samay baji.
About Kathmandu
- Hills
Where it is
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, in a bowl-shaped valley at about 1,300 m in the hills of central Nepal, on the Bagmati River, with the Himalaya rising to the north.
History
The Kathmandu Valley was ruled by the Licchavi kings from around the 5th century and by the Malla dynasty from the early 13th century, under whom it later split into the rival city-states of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. In 1768 Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha conquered the valley and made Kathmandu the capital of a unified Nepal; many of its monuments were damaged in the 2015 earthquake, and many have since been rebuilt.
People
Kathmandu's historic inhabitants are the Newars, whose Nepal Bhasa language, carving, metalwork and festivals shape the old city, and today people from all over Nepal live here, speaking Nepali as the common tongue. Festivals such as Indra Jatra, Dashain and Tihar fill the year.
Known for
- Boudhanath Stupa
- Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa
- Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati
- Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Momos and Newar feasts
Did you know?
During Indra Jatra the Kumari, a young girl revered as a living goddess, is drawn through Kathmandu's old city in a chariot.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.