Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is located in the Kathmandu Valley in the high plateaus of Nepal. Also, with approximately 1.5 million population, the city is Nepal’s most populous city. It was once the royal capital of the Kingdom of Nepal, thus, it is home to some of the historic palaces and mansions of the nobility and many of Nepal's most fascinating temples and monasteries.

Kathmandu, Nepal

After the foundation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008, Kathmandu was selected as the capital of the new government. Kathmandu is located in Bagmati province, one of the seven provinces of Nepal.

Until 2022 Kathmandu Airport was Nepal's only international airport. So The city hosts tourists who visit Nepal every year. The climate of Kathmandu is humid subtropical in most parts of the city. The average temperature of Kathmandu is 28 degrees in summer and 10 degrees in winter, and The humidity in Kathmandu rarely drops below 60%. However, the weather can change quickly and unpredictably in the winter and monsoon seasons.

Established in the 2nd century AD, Kathmandu Valley is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. Historically, the Kathmandu Valley is the home of the Newar people, and in the past, it formed the Newar Kingdom under the name Mandalay Nepal. The Newars were mainly Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman tribes, followed Hinduism and Buddhism, and spoke the Nepalese language of Bassa. The historical heritage and civilization of the Newars in the Himalayas are unique and commendable. Newars are known for spirituality, culture, art, agriculture and cooking. The Newar kingdom ended in 1768 following the attack of the Gorkha kingdom, yet, the Newars are still one of the great tribes of Nepal that have managed to preserve their historical and cultural identity.

In the following, some attractions of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, will be introduced.

Buddha Stupa

Buddha Stupa, also known as Buddhanath, is located in eastern Kathmandu. A stupa is a Buddhist monument in the shape of a hemisphere where the heritage and remains of Buddhist monks and nuns are kept. In Buddhism, a stupa is a place for meditation and worship. Buddhanath's massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world. Budhanath was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The stupa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kathmandu. The legacy of Kassapa Buddha, the 24th Buddha, is said to be kept in this stupa.

Buddhanath, One of the largets stupa

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath is a sacred and significant Hindu temple dedicated to Pashupati, the Nepali national deity and lord of animals. It is one of the largest and oldest temples in the world. This temple was registered as a world heritage in 1979 and is considered one of the main symbols of Kathmandu. This temple complex consists of 518 small temples and one primary temple. Also, this one is the 276 temple mentioned in the poems of Shiva worship, the god of the Hindu Shaivite sect.

Swayambhunath Temple - Monkey Temple

Swayambhunath Temple, also known as the Monkey Temple because of the large number of monkeys on its premises, is located on top of a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. This historical site is a collection of shrines, temples and a stupa. Some of these monuments date back to the 4th to the 8th century AD. Most of the carvings and iconography in this temple are rooted in the Newar Buddhist traditions, yet, it is a sacred and respected place for many Buddhists and Hindus.

Durbar square

Durbar Square or royal square refers to a plaza and area opposite a royal palace. Nepal has three royal palaces in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan. These complexes were the place of government and life of the king and members of the Mala dynasty of Nepal. All three Durbar squares of Nepal are listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a good representation of the capabilities of Newar artists and artisans.

Thamal Street

Thamel Street is one of the most crowded and famous places in Kathmandu. If you are looking for delicious food, shopping for clothes, hiking and camping equipment, buying souvenirs or booking a tour, you will find many options in Thamel Street. Although because of the fame of this street prices are a bit higher, yet, you can find some extraordinary items.

Garden of dreams

This garden, which was built in the early 1920s under the supervision of the famous architect Kishore Narsingh and was inspired by Edwardian architecture, belongs to Kaiser Shumsher Rana, the military commander of the Nepalese army and the third son of Maharaja Chandra Shumsher Rana, the fifth prime minister. After the death of the Kaiser, this place was silent for many years until, with the investment of the Austrian government, this garden and castle were restored and reopened to the public. This garden has a cafe named Kaiser, where you can enjoy delicious Nepali and international food in the open air.

Taleju Temple Kathmandu

Each of the three Royal Palces of Nepal has a Taleju temple inside them. These temples are dedicated to the Taleju, the goddess of the Mala kingdom. Talju Temple of Kathmandu was built in 1564 by Mahendra Mala. Legend has it that it was Taleju Bhawani who gave the governance to the Malas. This temple is reopened only once a year. Also, Newari Buddhists believe that Talju comes to them in the form of virgin girls before puberty. These girls, who are chosen from the Shakya tribe and are respected and worshiped by most Buddhists and some Hindus, are called Kumari.

Lake Taudaha

Taudaha Lake is located on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Resting, meditation, and enjoying its charming nature are the aims of tourists visiting Taudaha Lake. In particular seasons this lake becomes home to a great variety of migratory birds, which is another reason for the popularity of this lake.

Lake Taudaha

Budhanilkanta Temple

Budhanilkanta Temple is located in the city of the same name in the Kathmandu Valley. This is an open-air Hindu temple. Some Hindus associate this temple with Buddha. But the more common version considers the statue of this temple to belong to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of the Shiva sect, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Krishnarpan Nepali Restaurant

Krishnarpan Nepali Restaurant is located in the Dwarika's Hotel in Kathmandu. Here you can experience the traditional food and ambience of original Nepali dining. Although you need a reservation and the price range is higher than similar restaurants, many tourists recommend it because of the Nepali Slow Dining experience.