Kathmandu is the first land to arrive when you travel to Nepal; because Nepal has only an international airport and that is in Kathmandu. However, if you are traveling by land then there are many ways to access Nepal. When you first reach Kathmandu there will be one question what should I do? The answer is that there are many places to visit in Kathmandu while staying in this cultural land.
Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal, which means you can understand how crowded is this place. People from all over Nepal travel to Kathmandu for better education, health facilities, job opportunities, and many more. So that this little valley is home to more than two million people. Such a huge number of people inhabiting indicate that this is a bustling town of Nepal.
This culturally vibrant town has so many places to visit and things to do during your living here. Kathmandu Valley is known as the city of Temple and the valley of colorful houses. On the other hand, due to unmanaged and unplanned development projects, it’s popular as dustmandu. For that reason, this beautiful city is getting popular as one of the most polluted cities in the world.
No matter what name gives for this township; there are so many delightful places to visit in Kathmandu while you traveling to Nepal. All these places are connected historically, culturally, and traditionally with the development of Nepal. So visit in those places are worthy of your time and money to remember for a lifetime.
Thamel – One of the first places to visit in Kathmandu while traveling in Nepal
Thamel is the home of adventure travelers, in the sense; that it’s the first place to spend overnight for 90% of travelers who come to Nepal. Small roads in Thamel are full of trekking equipment shops, hotels, cafeterias, and tourist-targeted shops. Also, this is the place for entertainment, nightclubs, dancers, live music, and many more. So to have the nightlife experience Thamel is the best place in Kathmandu.
Thamel is one of the most visited places in Kathmandu for the sightseer. Because it’s downtown and easily accessible for what you are looking for. Spa to banks, Money changers to trekking and tour operators, everything is waiting for you.
Dream of the Garden.
On the one corner of crowed Thamel; there is a very peaceful spot to spend some time in quiet is Dream of the Garden. This quiet area is for those who love to spend some time delicately. Inside the garden; there is a cafeteria where you can enjoy your lovely moment with your loved one. Read the book for hours and hours by sitting in the charming area.
If you are staying in Thamel this is the nearest place to visit, just a few minutes walk from your hotel. To get into the garden need to buy a ticket at the gate. Paying a few rupees is worth spending quality time inside the Dream of Kathmandu.
Kathmandu Durbar Square – One of the royal places of Nepal
Kathmandu Durbar Square is also called the Basantapur Durbar Square and Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square. The word in the Nepali language Durbar Square means the royal palace. This historical place stands from the 16th century and is directly connected with the history of Nepal and especially the history of Kathmandu Valley.
This architecturally rich area is you can not miss while you make a tour in Kathmandu. So that you must note in your plan Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the important places to visit in Kathmandu. Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well.
However, this place was destroyed by an earthquake in 2015, and nowadays reconstruction work going on. So that there are ugly fences and building materials are in everywhere. Still, there are some attractive locations are waiting for you because some of them are rebuilt and welcoming visitors.
Swyambunath Stupa- The monkey temple
Swyambu is one of the most popular Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Kathmandu. This magnificent stupa is located in the highland of Kathmandu. Swyam means self and Bhu means land so Swyambhu means self-created land. Also, this place is a kind of view tower of Kathmandu Valley since it offers a 360-degrees angle view of Kathmandu.
The legend regarding Swyambhu- a long time ago Kathmandu Valley used to be an enormous lake and in the middle of the lake, there used to be a Lotus. And the Buddhist goddess Manjushree and Manjushree traveled to worship it. When Manjushree worshiped, he thought this huge lake might be a good settlement for human beings, and this site more accessible to human pilgrims.
So that he cut a gorge at Chovar and drained all the water from the lake and established today’s Kathmandu Valley. The Lotas of the lake transformed into a hill and the flower become today’s stupa of Swyambunath. This beautiful site is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. And this is one of the places to visit in Kathmandu for international and local travelers.
Pashupatinath Temple – Places to visit in Kathmandu
Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most powerful Hindu Temple in Kathmandu. Together with Kedarnath in India and Muktinath in Mustang Nepal. These three places are very important sites for Hindu religion followers. Also, this is a cremation site of the Hindu people in Kathmandu Valley. Therefore every day many dead bodies will burn on the bank of the Bagmati River on the side of Pashupatinath Temple.
A visit to Pashupatinath Temple is a lesson about what is life and why we are fighting for the little things around us. Because we will see many dead people are burning there; some of them are old and some of them are very young too. When we see that there will be a kind of feeling that arises about why we are so greedy, why fight for small things, and why we want everything more and more. When we die we will go necked and nothing will take us together. To observe all these things this is one of the places to visit in Kathmandu.
In Nepal, all the shrines and behind it has some believable and unbelievable stories. The same thing goes for Pashupatinath Temple too. There are some legends regarding how this oldest Temple in Kathmandu was formed in today’s shape. The first one is about a cow. The Herdman found that his one cow always showering milk on a site. He was so astonishing and he dig the place he found a divine Shivalinga. Since then this place worshiping as the Pashupatinath.
Bouddhanath Stupa – The biggest Buddhist stupa in the world.
Bouddhanath Stupa is another major Buddhist shrine in Kathmandu Valley after Swyambhunath Chaitya. This mighty stupa is very popular among the Himalayan Buddhists in Nepal; one of the most visited places in Kathmandu by national and international visitors. Located around 5KM from the heart of Kathmandu and another UNESCO World Heritage Site from Kathmandu Valley.
This gigantic Buddhist monument is a symbol of the Buddha and its rituals to follow the path of Nirvana. Every day thousands of devotees visit this place and idolization for the Lord Buddha. Walk around the stupa swing the prayer wheel, burn the butter lamp, and worship will go on and on for the whole day. The peaceful mantra music in the shops will refresh you from the tiredness of overloaded work.
Sitting on the rooftop of the bistros and looking over the gorgeous stupa will never be enough. You can spend hours and hours here looking at the surroundings and listening Buddhist mantra Om Mani Padme Hung. However, sometimes the loud noise of the Airplane flying above the head will distribute; and the flying plane above the stupa is a perfect photo to take. So that if you are planning to take a tour of Kathmandu this is one of the places to visit in Kathmandu.
Budanilkhanta Temple
Budinilkhanta Temple is one of the popular and undeniable places to visit while touring Kathmandu. This site is significant for both Hindu and Buddhist devotees from all over Nepal. Also, this temple is the base camp for the Shivapuri Hike from Kathmandu. The stone sculptor of Vishnu in there is believed that be very old, the biggest and one of the most beautiful stone sculptures in Nepal.
Located around 10KM from the center of Kathmandu this Hindu Temple is a symbol of fine stone art in Nepal. Every day many pilgrims visit this shrine to worship good Vishnu. It’s believed that Buddha was one of the reincarnations of Vishnu. That is why this site is for both Hindu and Buddhist followers. And Budhanilkhanta means Old Blue Throat while translate into the English Language.
The mythology regarding this beautiful stone monument is. Once upon a time, a farmer was working on his land and digging the land to harvest something. Meanwhile, his peak was stuck on the ground and he pulled his peak suddenly he shows fresh blood coming from the ground. In the end, they discovered that is the statue of Lord Vishnu. Still, there is a mark on the statue’s leg.
Narayanhiti Palace Museum – Historically the most important places to visit in Kathmandu
Narayanhiti Museum is one of the biggest museums in Nepal and is historically a very fascinating one. Visiting here means witnessing the king’s history and lifestyle. Because this place is the Royal palace and the last king of Nepal was kicked out from here by public revolution. And more importantly previous kind and his whole family were killed here.
This palace stands historically very important to Nepal because it is the place where a lot of things happened in the past. Multiple vital people were killed here the supreme commander of the country to the whole family members of the royal family. Only since 2008, has this place been open to the public as a museum.
If you are really interested in the history of Nepal and mostly related to the monarchy. Then this is the right place to spend some time to gain some sort of knowledge. Local people visit here to see how their favorite king and his family were living and the place where they were killed.
National Museum Chhauni Kathmandu
This national museum is a place where is a fine collection of the historical items of geography, culture, and tradition of Nepal and the world. Adding these places to your list of places to visit in Kathmandu will give you a summary of the geographic states and cultural reality of Nepal.
Kirtipur
Kirtipur is one of the historical and traditional towns in the Kathmandu Valley. Located 5 KM the southwest of the center of the valley. This is a Newari town preserving the typical Newari culture and traditions hereby. Visiting here means exploring the historical places, and cultural and traditional monuments inside the city. This Newari kingdom is a surprising place to visit for travelers and most travelers missed this place.
A day tour to Kirtipur is very good to understand the art, architecture, history, culture, and tradition of the Newari community as well as the history of Nepal.
