Kathmandu
Ancient temples, vibrant bazaars and the cultural soul of Nepal
Kathmandu is Nepal's capital and the cultural heart of the Himalayas, a valley city of medieval Durbar Squares, Hindu and Buddhist shrines, and narrow bazaar streets that have drawn travellers for centuries.
Home to five of the Kathmandu Valley's seven UNESCO World Heritage monument zones, it remains the starting point for nearly every journey through Nepal.
The city sits at around 1,400 metres in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley, ringed by forested hills, with Kathmandu District recording 2,041,587 residents in the 2021 National Population and Housing Census, Nepal's largest population count at district level (National Statistics Office, Nepal, censusresults.nsonepal.gov.np).
Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal's only international gateway, sits within Kathmandu, making the city the first stop for almost every visitor before continuing on to Pokhara, Chitwan or the trekking trails of the Himalaya.
Curated Experiences
Journeys designed to show Kathmandu at its best.
Categories
Points of Interest
16 places
Attraction
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Heart of the ancient Kathmandu kingdom
Attraction
Pashupatinath Temple
Nepal's holiest Hindu temple on the Bagmati
Attraction
Boudhanath Stupa
One of the world's largest Buddhist stupas
Attraction
Swayambhunath
The ancient Monkey Temple above Kathmandu
Attraction
Changu Narayan Temple
Nepal's oldest Vishnu temple on a hilltop
Attraction
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Kathmandu's green lung and watershed forest
Attraction
Kopan Monastery
Tibetan Buddhist learning center above the valley
Attraction
Thamel Heritage Walk
Kathmandu's vibrant historic backpacker quarter
Attraction
Asan Bazaar
The ancient spice and grain market of old Kathmandu
Temple / Religious Site
Asura Cave
Guru Rinpoche's meditation cave above Pharping
Place
Momo
Kathmandu's most iconic street food, steamed or fried dumplings
Place
Sel Roti
Ring-shaped, deep-fried rice bread, a festival staple
Place
Yomari
Teardrop-shaped steamed dumpling filled with molasses and sesame
Place
Chatamari
Newari rice crepe, often called Nepal's answer to pizza
Natural Wonder
Bagmati River
Nepal's most sacred river, flowing through the Kathmandu Valley past Pashupatinath
Other
Tribhuvan International Airport
Nepal's main international gateway, on the eastern edge of Kathmandu
Culture
People & Culture
Kathmandu is the historic homeland of the Newar people, whose Malla-era architecture, woodcarving and festival culture still shape the city's old core. Kathmandu District holds five of the seven monument zones that make up the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1979): Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan, alongside Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares in the neighbouring districts of the same name (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, whc.unesco.org/en/list/121). Hindu and Buddhist tradition sit side by side here: Pashupatinath is one of the holiest Shiva temples in the world, while Boudhanath and Swayambhunath rank among the most important Tibetan Buddhist sites outside Tibet itself. The old city's Newar bazaars, Thamel's backpacker quarter and its many working monasteries make Kathmandu a living, functioning city rather than a preserved museum piece.
Activities
Things to Do
Explore Kathmandu Durbar Square (Hanuman Dhoka), the historic royal palace complex
Visit Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal's holiest Hindu shrine on the Bagmati River
See Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world
Climb to Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) for views over the whole valley
Walk the old bazaar streets of Thamel and Asan for shopping and street food
Day-trip to Changu Narayan, Nepal's oldest surviving Hindu temple
Hike or drive up to Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park for forest and valley views
Try Kathmandu's signature street food: steamed or fried Momo dumplings, crisp deep-fried Sel Roti rice bread, festival-time Yomari filled with molasses and sesame, and the Newari rice crepe Chatamari, all found around Asan and Thamel
Other Districts in Bagmati Province
Stories from Kathmandu
All guides