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Things to see in Kathmandu

Attractions

Pashupatinath

East of the centre, just outside the ring road, Kathmandu’s most important Hindu temple is a place of mystery and ritual. Built in the classic step-roofed Newari style, the main temple is closed to non-Hindus, though you can take a peek from the doorway. The surrounding lanes are studded with atmospheric shrines which foreigners are allowed to enter. Below the temple lie Kathmandu’s main funeral ghats, where open-air cremations take place in an air of respectful solemnity beside the sacred Bagmati river.

Address: Pashupatinath, Pashupatinath Marg, Kathmandu, 44621
Telephone: +977 142 569 09
Opening times:

Daily 0400-1200 and 17.00-2100.

Website: http://www.pashupatinathtemple.org
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes

Patan Durbar Square

Across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, Patan was a rival city-state until the valley was unified in the 18th century by the warlike Prithvi Narayan Shah. As in Kathmandu, Patan's Durbar Square is a rich fantasy of palaces, temples and courtyards, centred on the excellent Patan Museum. Although several temples were toppled by the 2015 earthquake, this collection of stepped temples and ornate palaces is still regarded by many as the crowning glory of Nepali architecture in the Kathmandu Valley.

Address: Patan (Lalitpur), Mangal Bazaar, Kathmandu, 44700
Telephone:
Opening times:

Daily 0000-2400

Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes

Bodhnath (Baudhanath) Stupa

Topped by a gilded spire and adorned with paintings of the eyes of Buddha, this famous stupa dates back to circa AD600. Thousands of Tibetan refugees and Buddhist devotees gather every day at sunset to circumnavigate the 36m high (118ft) stupa, lighting thousands of butter lamps on auspicious full- and half-moon evenings. The tower was shaken by the 2015 earthquake but damage was minor and restoration work is underway.

Address: Boudha, Boudhanath Sadak, Kathmandu, 44600
Telephone: +977 1 448 9257.
Opening times:

Daily 0000-2400

Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes

Swayambhunath

Crowning a conical hill to the west of Thamel, this revered Buddhist temple soars above the rooftops of Kathmandu. The 2015 earthquake toppled some of the flanking shrines but the main stupa, with its iconic gilded tower decorated with the eyes of Buddha, remained intact. This is one of Kathmandu’s most distinctive landmarks and it offers a spectacular vantage point over the city. Swayambhunath is often called the 'Monkey Temple' because of the wild monkeys that crowd the stone stairway to the shrine.

Address: Swayambhu, Swayambhu Circular Road, Kathmandu, 44600
Telephone: +977 1 427 7236.
Opening times:

Daily 0000-2400 (site shops are open from 0700-1900).

Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes

Hanuman Dhoka

Constructed by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century, but expanded by his successors in a bewildering combination of styles, the former Royal Palace dominates the southern end of Durbar Square. The stately quarters have been converted into a museum displaying centuries of memorabilia, but most people come to see the elegant courtyards and temples that dot the palace compound. The 2015 earthquake damaged parts of the palace, including the landmark Basantpur Tower, but the museum is expected to reopen once restoration work is complete.

Address: Durbar Square, Durbar Square, Kathmandu, 44600
Telephone: +977 1 425 8034.
Opening times:

Tue-Sat 1030-1600 (summer); Tue-Sat 1030-1500 (winter), Sun 1030-1400 (summer and winter).

Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Despite the devastation caused by the 2015 earthquake, Kathmandu’s royal square is still crammed with carved wooden pavilions, dramatic statues and intricately-carved temples, whose soaring roofs and brick plinths mirror the mountains beyond. However, many historic temples were tragically lost, some dating back to the 12th century, and it will take years to restore this UNESCO World Heritage site to its former glory.

Address: Ganga Path, Durbar Square, Kathmandu, 44600
Telephone: +977 1621 3353
Opening times:

Daily 0000-2400.

Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes

National Museum

West of the centre in the Chhauni district, the National Museum houses a vast collection of ancient artefacts, temple carvings, statues, paintings and medieval weaponry. Although there was some damage in the 2015 earthquake, most of the galleries survived and amongst the treasures are the personal armour and weapons of the kings of Nepal.

Address: Chhauni, Museum Marg, Kathmandu, 44600
Telephone: +977 1 427 1478.
Opening times:

Mon 1030-1430 (summer and winter), Wed-Sun 1030-1630, (summer); Mon 1030-1400, Wed-Sun 1030-1530 (winter).

Website: http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.np
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No

Garden of Dreams

An oasis of calm amidst the noise and bustle of Thamel, the Garden of Dreams looks like a miniature piece of the gardens at Versailles, transported to Kathmandu. The ponds and pavilions were constructed in the 1920s by Field Marshall Kaiser Shumsher using the proceeds from a successful night of gambling, and were stunningly restored in 2006 using funds from the Austrian government. The 2015 earthquake caused some damage here, but the garden remains one of Kathmandu’s best loved escapes.

Address: Thamel, Tridevi Marg, Kathmandu, 44600
Telephone: +977 1 442 5340.
Opening times:

Daily 0900-2200.

Website: http://www.gardenofdreams.org.np
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes

Kathesimbhu Stupa

The most dramatic of the ancient shrines dotted around the alleyways south of Thamel, the Kathesimbhu stupa sits in a secret courtyard near Thahity Tole. Undamaged in the 2015 earthquake, the monument was constructed in 1650 as a scale model of Swayambhunath. The main stupa is surrounded by a garden of smaller stupas and statues and the surrounding shops sell all sorts of Buddhist paraphernalia, including prayer flags for tying on mountain passes while trekking.

Address: Thamel, Thahity Tole, Kathmandu, 44600
Telephone:
Opening times:

Daily 24 hours.

Website:
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes

Kumari Ghar

Another earthquake survivor, this ornate 18th-century palace is the official residence of the living goddess Kumari – a young girl worshipped by Nepali Hindus as an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. On special occasions, the child goddess appears before adoring crowds of devotees on the carved wooden balcony. At other times, it’s worth coming to admire the building, constructed in the classic Newari style with leaning eaves and fretwork windows.

Address: Durbar Square, Kumari Chowk, Kathmandu, 44600
Telephone:
Opening times:

Daily 24 hours (exterior).

Website:
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No

Tourist Offices

Tourist Service Centre

Address: , Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu, 44617
Telephone: +977 1 425 6909.
Opening times:

Sun-Fri 1000-1300 and 1400-1700.

Website: http://www.welcomenepal.com

The main tourist office is a good source of information on the Kathmandu Valley and the Terai. The attached national park office is the place to pay national park entry fees and apply for your Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Hotel Tibet

A firm favourite with tour parties bound for Lhasa, this Tibetan-run hotel offers quiet, comfortable rooms in a quiet location away from the Thamel bustle. The grand lobby gives a sneak preview of Tibet, with its vivid Buddhist carvings and murals. Facilities include a rooftop terrace, a private garden, a restaurant and a meditation chapel.

Hotel Yak and Yeti

This famous 5-star hotel was founded by a Russian entrepreneur on the site of a former Rana's palace. The stylish rooms are set in two modern wings that were untouched by the 2015 earthquake, and damage to the Rana-era buildings was quickly repaired. As well as swish restaurants and bars and superior business and sports facilities, the hotel has lush gardens and its own casino.

Hotel Ganesh Himal

South of Thamel, this friendly, family-run hotel offers above-average facilities for budget travellers in quiet location away from the tourist hubbub. Rooms have reliable hot water, there's a sunny rooftop terrace and owners offer airport pick-ups and mountain bike hire.

Hyatt Regency Kathmandu

Kathmandu’s grandest 5-star hotel benefits from a secluded location, away from the centre but right on the doorstep of the Bodhnath stupa. The 290 rooms are luxurious, service is impeccable, and the hotel bar and restaurants are favourite hangouts for Kathmandu’s power players. Other facilities include a business centre, pool and spa.

Kathmandu Guest House

Probably the most famous budget hotel in Kathmandu, with a prime location in the heart of Thamel. The 121 rooms come in all shapes and sizes, from simple fan-cooled backpacker rooms to handsome air-conditioned rooms in an old Rana palace. However, the old wing was damaged in the 2015 earthquake and restoration work is ongoing. Bonus features include two courtyard restaurants with Wi-Fi, a peaceful garden and secure parking for bikes and motorcycles.

Kantipur Temple House

Built in traditional Newari style, with brick courtyards and carved timber window and door frames, this eco-friendly boutique hotel has 48 comfortable rooms decorated with traditional Nepali fabrics and furnishings. It’s Rana-style living without the royal budget.