Things to see in Kathmandu

An atmospheric complex of palaces, courtyards and temples in the heart of the old city. Some of the brick and stone monuments date back to the 12th century and the whole area is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kathmandu's Durbar Square is one of three durbar (royal palace) squares in the Kathmandu Valley. It is the site of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex, which was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch, still take place today. The palace is decorated with elaborately-carved wooden windows and panels and houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum. It is also possible to visit the State Rooms inside the palace. At the southern end of Durbar Square is one of the most curious attractions in Nepal, the Kumari Chowk.

This gilded cage contains the Raj Kumari, a young girl chosen through an ancient and mystical selection process to become the human incarnation of the Hindu mother goddess, Durba. She is worshipped during religious festivals and makes public appearances at other times for a fee paid to her guards.

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. The child goddess can occasionally be seen on the carved wooden balcony.

Across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, Patan existed as an independent city-state until the valley was unified in the 18th century. Patan's Durbar Square is a rich fantasy of palaces, temples and courtyards, centred on the excellent Patan Museum.