Kathmandu Travel Guide: Temples, Food & Best Time to Visit

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and the gateway to the Himalaya, a city of roughly one and a half million people spread across a bowl-shaped valley at about 1,400 metres above sea level. Ringed by green foothills and, on clear days, glimpses of snow peaks to the north, the Kathmandu Valley holds three former royal cities — Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur — within a few kilometres of each other. The Bagmati River, sacred to Hindus, threads through the valley on its way south toward the Ganges plains, and Tribhuvan International Airport sits just east of the old centre, roughly an hour’s flight from Delhi.

For centuries the valley sat on the trade route between Tibet and India, and the Newar people who built its cities turned that wealth into some of the finest brick, wood and metal craftsmanship in Asia. Seven groups of monuments here form a single UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Hindu and Buddhist traditions overlap so completely that the same shrine may be honoured by both. On a Palace Tours Nepal journey, Kathmandu is where you arrive, acclimatise and explore before heading out to the jungles of Chitwan or the lakes and mountain views of Pokhara.

What to see in Kathmandu

• Kathmandu Durbar Square — The old royal palace complex at the heart of the city, packed with pagoda temples, carved windows and the Kumari Ghar, home of the living goddess.
• Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) — A hilltop stupa west of the centre, reached by a long stairway and watched over by painted Buddha eyes, with sweeping views across the valley and resident monkeys.
• Boudhanath Stupa — One of the largest stupas in the world and the centre of Tibetan Buddhist life in Nepal; join the pilgrims walking clockwise around it at dusk as butter lamps are lit.
• Pashupatinath Temple — Nepal’s holiest Hindu temple, dedicated to Shiva, on the banks of the Bagmati; visitors watch the riverside ghats and wandering sadhus from the opposite bank.
• Patan Durbar Square — Across the river in Lalitpur, a beautifully preserved square of temples and courtyards; the Patan Museum inside the old palace is one of the best in South Asia.
• Bhaktapur — About 13 km east, a largely car-free medieval city of brick lanes, pottery squares and the five-tiered Nyatapola Temple.
• Thamel and Asan Tole — Thamel is the lively traveller quarter of cafes and shops, while nearby Asan Tole is a centuries-old market crossroads where locals buy spices, grains and brassware.
• Garden of Dreams — A restored neoclassical garden on the edge of Thamel, a quiet green escape for an afternoon tea away from the traffic.

What to eat in Kathmandu

Start with momos, the steamed or fried dumplings filled with buffalo, chicken or vegetables and served with a spicy tomato-sesame achar — you will find them everywhere from street stalls to smart restaurants. The everyday meal is dal bhat: rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry and pickles, refilled until you say stop. Tibetan influence brings thukpa noodle soup and thenthuk, especially around Boudhanath.

Newari cuisine is the valley’s own: try a samay baji platter of beaten rice, spiced meat, black soybeans and boiled egg, or bara, savoury lentil pancakes. In Bhaktapur, look for juju dhau, the rich “king of curds” yoghurt served in clay pots. Wash it down with sweet milky chiya tea, a salty Tibetan butter tea, or a lassi.

Shopping & crafts

Kathmandu is famous for handicrafts: hand-painted thangka scrolls, singing bowls, pashmina shawls, hand-knotted Tibetan-style carpets and lokta paper made from Himalayan bark. Patan is the traditional home of lost-wax bronze and copper statue casting, while Bhaktapur is known for pottery and woodcarving. Buy from established workshops where you can watch artisans at work, and bargain politely in the markets.

Best time to visit

The most popular seasons are autumn (October to November), when skies are clearest and mountain views are at their best, and spring (March to May), when rhododendrons bloom in the hills. Winter days are sunny and pleasant though nights are cold. The summer monsoon (June to September) brings afternoon rain and hazy views, but also green landscapes and fewer visitors. Major festivals such as Dashain and Tihar in autumn fill the city with colour.

Good to know

• Most visitors obtain a Nepal visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport; check current requirements before you travel.
• Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels, remove shoes before entering temples, and note that some Hindu temples, including Pashupatinath’s inner courtyard, are open only to Hindus.
• Heritage squares in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur charge entry fees for foreign visitors; keep your ticket as it may be checked again.
• Traffic and dust can be heavy — a light scarf or mask is useful, and a guide with a driver makes sightseeing far easier.
• The Nepali rupee is the local currency; ATMs are common in Thamel, but carry small notes for markets and temple donations.

Explore Kathmandu on a Palace Tours private journey through Nepal — combining the valley’s temples and royal squares with tiger and rhino safaris in Chitwan National Park. Call us at 1-800-724-5120 (US/Canada) or WhatsApp +1-786-408-0610 to start planning.