Capital of Nepal
Kathmandu is the capital city and the largest city in Nepal.
How to Reach Kathmandu
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is well connected with any other countries.Buy a cheapest air-ticket from below site. This is my favorite site because it shows the different airline ticket prices of the same flight. So it makes easy for me to buy the lowest price ticket.
Type your travel city name "Kathmandu" in Destination box. Select your depart and return date. If one-way, click on the 'X' in the return date box. Click on search.
From Airport, come to "Thamel" a small tourist area where most tourists are staying. You can hire a taxi. It will take 350 Rupees. They may demand 500 Rupees or more. Just bargain with them and go to your hotel address or Narshingh Road, Thamel chowk first then search hotel.
You also can go by bus from main road of airport to Ratna Park only at 18 Rupees. But the drawback is, your heavy luggage. You have to walk a lot from airport to bus stand and from Ratna park to Thamel.
Hotels in Kathmandu
You can book hotel from the below search engine, which compare Booking.com and other all hotel related website and show the different prices of the same room. So, you can book at the lowest price.Type your city name "Kathmandu". Select your check-in and check-out date and click on search.
Transportation in Kathmandu
There are available local buses and public micro bus. So budget traveler will face no problem to move one place to another.Food in Kathmandu
Actually food cost is little bit higher in Nepal. Those who have no problem with money, don't have to worry. There are thousands of fast food and restaurant in Thamel. If you are a budget traveler then its a problem for you but I'm trying to help you.* Milk Tea each cup is 20 Rupees at the road side shop and inside the fast food is more than that. So if you are tea lover then you need extra money for that. I have marked in the diagram where to get tea.
In these shops you will also get boiled egg, 20 Rupees. You will get bread and biscuit cooked potato. Just observe what more they are selling.
* There is a Halal Food restaurant with reasonable price "Hotel Al-Madina". I have marked in diagram. Where you can eat Rice, Chicken, within 180 Rupees.
* In Thamel few fast food you will find 50% discount after 8 PM / 9.30 PM. There you will see many tourist crowded at that time. If you are interested, go and wait there before few minutes. But these type food you will also get in the bakery near Madina Restaurant at cheap price. Just compare first.
* Bread is not so high price, 40 Rupees 3/4 person can easily eat for breakfast. So you can buy it from small shops near tea stall in Thamel but don't buy anything from big departmental store at Thamel road around the 50% discount shop.
Tourist Places in Kathmandu
Day-1:
Date of your arrival.
Ratna Park
ParkThis is a small Park. Actually nothing to see in it. You also can see inside view from outside.
Entry Fee: 25 Rupees for foreigner and 15 Rupees for Nepalese.
Actually this is the hub of Kathmandu. Anywhere you want to go by bus, Ratna Park is the only one place. So see the Bus Park behind Ratna park and road condition for your future tour. So that you can easily go there and you can find your place to start easily.
Walk and introduce yourself with Thamel Roads. Or you can also visit Casino. There are few Casinos in Kathmandu. Casino Royale, Radisson Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel. Among all Casino Royale is near from Thamel.
Day-2:
Swayambhunath Temple:
Buddhist TempleEntry fee: 50 Rupees for SAARC countries and 200 Rupees for other countries and free for Nepalese.
How to go: From Ratna Park or from Thamel bus stop you can go by public micro. Fare 20 Rupees. From there you can walk to Swayambhu temple up on the hill by foot. Its not so tough. One thing you can do, go by Taxi up on hill fare 350 Rupees from Thamel and come back by foot.
Whochen Thokjay Choyaling Monastery
Buddhist TempleEntry Fee: Free.
How to go: It is on the Swayambhu, Saraswati Hill. Just few meters before to go to Swayambhunath Temple gate you can see stair way at the left side (right side from swayambhu) goes to up on the hill.
Amideva Park
Buddhist TempleEntry Fee: Free.
How to go: The 3 way road you went right up road for Swayambhu. From there go left side road. Or come back from Swayambhu then turn right side road and go ahead. You will see main road. You will see Amideva park at the right side of the road.
Swayambhu way
StreetNow come back again that 3 way road. You are watching a stair in the picture. Go up and walk. The road is nice.
You can see a gate and micro goes to Ratna Park from opposite of the road. Fare 20 RS. Tell them to drop Thamel. You also can walk. See the map
Day-3:
Early in the morning go to Ratna Park.
Patan Durbar Square
Historical LandmarkEntry Fees: 1000 Rupees for foreigner, 250 Rupees for SAARC and 30 Rupees for Nepalese. Now free for Nepalese and SAARC due to damage from earth quake.
How to go: From Ratna Park, tempo goes to Mangal Bazar. Fare 18 Rupees. if you don't find Tempo then you will get Micro goes to Lagankhel. Told them you want to go to Mangal Bazar. Then they will drop you in a point called Pulchowk bus stop. From there you have to walk left then go straight about 400 meters you will see Durbar square on the left. Micro fare 15 RS.
Come back to Ratna Park bus stop. By another bus go to
Pashupatinath Temple
Hindu TempleYou have to shoes off and keep there (token system) free but only Hindu can enter into the gate. Inside photo session is strictly prohibited. Other religion can go near gate and take photo.
Entry Fee: Free.
How to go: From Ratna Park by bus 15 Rupees to Guoshala Bus Stop then walk to Pashupatinath according to map.
Gorakhnath Temple
Hindu TempleHow to go: From the entrance of pashupatinath temple, turn left and go to the back of temple. Cross the bridge. After crossing bridge you will see a road few temple on left and a white temple on right. After visiting these temple go to the straight road and up stair. Then turn left and go about 100 meters. You will see the Gorakhnath Temple.
Guhyeshwori Temple
Hindu templeHow to go: From Gorakhnath Temple go ahead about 150 meters towards north to the main road. You will see Guhyeshwori Temple besides main road.
Boudhanath Stupa
Buddhist TempleEntry Fee: 50 Rupees for SAARC countries and 250 Rupees for other countries and free for Nepalese. (If you are in SAARC countries, go straight inside, nobody will ask, they will think you are Nepalese).
How to go: From Ratna Park by bus 20 Rupees to Boudhanath via Goushala bus stop, Ring road.
Guhyeshwori Temple cross the road and straight go to road about 1.5 km towards north.
Shechen Monastery
Buddhist TempleHow to go: About 400 meters from Boudhanath Stupa towards north.
Pullahari Monastery
Buddhist TempleHow to go: About 2 km from Shechen Monastery towards east.
Khawalung Tashi Choeling Monastery
Buddhist TempleHow to go: About 1.5 km from Pullahari Monastery towards west.
Kopan Monastery
Buddhist TempleHow to go: About 1.2 km from Khawalung Monastery towards north uphill.
Day-4:
Narayanhiti Palace Museum
Palace MuseumNarayanhiti Palace, or Narayanhiti Durbar is a palace in Kathmandu,which long served as residence and principal workplace of the reigning Monarch of Kingdom of Nepal. The current Narayanhiti Durbar was built by King Mahendra in 1961.
Entry Fee: Rs 100 for Nepalese, Rs 500 for foreigner and Rs 250 for SAARC nationals and Chinese.
How to go: Walking distance from Narshing chowk, Thamel.
Garden of Dreams
GardenThe Garden of Dreams was created by late Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana (1892-1964) in early 1920. After the completion of this Garden, it was considered as one of the most sophisticated private gardens of that time. However, it was a private garden of Kaiser Sumsher. Kishore Narshingh, a prominent architect who designed and constructed Singha Durbar in 1907. Within the premises, Kaiser Sumsher created an exquisite ensemble of pavilions, fountains, decorative garden furniture and European inspired features such as verandas, pergolas, balustrades, urns and birdhouses. He erected six impressive pavilions, each dedicated to one of the six seasons of Nepal. Today, only half of the original garden is in existence.
Entry Fee: 200 Rupees for foreigner and 100 Rupees for Nepalese.
How to go: Walking distance from Narshing chowk, Thamel
Shree Ghaa Bihar
Buddhist TempleEntry Fee: Free.
How to go: Walking distance from Thahity, Thamel.
Akash Bhairab Temple
Buddhist TempleAkash Bhairav is one of the different forms of Bhairava. He is known as King Yalambar in History of Nepal and as Barbarika in Mahabharata.
The Temple of Akash Bhairav is Palace of the first king of Nepal, Kiranti King Yalambar around 3100-3500 years back. The head of the Aakash Bhairav was dug up several hundred years ago in Kathmandu. It is taken out once a year on the occasion of Yenya Festival and is blessed by the Kumari, the living goddess who lives in the nearby Kumari Chokh. This ceremony is held in the month of August/September In the period of ceremony large number of prayers come to visit the Aakash bhairav.
How to go: Walking distance from Thahity, Thamel. A temple on the crowded road side.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Royal PalaceThe royal family of Nepal lived in this palace till 1886.
Entry Fee: SAARC: 150 Rupees and Other Countries: 1000 Rupees. Though it is reconstructing due to damage of earthquake, now a days it is almost entry free.
Inside the Premises:
Hanuman Dhoka: Hanuman Dhoka is a complex with the Royal Palace of the Malla kings and Shah dynasty. The entrance gate of Hanuman complex is called Hanuman Gate, is located on the west side of Durbar Square.
Nasal Chowk: After entry through Hanuman Gate, adjoining the Hanuman Temple is the Nasal Chowk courtyard. Here Birendra was crowned as king in 1975. A carved doorway near the entrance is the private apartments of Malla king.
Basantapur Tower: Nine storey Basantapur Tower is located at the south side of the Nasal courtyard. It was built by Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1770.
Lohan Chowk: It was built by Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1770.
Mul Chowk: Mul Chok dedicated to religious purpose of Taleju Bhawani.
Mohan Chowk: Mohan Chok built in 1649 was the residential courtyard of the Malla kings.
Teleju Temple: It was established in 1564.
Other architectures are Kritipur Tower, Sundari Chowk, Panch Mukhi Hanman Statue etc.
Outside of the Hanuman Dhoka, there are Kumari Ghar, Kasthamandap
Other Things to Do in Kathmandu
You can enjoy many things in Kathmandu. There are many tours and travels here and there in Thamel Road. Go few of them and match and select who is offering the lowest price.Everest Flight
You will Fly around Everest without landing 1 hour.Book online to avoid rush for 1 hour Panoramic Everest Flight.
Everest Basecamp "Lukla" Flight
You can fly to the world most dangerous airport and world most highest mountain Everest base camp "Lukla" airport. Per person 150 USD one way. You can stay there at Lukla. Enjoy and shoot photo with Everest. Indian and Nepalese can go there only at 8000 Rupees one way.Chitwan Jungle Safari Package
2 nights & 3 days 90 USD per person and 160 for two person including food, accommodation.Rafting
Do it at the time you want to go Pokhara from Kathmandu. They offer day basis rafting or 1/2/3 days rafting. I suggest to take 2 days rafting cause you will enjoy campfire and stay in the tent near Trishuli river.For one person 30 USD per day and for two person 50 USD per day with food and accommodation and finally they will provide transportation to your selected destination Kathmandu/ Pokhara/ Chitwan.
Outline Itinerary:
Day 01: At 6.30 am, meet at their office, store additional luggage in their store, if you are heading to Pokhara, Chitwan, trekking to Annapurna or other destination after rafting, take with you all yours gears, rest leave at their store, then 3 hours drive to Starting point of Rafting, Charaudi, packing up gears, after safety briefing and being issued Life Jackets and Helmet Rafting commence, about 9 am After couple of hrs rafting lunch will be arranged on the River Bank. After Lunch, raft another couple hrs to Kurintar, where camp at lovely sandy bank of River, Facing on to the four directions beautiful views of nature, hamlet and after Dinner you can enjoy beers in the campfire.
Day 02: After breakfast, again rafting. Lunch will be provided about 11 to 12 noon, provide transportation to yours own destination Chit wan/ Pokhara/India border or Kathmandu.
Book Online for Trishuli: 2-Day River Rafting Tour.
Helicopter Rent
It is most expensive. 3000 USD / four person / 1 hour wherever you want to go.Trekking
Book online for Scenic Ranikot Day Hike from Kathmandu or Bhaktapur.Book online for Manaslu Circuit 18 days Trekking.
Book online for Mount Everest 15-Day Base Camp and Kalapathar Trek.
Book online for 3-Day Trek to Nagarkot via Chisapani.
Book online for Chitlang Short 2 days Trekking With Boating From Kathmandu.
Departure from Kathmandu
Kathmandu to Pokhara:
* If you are going for rafting then they will pick your hotel and transferred to Pokhara after rafting.* If you want to go direct Pokhara tomorrow, you can go by 5 ways.
1) Tourist Bus: 1000 Rupees Per Person. There are available tourism shop in Thamel. You can go and book Ticket.
2) AC Bus: Almost same comfortable as Tourist bus but Cheaper. Price 550 Rupees. It leaves from Gongabu New Bus Stop. Nawal Tours & Travels. Phone: 98400 96797, 98560 33730.
3) Non AC bus: It Leaves from Gongabu Bus Park (Nepali Pronunciation: Bos Park). Fare 390 Rupees. It takes almost 7-8 Hours
4) Micro: Outside of Gongabu Bus Park you will see Available Micro. Fare 470 Rupees. It takes 6.30 hours.
5) Private Car: Book online your one way transfer for 2 person in air-conditioned car.
If you book Ticket for bus/micro (Kathmandu to Pokhara), try to seat at First row beside driver or right window side. You can enjoy the nice view.
Kathmandu to Nagarkot:
If you want to stay at night in Nagarkot then in the morning go to Bhaktapur first then after lunch go to Nagarkot. But if you have heavy luggage then how you can visit places in Bhaktapur with these? So you must think alternate solution. Either you can keep your hotel at Kathmandu or request your hotel to keep your luggage in locker and you will come back here after one night.Or if you want to view all the places of Bhaktapur and Nagarkot in a day and come back to Kathmandu then go to Nagarkot first. This is your choice. Here heavy luggage will not make you problem. But you have to run faster from one place to another. Cause last bus from Nagarkot at 5.30 PM and from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu bus is not problem.
Hope this post will help you. Write your comment below and please share it with your friends.
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