What to do in Kathmandu Nepal?
The capital of Nepal is a busy and living city. Experience the real street life, the busy squares, the Buddhist temples and the local food. After our trek to Mount Everest Base Camp, we stayed a few more days in this city in the Thamel district. In this article you can read what to do in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
The Swayambhutnath is also referred to as the monkey temple. As the name states, at this temple you will find monkeys guaranteed. Very nice, but the view over the city at the top is actually even more beautiful. To get all the way to the top of the temple, you have to pay a small entrance fee. The easiest way is to take a taxi if you are staying in Thamel, but it is also possible to walk there.
Durbar Square
Durbar Square is a busy square with museums, temples and palaces. Before you get there, you have to get through the busy streets. And the traffic is really chaos. Be careful not to just enter the square. You have to pay a small entrance fee to enter the courtyard. Durbar Square is not the only square you will find in Kathmandu. Just walk quietly through the narrow streets of Thamel and you will come across a square with smaller Buddhist temples everywhere. Also look around for the Tibetan prayer flags!
Dharahara Tower
After the destruction of the earthquake in 2015, the Dharahara Tower has been rebuilt. You can still see the remains of the old tower as a reminder of the earthquake. Incidentally, you can see buildings that are still not renovated after the devastating quake. It is clear to see that the earthquake has left its marks many years later.
Free City walk
We didn’t do the free cityhike after our multi-day hike to Everest Base Camp, but via Facebook you can sign up for a free city walk through Kathmandu. Of course it’s not completely free, because the guide does expect a small tip. We think this is a nice addition to your visit to Kathmandu, because a local often knows where to find the most interesting places and can also tell you a lot about the area.
Thamel
The last thing ‘what to do in Kathmandu Nepal’ is by far the best! In Thamel you can wander around for hours looking for nice souvenirs or a completely new outfit for your trek in the Himalayas. All shops sell about the same outdoor stuff. There are no fixed prices, negotiating is part of the culture here. Obviously, you won’t get yourself the real brands here, however everything we got for the trek did the job very well.
