If you’re looking at this post you’re probably already considering a trip to Kathmandu. My advice is yes, yes, go! With so many beautiful temples to visit, Tibetan and Nepali culture to learn, wonderfully warm people, and just to experience the bustling life of the city – it is worth the trip.

Plus it is home to the breathtaking Himalayas. For the adventure-seeking traveler, a trip to Nepal needs to be on the bucket list.

[After the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal on 25th April 2015, some of the temples and buildings have been damaged. However due to the relief efforts, more tourist sites recently opened and life is reaching normalcy again. It’s so important that Nepal continues to attract visitors, to experience this wonderful country as well as helping their economy].

Here’s my guide for the top things to do in Kathmandu:

1. Boudhanath Stupa

This is the religious site of Nepal’s largest stupa – a dome shaped structure built as a Buddhist shrine.

It was built in the 14th century, and since the 1959 Tibetan uprising where thousands of Tibetans arrived in Nepal, the temple has become a precious site of worship for Tibetan Buddhists as well as local Nepali’s. It’s another UNESCO World Heritage Site and as you can imagine, a very popular site for tourists in Kathmandu.

From above the stupa, it looks like a huge mandala – a circular shaped, spiritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism. In this case, Tibetan mandalas represent four of the Dhyani Buddhas (the points of the stupa’s base), with the fifth in the centre (within the dome itself).

See more information from my recent post – Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu.

Tip: Arrive early to avoid the large tourist crowds.
Have a lunch stop at the rooftop cafe called Café du Temple. You’ll get fantastic views of the stupa, as well as a good selection of Tibetan, Chinese and Indian dishes.

2. Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square is located in the region of Patan, and is one of the oldest squares in the Kathmandu Valley. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can see why after visiting the unique and intricately carved structures. The architecture is called Newa, an indigenous style by the Newari people in Kathmandu.

See more information from my recent post – Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu.

Tip: Visit the well-known and excellent Patan Museum to view over 1100 artifacts and sculptures of Hindu and Buddhist deities. You can also climb up to the very top for wonderful views of the whole square.

3. Pashupatineth Temple

One of the many stone structures – a lingam which represents the Hindu diety Shiva

This is one of the most sacred Hindu temples in Nepal, specifically devoted to God Shiva. It’s located on the eastern side of Kathmandu, next to the Bagmati River.
The main temple here stands tall with a golden spire, a beautiful display of Hindu architecture. You can only visit this main temple if you are Hindu, however non-Hindu tourists can visit all the other temples.

I’ll never forget the impact this place had on me. I had no idea what to expect before visiting, and it certainly was a profound shock to realise the elderly from India and Nepal travel here to die. They get openly cremated by the banks of the sacred river, which eventually meets the holy river Ganges. The Hindu belief is that if you die here, you are reborn as a human, regardless of any bad karma in your life.

It was deeply saddening to witness devastated family members crowd around their loved ones, who are wrapped in white cloth, before cremating the bodies themselves. The smell and cries of devastation were hard to take in. It was a shock that anyone can watch from the other side of the river, to witness something so personal and devastating seemed wrong to me.

It’s certainly a cultural experience I will never forget. Here is a very frank quote from Nepal’s tourist board:

It is a temple with special atmosphere of death; death is present in almost every ritual and every corner of it.

There are many sadhus (or babas) here also. They are holy men who wander in search of enlightenment through meditation. They have no possessions, mostly living in mountains, caves or temples in India and Nepal. You’ll notice their faces are coloured with yellow paint and wear coloured robes.

Throughout the grounds are stone structures called lingams, meaning ‘erect phallus’, which represent the Hindu diety Shiva. It is usually found with the Yoni (‘vulva’) which represents Goddess Shakti (creative energy). Belief is that together they are the unison of male and female, where life originates.

Tip: The monkeys can be quite fiesty, be careful and definitely don’t feed them!
The sadhus are friendly and will likely ask you to take a photo with them in exchange for some money.

4. Garden of Dreams

Next to Thamel is a lovely neo-classical, historical garden called Garden of Dreams – a perfect oasis for couples to escape the crowds outside it’s secluded walls.

Designed to perfection by a well-known architect in the 1920’s, it’s considered a beautiful, tranquil garden to relax in.

Tip: There’s also a cafe here which serves great coffee and cheese cake for a pick-me-up! Relax and enjoy some peace and calm from the buzz of the city.

5. Thamel

Image courtesy: www.positiveworldtravel.com

Image courtesy: www.wikitravel.org

Thamel to me is the Khao San Road of Bangkok. It’s a vibrant and wonderfully lively pocket of North Kathmandu, mostly catered for foreigners (many groups or solo-travel backpackers). It’s said that it was discovered in the 1970’s by hippies. This vibe is definitely still present, with some very cool, unique cafes to choose from.

There are a LOT of outdoor gear shops, souvenir stalls, cafes, budget hotels and bars to visit.
The expectation is that a lot of hikers will come here to buy a plentiful choice of outdoor gear – North Face, Berghaus, Lowe alpine, you name it, it’s there. However these are all fakes, and my advice is don’t buy it here – invest in good quality outdoor gear that will last you a life time.

Although perhaps not for everyone due to the crowds, it’s an exciting place to visit and a good souvenir shopping stop for perhaps prayer flags or ornaments. Just dodge the hash sellers and remember to bargain! 😉

Tip: Have a lunch/dinner stop at cafe OR2K, a funky cafe specializing in asian-fusion, healthy, vegetarian cuisine. Everyone takes their shoes off by the door before nestling in to big, comfy cushions surrounding low-rise tables. The atmosphere is great, the perfect place to meet other travelers and locals!