Things to Do in Kathmandu

Sundarijal is a village in Gokarneshwar Municipality to the north of Kathmandu, and on the edge of the Shivapuri National Park. Sundarijal means “beautiful water,” and the area is known for its waterfalls. Many visitors come to Sundarijal while hiking and mountain biking in the Shivapuri area.

Dakshinkali Temple, 14 miles (22 kilometers) south of central Kathmandu and on the edge of the Kathmandu Valley, is a sacred Hindu temple famous for one thing. Twice a week, male goats and roosters are sacrificed here to the goddess Kali, who is said to be hungry for blood. Visitors can watch this event at the temple in the hills.

The hilltop village of Nuwakot is home to Nuwakot Fort, a beautiful and historically important fortress and palace built in 1768. While the fort is the area’s main draw, visitors also come to stay in charming boutique hotels or homestays and hike in the forested hills around the village. Nuwakot makes an ideal destination for a peaceful 2- or 3-night getaway from Kathmandu.

Patan, also called Lalitpur, was once a separate kingdom from Kathmandu, with its own kings, culture, and traditions. Now, it is essentially the southern part of Kathmandu city. With its strong Newari culture, exquisite temples, and vibrant handicrafts traditions, it’s a favorite day trip destination for travelers to Kathmandu.

In the middle of dusty, traffic-clogged central Kathmandu is the neoclassical Garden of Dreams. The garden and pavilions were created in the 1920s as private gardens, but now they’re open to the public and provide a peaceful contrast to the busy streets outside.

Patan’s Krishna Temple (Krishna Mandir) is one of Kathmandu’s finest temples, and unlike most in Nepal, which are usually made from carved wood and brick, Krishna is made of finely crafted stone. Built in 1637, it stands unique in the middle of Patan Durbar Square and is a highlight of a visit to Patan.

Hanuman Dhoka is Kathmandu’s royal palace, once the seat of power for the kingdom. Home to the royal courts of both Malla and Shah dynasties, it was built during the fourth and eighth centuries and is an important part of Kathmandu’s UNESCO-listed Durbar (or “palace”) Square. Although damaged in the 2015 earthquake, it remains a must-see site.

The Asan Market area is one of Kathmandu’s most ancient parts. It’s sat at the crossroads of trade routes through the Himalayas for centuries, and is still a busy, thriving, and culturally fascinating part of the central city.

On the northern edge of the Kathmandu Valley, Budhanilkantha is a small town that is famous for the Budhanilkantha Temple. A 16-foot (5-meter) reclining stone Vishnu statue lies in the temple grounds, surrounded by water and stone snakes. It’s the largest stone statue in Nepal, and is unusual because the god is lying down.

Many travelers think of snow-capped mountains when they think of Nepal, but the Chitwan National Park couldn’t be further from that image. Located on the Terai—the once jungle-filled plains of southern Nepal bordering India—Chitwan is famed for its jungle activities, and sightings of the 1-horned rhinoceros are almost guaranteed.

The Trisuli River (Trishuli River) starts in the mountains of Tibet, then runs parallel to the east-west Prithvi Highway between Kathmandu and Pokhara, before it heads south to join the Narayani River. It’s a popular destination for white-water rafters, particularly the stretch between Charaudi and Mugling, where there are many riverside camps.

The Nagi Gompa (Nangkyi Gompa) is a Tibetan Buddhist convent located in the Shivapuri National Park, on the northern edge of the Kathmandu Valley. It’s home to more than 100 nuns, which is rare in a region that has many monasteries for men. Visitors are welcome, and many travelers stop here while hiking in the park.

Freak Street—or Jhochhen Tole—got its English-language name from the “freakish” appearance of the hippies who hung out here in the 1960s and ’70s, when Kathmandu was a stop on the “hippie trail.” A short walk from Kathmandu Durbar Square, this legendary place retains just a shadow of its past, but travelers still come to check it out.

Located in the historic Patan area, a short walk through narrow streets from Patan Durbar Square, the Rudra Varna Mahavihar is thought to be the oldest monastery in Patan. Parts date back to the 13th century, although most of the structure isn’t quite that old. It’s a peaceful and impressive place to visit on a walking tour of Patan.