Kathmandu Tour Guide | Kathmandu Sightseeing and Things to do
Travelers from all over the world have made Kathmandu something of a destination. Given the city’s captivating fusion of artistic and cultural legacy and close proximity to the Himalayas, it is simple to understand why. Join us on a private Kathmandu tour guide and see this city’s numerous delights.
Durbar Square, located in the centre of the ancient city, is a must-see for anybody travelling to Kathmandu because of its distinctive architecture and friendly attitude. With the help of your Kathmandu tour guide, go around the Old Town’s twisting, crooked lanes, stopping to eat momos that have been steaming or look at the local crafts.
A day journey to the area’s World Heritage-listed sites, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Bodhnath, and Patan, is highly recommended. Additionally, your Kathmandu tour guide should be pleased to assist you with a trek in Champa Devi or Shivapuri National Park to reach the verdant mountain beauty around the Kathmandu Valley.
The capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, is where you’ll probably arrive first while traveling there. But don’t make it a quick stop on your journey; it’s worth lingering along and taking in the ambiance of this fascinating city. The most intriguing things to do in Kathmandu range from spirituality and shopping to heritage, architecture, and culture. Here are some tips for maximizing your time there.
1. Explore the Villages in the Kathmandu Valley with Kathmandu Tour Guide
The Kathmandu Valley, whose communities have maintained a traditional way of life unaffected by contemporary development, is a great place to escape Kathmandu’s traffic and urban sprawl. Located south of Kathmandu and close to Patan, Bungmati and Khokana are two of the most well-liked villages to visit. These two villages need tourism more than ever because the 2015 earthquake severely damaged them.
Rato Mahhendranath, a respected rain deity, is thought to have been born in Bungmati hamlet, which goes back to the sixth century. Unfortunately, the earthquake destroyed his temple. Thus his idol is currently preserved in the adjacent Patan. You may visit the villagers’ workshops to see the woodcarvers and sculptors at work. Khokana is a prosperous farming community where mustard oil is produced, and locals work in agriculture for most of the day.
2. Visit Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park for the Day
The Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, which is around two hours from Kathmandu and offers more than 61 square miles of nothing but nature, is situated along the valley’s northern side.
Nepal’s ninth national park, which was once a watershed and wildlife reserve, is now a popular trekking destination. This area is home to numerous rhododendrons, pine and oak trees, Himalayan black bears, rhesus monkeys, leopards, 177 bird species, 102 butterfly species, and 129 mushroom species.
3. Wander about the Old City
Wandering around the exciting maze of tiny alleys and passageways in ancient Kathmandu will keep you occupied for hours, if not days, from Durbar Square to Thamel.
Grab a map, and start exploring—you might be shocked to find shrines and sculptures tucked away in unexpected locations! Indra Chowk, a bustling market area where five roads meet, may be reached by traveling down Siddhidas Marg from Makhan Tole, situated on the northeastern corner of Durbar Square.
The Seto Machhendranath Temple, one of Kathmandu’s most elaborate temples, can be found at Kel Tole if you continue straight down Siddhidas Marg. You will arrive at Ason Tole, the busiest intersection in Kathmandu, as you continue down Siddhidas Marg.
From dawn until dusk, a mesmerizing throng of people travel this route, selling produce from all over the Kathmandu Valley. Spending some time here taking it all in is worthwhile. Additionally, there is a magnificent Annapurna, the goddess of plenty, a temple with three stories that draw pilgrims.
After approximately five minutes, turn left into Chittadhar Marg, then right onto Chandraman Singh Marg and keep going until you reach Thahiti Tole, where there is a Buddhist stupa from the 15th century and the Lord Shiva-dedicated Nateshwar temple. The Kathesimbhu Stupa, a 17th-century replica of the enormous Swayambhunath Stupa situated just outside Kathmandu, dominates a quiet courtyard along the path.
4. Admire the Old Durbar Square
The Durbar Square in Basantapur, south of Thamel, where the royal family resided until the 19th century, is the center of Kathmandu’s historic old city. A World Heritage Site since 1979, it was designated by UNESCO.
Several temples dating back to the 12th century are both Hindu and Buddhist in nature, in addition to the Royal Palace, Hanuman Dhoka. Sadly, a massive earthquake in 2015 severely damaged other buildings, including the palace, and completely demolished the southernmost portion of the temples.
Poor maintenance, ongoing restoration projects, and the cost of admission (1,000 rupees per person for tourists) have prevented many visitors from visiting Durbar Square. However, in the Kathmandu Valley, two other ornate and significant Durbar Squares may be found in Patan (500 rupees for foreigners) and Bhaktapur (1,500 rupees for foreigners).
Despite the earthquake’s low impact on both, these sights provide far greater value for the money and are unquestionably worthwhile visits. Several businesses offer private excursions, including this Patan and Bhaktapur Day Trip from Breakfree Adventures.
5. Shop and Relax in Thamel
The easiest way to enjoy Thamel is on foot, but be careful because the neighborhood may be busy with traffic. The Thamel District is undoubtedly one of Kathmandu’s most well-liked tourist destinations and activities. Numerous restaurants, boutiques, and locations like the Garden of Dreams, a peaceful corner off the main drag inside a lovely park, may be found here.
The rows of Tibetan prayer flags and cycle rickshaws that pass by in Kathmandu’s Thamel tourist zone help to maintain its old-world charm even though it is busy and chaotic at times. Shops overflowing with brilliantly colored apparel, jewellery, paper lanterns, thangka paintings, wood carvings, bronze statues, music, and literature occupy the streets of this bustling neighbourhood.
As shops may be harsh, haggle hard to achieve a decent bargain; strive to pay just a third or half of the initial suggested amount. Thamel adopts an entirely new atmosphere when the day begins to fade, with its streets glowing with the cosiness of many lights and the sound of live music wafting from its pubs.
6. Take a Stroll in the Dream Garden
It isn’t easy to think of anything that could be more peaceful than taking a stroll through the Garden of Dreams, which is located not far from the bustling Thamel tourist district across the street from the site of the former Royal Palace.
The 1920-built European-style garden, designed by scholar and horticulture enthusiast Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, provides a quick escape from the rest of the bustling city and is available to the public every day starting at 9 a.m. It is ideal for a picnic or midday walk between noon and 6:30 p.m.
Kathmandu Tour Guide of Incredible Mountains Travels and Tours
Incredible Mountains Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd. have a group of dedicated, experienced and professional tour leaders, tour guides, trekking guides and field staffs. Among the no. of kathmandu tour guide one of the well known is Prakash Aryal- Number 1 kathmandu tour guide .
Prakash Aryal was born in Dhading district. (Central region of Nepal). He came to the Capital city of Kathmandu for the higher studies. He began his tourism career in 2007 as an office assistant while continuing his further studies. Then he became assistant tour and ticketing Officer and Manager of the Leading Travel and Trekking Company in Nepal.
He is specialized as export tourist guide in Incredible Mountains Travels and Tours Pvt. Ltd., Nepal since 2014 AD. Mr. Aryal is also the Founder member of AHRD Nepal, an NGO working in the upliftment of rural communities (especially in the field of education, awareness, health and orphans specially Chepang Village in Jogimara, Dhading District, Nepal. He has a tour guide diploma from NATHAM (Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management ) College, and continues to self-study, motivated by his wish to provide the best possible service to his clients.
What to Know Before You Travel?
1. Many of Thamel’s principal streets were made pedestrian-only in late 2017. It is now relatively easy to move about.
2. Some street-dwelling youngsters may be found in Thamel. It’s not a good idea to offer them cash.
3. Generally speaking, Thamel is not hazardous, although taking additional precautions with your belongings is advisable, particularly while out at night.
4. On weekends, lodgings along Thamel Marg might be noisy due to the clubs and live music proximity.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley is the ideal location for a cultural introduction to Nepal. Since ancient times, the valley has been the hub of social, cultural, and economic power. You may go on a sightseeing tour of the UNESCO sites in the Kathmandu Valley. UNESCO has designated two natural and eight cultural sites in Nepal as World Heritage Sites, 7 of which are in the Kathmandu Valley. Walk through Kathmandu Valley’s cobblestone streets to discover some of the best examples of oriental architecture.
1. Bouddhanath Stupa
According to reports, this is South Asia’s most prominent Buddhist shrine. King Man Deb constructed the enormous historic chhorten in the sixth century A.D. From above; it appears to be in the shape of a lotus flower, which is still a highly sacred thing for all devoted Buddhists worldwide. A series of three terraces support it. A circular market, a component of Tibet town, surrounds the chhorten. In this instance, the Buddha’s four pairs of eyes also vividly flash the four cardinal directions, denoting the need to keep a vigilant watch on people and their commitments throughout the day and night.
2. Pashupatinath Temple
It is a pagoda-style Hindu temple near the sacred Bagmati River’s bank, with golden roofs and ornately carved silver doors dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pashupati Nath Temple, one of the holiest temples in the entire Hindu world, serves as the hub of pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri. 5 kilometers to the east of the central city is the little holy village of Debpatan, which is home to the enormous temple. The central courtyard of the temple is only open to Hindus. Visitors from other countries may see the temple from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River.
3. Kathmandu Durbar Square
The Kathmandu Durbar Square’s countless structures may easily overwhelm one. A few sites in the Square are the House of the Living Goddess (Kumari Ghar), the fearsome Kal Bhairab, the Red Monkey God, and hundreds of sensual sculptures! The structures in this area, which are the Malla dynasty’s finest works of art, are the products of intense competition between Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur’s three royal palaces. Different parts of the Valley were given to the Yaksya Malla children.
It was fortunate for Nepalese and today’s tourists that they and their descendants started an artistic arms race to outdo one another in magnificent structures. Kings created everything in an even greater style by copying what their neighbors did. Among the several monuments in the Square are the pagoda-style temple, the shrine of Goddess Taleju (it is said that she played dice with King Jaya Prakash Malla), and a statue of Shiva and Parvati seated side by side.
4. Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple)
It is one of the oldest Buddhist Chaityas in the world and is thought to be 25 centuries old. The Great Stupa of Swayambhu symbolizes both Nepal’s beauty and its splendor. It is recognized as a World Heritage Site, demonstrating that it is the hub of devoted worship for the faithful Bajrayan ideology and honors Lord Adi Buddha. It is devoted to the God of the self-originating flame. A sturdy hemisphere of terra-cotta bricks and earth supporting a cornice of copper and gold make up the stupa, the prominent structure. The all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha are shown on the four-sided base of the spiral, perpetually observing the valley and separating sin from virtue.
The sacred Bishnumati River separates it from Kathmandu City proper, two kilometers away. It is 500 feet above the Valley’s level and is perched on top of a mound. The hill is covered in a mosaic of tiny Chaitya and pagoda temples. Another significant Buddhist temple, Manjushree, is situated on the hind hill. This Buddha in China represents the God of Knowledge.
5. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Even though Bhaktapur is close to the capital, the atmosphere and feeling of history there are so drastically different that it might as well be on another planet. Although satellite dishes are slowly encroaching, not much has changed in this area over the years.
The National Museum of Woodcarving, the Bronze and Brass Museum, and the National Art Gallery are all located in Bhaktapur. Visit the Golden gate, the Palace with fifty-five windows, the Lion gate, and the Picture Gallery. The beautiful Changu Narayan temple, which has been around since the fourth century, is located four kilometers distant. This temple has a lengthy history, but it was constructed in the seventh century, and because it is one of Kathmandu’s least visited, it has a more atmospheric atmosphere.
6. Patan Durbar Square
The mansion of the old Patan Royal Family is located inside the Patan Durbar Square complex, which is located in the heart of Patan, also known as Lalitpur, “the city of arts”. Its three principal courtyards are the palace’s Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk.
The oldest one, Mul Chowk, is in the middle of Patan Square. The western portion of the complex is made up of several different-sized and-styled temples. These include the Golden Temple of Hiranya, the Krishna Temple, and the Bhimsen Temple.
7. Changunarayan Temple
A historic Hindu temple called Changu Narayan Temple is located 15 kilometers from the Kathmandu Valley. The 4th century marks the beginning of the temple’s history. The ancient stone inscription from 464 A.D. and other architectural marvels highlight the Kathmandu Valley’s lengthy history.
FAQ
Q. What more do I need to know about Kathmandu’s attractions?
In addition to going to the Thamel, consider these excursion suggestions to make the most of your trip:
1. Kathmandu Valley UNESCO Sites Day Tour
2. Nagarkot Sunrise And Bhaktapur Durbar Square UNESCO Tour
3. Everest Base Camp Heli Tour
Q. What tourist destinations are closest to Thamel?
Nearby attractions:
1. Garden of Dreams
2. Market Asan
3. Hanuman Dhoka
Q. What is Kathmandu well-known for?
A historic city known for fusing Buddhist and Hindu culture is Kathmandu. Star attractions of Kathmandu include the Kumari Living Goddess, Swayambhunath Stupa (the Monkey Temple), the Durbar Square, and Boudhanath Stupa. Sadly, Kathmandu is also well-known for a devastating earthquake that struck the city in 2015 and caused damage to several areas of the city.
Q. How safe is Kathmandu?
In general, Kathmandu is a safe city. Although minor crime is more frequent, violent crime is uncommon. But because of the poorly built buildings, the probability of earthquakes in the seismically active nation is significant. Winter and spring also have significant levels of air pollution, frequently dangerous for people with respiratory issues.