Durbar Square, Kathmandu © nepaltravelinfo.com
Why? A holiday in Kathmandu is now easy to arrange, but
this fabled city was once one of the world's most inaccessible
destinations. Travel to Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, to start
expeditions into the rest of the country and to experience this
beautifully sited city with its traditional old city and
fascinating Buddhist and Hindu culture.
When? The best months to visit Kathmandu for a holiday are
October/November and March/April, when the weather is warm and
largely sunny, and the air is crisp and clear. Winters (November to
February) are exceedingly cold, while early summer (May and June)
is swelteringly hot and humid. Monsoon rains drench the city
between June and September.
Who for? A holiday in Kathmandu attracts mainly independent
travellers intent on undertaking adventure trips in Nepal like
trekking, rafting and mountain climbing. The city has a range of
accommodation for all budgets, and plenty of restaurants in its
Thamel tourist district, and is thus able to cater for all sorts of
modern travellers.
More Info: A host of useful background information and
details of attractions of excursions required for a holiday in
Kathmandu is contained in our comprehensive Kathmandu travel guide,
which can be printed out or emailed. The guide also gives the run
down on essential facts for travel to Kathmandu, like entry
requirements, foreign exchange, safety and health.
Overview
Presided over by snow-covered mountains, the Kathmandu Valley is
surrounded by verdant agricultural hills scattered with traditional
villages and brick houses, rich in ancient holy temples and shrines
used by both Buddhists and Hindu worshippers reflecting a great
wealth of culture and tradition. Most of the country's ethnic
groups are represented in the Valley, particularly in Kathmandu
itself, but it is the Newars who are the original inhabitants
responsible for development and the splendid art and architecture
in the cities.
The Valley is the cultural, political and commercial centre of
Nepal and encompasses three cities: Kathmandu the capital; Patan,
which has been enveloped by the growing Kathmandu outskirts; and
the medieval city of Bhaktapur. For the unprepared visitor, the
capital city of Kathmandu can trigger a sensory overload - it is a
heaving city of both intriguing and unpleasant smells, incessant
noise and pollution, and sights that etch themselves on the memory.
Cows wander the streets of the old city, stepping between steaming
piles of rubbish and hooting taxis, and narrow alleyways overflow
with spices, vegetables and handicraft shops. Throngs of people
thread their way along bustling cobblestone streets lined with
structures from an ancient architectural heritage, which lead onto
open squares surrounded by temples of all shapes and sizes. The
largest city in Nepal and the nation's historical centre, Kathmandu
throws together a blend of the country's varied population and
boasts a distinctive, age-old religious influence visible in the
daily life of its inhabitants.
Fascinating as this city is however, many people choose to stay
outside Kathmandu in one of the Valley towns or mountain resorts
and restrict their visit to day trips; or they base themselves in
the tourist-orientated Thamel district of the city that offers
modern bakeries, smart hotels and upmarket restaurants, along with
pushy handicraft and cannabis sellers.
