Top 12 Fascinating Things To Do in Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu is the largest city of Nepal comprising three historic cities Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Kathmandu is the center of Nepal’s history, culture and economy. In Kathmandu, you can find the arts, crafts and architectures in every corners. The houses in the Kathmandu Valley have their unique architectures made of wood, stone and metal but has been affected badly by the recent earthquake of 2015. Kathmandu city is also known as “City of Devotees”. Among 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 7 lies in the Kathmandu Valley. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu valley are: The Durbar Square of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu), Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Swayambhunath (monkey temple), the Pashupatinath and the Boudhanath. Kathmandu is the most important place to visit to know about the indigenous Newari culture, religion, tradition and their unique lifestyles.

1 Visit Durbar Squares

Kathmandu Valley is mostly known for three popular Durbar Squares; Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. One of them is the famous Patan Durbar Square, filled with exotic artistic and cultural heritages. Patan Durbar Square is situated at the center of Lalitpur filled with a mix of Hindu, Buddhist and Newari temples. Patan Durbar Square is considered as the most beautiful Durbar Square though it is the smallest in terms of area comparing to other Durbar Squares. Head towards Kathmandu Durbar Square (Basantapur Durbar Square) consisting huge Royal Square including several temples. Check out the Kumari Ghar (the house of living Goddess), Kasthamandap, Hanuman Dhoka, Taleju, Mahendreshvara Temple, Jagannath Temple, Dequtale Temple, Nasal Chowk, Mul Chowk, Bhandarkhal, Vilar Temple, Shiva Temple, Manju Deval, Ashok Binayak Shrine and Simha Sattal in there. They represent our culture and different architecture styles devoted to different Hindu Gods and Goddessess. 

Eventually, you should also visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square once you’re in the Kathmandu Valley. You will encounter the ancient houses, craft works and numerous sculptures. All of these Durbar Squares represent historical king’s valley, medieval architectures and ancient structures. Although most of these structures were affected by the 2015 earthquake, some still stand.

2 Hike around Kathmandu Valley 

Kathmandu is the best and the most suitable place for hiking, especially for those who like to travel with children and families, and also for students’ groups. As Kathmandu valley is surrounded by high Himalayan mountains such as Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Gauri Shankar, Everest mountain ranges, Manaslu, Dorje Lakpa and more, you can get the best scenery of mountains and can also taste the trekking in Nepal within a short period of time as well as with low budget. Kathmandu is often considered as a gateway city to the Himalayas and hiking around the hills of the Kathmandu valley provides you the chance to explore the lifestyle of local people and experience their cultures. You can explore the flawless beauty of nature, sky touching Himalayas, lush green hills with all kinds of amazing shapes and its natural beauty from the hilltops. 

Wildlife and bird species, hundreds of different species of flowers, plants, trees and herbs, wide angle panoramic views are all major attractions of hiking around Kathmandu. The hills surrounding Kathmandu valley are all accessible after a maximum of two hours drive from any part of the city. The most popular places for hiking are Phulchowki, Champadevi, Nagarkot, Chisapani, Shivapuri, Chandragiri, Namo Buddha, Balthali and so on. 

3 Do a Cultural Tour 

The culture of Kathmandu is rich and unique. Kathmandu Valley is the best place to discover Newari civilization and Newari cultures and rituals. Discover the art and culture of Kathmandu inspired by Hindus and Buddhist practices. Kathmandu is definitely the best city for the cultural sightseeing, to observe the fascinating arts and unique styles of various architectures. Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding gives you an enchanting glimpse of ancient art, monastic courtyards known as Baha and Bahi, customs, values, rituals, cultures, traditions, histories and the people. Many festivals and jatras also seem to be celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley. In Kathmandu, the biggest street festival is Indra Jatra when three cars bearing the living goddess Kumari and two other child gods are pulled through the streets and masked dance performances are held. Another major celebration is Pahan Charhe when portable shrines bearing images of mother goddesses are paraded through Kathmandu. In the carnival of Jana Baha Dyah Jatra, a temple car with an image of Karunamaya is drawn through central Kathmandu for three days. 

A similar procession is held in Lalitpur known as Rato Machindranath Jatra which continues for a month and is ended with Bhoto Jatra, the display of the sacred vest. The biggest outdoor celebration in Bhaktapur is Bisket Jatra which is marked by chariot processions and lasts for nine days. Sithi Nakha is another big festival when worship is offered and natural water sources are cleaned. Hence, you can have the best cultural tour in the Kathmandu Valley which has served as the country’s cultural capital and is marked by frequent festivals throughout the year.

4 Visit Villages in and around Kathmandu Valley  

If you want to experience the village life and escape for a while from the crowd and  pollution of Kathmandu then you can visit the villages situated in and around Kathmandu Valley where villages, holding a traditional way of living, untouched by the modern development and western cultures exist. Bungamati and Khokana are the 2 most popular villages situated to the south of Kathmandu near Patan. Bungamati is a popular Newari village where Newars are seem to be following in the footsteps of their fathers and forefathers who lived long before them. The Bungamati Newaris enjoy an incredibly rich culture which extends over the fields of language, writing, art and architectures. The people who live here are mostly engaged in agriculture and woodcarving.  

Khokana is also another beautiful Newari village near Bungamati village. Most people in Khokana seem to be involved in agriculture sector. This Newar village is famous for farming of mustard seeds and production of local mustard oil. We can also see plenty of rice terraces here. The lifestyle of typical Newari people can be seen here. The Rudrayani temple is the famous temple in Khokana having beautiful architecture with its pagoda style. Khokana is the cultural tourist village where tourists can observe the religious practices, construction of houses, open toilet system, farming, man-made ponds, customs and history. Local wine made in home, Newari food and red chillies are popular here. Ducks can be only seen here but not the chickens in this village because most of the people seem to adopt the Buddhist culture. The view of the surrounding hills is so beautiful from here. Unfortunately, both villages were affected by the 2015 earthquake and houses now are being constructed in modern style instead of traditional style.

5 Shopping in local markets 

There are many local bazaars or the markets in Kathmandu Valley where you can buy quality products at minimum price. Kathmandu is not so popular as a shopping destination but it is a place where you can find a lot of handicrafts, pashmina shawls and handmade artifacts. Thamel is considered as the best place for shopping especially for the tourists. In Thamel, you can shop jewellery items, puppets, pashminas, varieties of tea from Ilam, woolen hats, felt bags, embroidered t-shirts and many more. You cannot buy any antique arts in the Kathmandu Valley but if you do, it should be archeologically verified by the government. 

6 Eat Local Cuisines and Drink Local Wines  

If you fall in the foodie category and love to try variety of dishes then Kathmandu city is the right place for you. Kathmandu Valley is renowned for the Newari cuisines and different kinds of foods are prepared according to the occasions. Newars, indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley, cater the best snacks in the country. Chatamari, Yomari, Choila, Kachila, Samaybaji are some of the most popular dishes whereas aila, thwo, haku thwo or kar thyo are popular alcoholic drinks. A few minutes away from the Krishna Temple in Patan, just opposite the Bhimsen Temple, you can see Honacha. Honacha is one of the most popular eateries in the Patan city where you can enjoy Newari ethnic cuisine. And talking about the desert in Bhaktapur, you can have king yogurt in every street corners as Bhaktapur is popular for the “Juju Dhau” (king of yogurt). So come and make your tummy happy with delicious foods and amazing homemade alcoholic drinks. 

7 Visit Pashupatinath Temple to observe Hindu cremation 

Pashupatinath Temple is located in the eastern side of Kathmandu which is considered as the masterpiece of Hindu architecture. Pashupatinath is one of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva where happens on daily basis, the ancient Hindu rituals unchanged by time. This temple is the main attraction of Kathmandu which attracts tens of thousands of elderly followers of Hinduism. The main temple entrance is only given to Hindus but you can wander about the rest of the vast grounds. If you don't want to pay to go in, you can get a decent view from the opposite side of the river. You can usually see the open cremation and sadhus or yogis in Pashupatinath area. The most interesting time to visit Pashupatinath is early in the morning from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. to see the cremations or in the evening from 6 p.m. to see the Aarti (hindu ritual of worshipping gods). The main temple is closed from midday until 5 p.m. daily. 

8 Visit Swayambhunath Stupa 

Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the excellent glories of Kathmandu Valley’s architecture. Swayambhunath is one of the holiest places for both Hindus and Buddhists. One of the oldest historical sites among the UNESCO world heritage sites from Nepal, Swayambhunath ages back more than 2100 years. The stupa complex consists of old Buddhist religious monuments topping with a colossal dome shaped stupa. With four mystical eyes of Buddha overlooking four directions in the dome, you will have a sacred feeling of fulfillment in this place. This place is encompassed by green forest, beautiful scenery of Kathmandu valley is seen with many monkeys living around this place. The Stupa of Swayambhunath is supported by classic conventionalized lotus mandala base. Swayambhunath is the oldest stupa in Nepal and has countless shrines and monasteries on its premises. Since we have many monkeys around here in this area, as a nickname we call this place as “Monkey Temple”. It is accessible through staircases, walk and vehicle rides as per your preferences. 

9 Visit Boudhanath Stupa 

Boudhanath is located in the east of Kathmandu city and not too far from Pashupatinath temple. It is one of the most imposing landmarks in Kathmandu. It is the largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley. Boudhanath has been a significant site of pilgrimage and meditation for Tibetan Buddhists & local people of Nepal. Boudhanath is regarded as the basis of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism. From the top, Boudhanath Stupa looks like a big mandala, or diagram of the Buddhist cosmos. And as in all Tibetan mandalas, four of the Dhyani Buddhas mark the cardinal points, with the fifth, Vairocana, enshrined in the center (in the white hemisphere of the stupa). The five Buddhas also personify the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether), which are represented in the stupa's architecture. During the festival of Losar (Tibetan New Year) Boudhanath organizes the largest celebration in Nepal. 

10 Camping Nights 

Camping in Kathmandu is an intense getaway plan to discover a relaxed weekend within your budget. Kathmandu, the heart capital city of Nepal is a popular center for tourists, catering tours to adventurers, while budgets vary according to the number of travelers and activities done by them. Camping tours in Kathmandu provide best spots for admiring huge mountains and deep valleys and enjoying the sunrise as well as sunset. You can organize trips with your friends and family while exploring the cultural and rural outskirts of the valley. Kathmandu is a conveniently located peaceful city at an altitude of around 1,400 meters and is surrounded by four prime mountains making it a perfect location for the camping. Lele village, Balthali village, Chitlang and Markhu village, Nagarkot and Sundarijal are some popular places for camping in Kathmandu city where you can lead a couple of adventurous days and nights to pack memorable memories while being on your way back home.

11 Take Blessings from the Living Goddess Kumari  

The predominance of the Kumari cult is more distinctly conspicuous among the Newar community inside the Kathmandu Valley. The word Kumari has been developed from the Sanskrit word Kaumarya. It means virgin referring to the culture of worshiping the virgins. The selection of the Living Goddess is a highly elaborate tantric ritual. Almost every Newari village has its own Kumari. In context to Kathmandu Valley there is a tradition of worshipping Kumari in Patan, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Bungamati. However, the Kumari of Kathmandu is regarded as the Royal Kumari of Nepal. And she is worshiped by the president and many political leaders as well. If you are visiting in late August or early September, you may get the chance to perceive the mesmerizing festival known as Indra Jatra, when the Kumari leaves her residence and is pulled on a chariot through the narrow roads of old Kathmandu.

12 Take Part in Rock Climbing 

Rock climbing has recently attained popularity in Kathmandu valley due to the natural and majestic rock faces within the valley. There are many  natural climbing sites in Kathmandu  and are suitable for all kinds of climbers ranging from beginners to the experts. You just have to choose a climb that is best suitable for you and you’re ready to go. The rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport. It can be a dangerous activity without proper climbing techniques and the knowledge of the use of specialized climbing equipment is crucial for the safe completion of routes. That’s why, please be sufficiently prepared before undertaking any rock climbing tours. Indoor climbing walls in Thamel like Astrek, natural climbing walls in Pharping(Hattiban) and Nagarjun are some recommended places for rock climbing in and around Kathmandu valley.