Nepal is known for trekking and expeditions in the Himalayan mountains, including trips to Everest base camp. It is a great place for nature lovers who want to have a hard time and get away from the urban jungle. For those interested in seeing snow capped mountains directly in front of your face and stepping out of the comfort zone of the western world, there are few places on this planet that will offer as much as Nepal.
But a visitor does not need to have the complete inventory of mountain equipment, three weeks of vacation to go into the mountains or the constitution for alpine sports to enjoy Nepal. It’s easy to visit for a few days, take lots of great pictures, experience the culture, and do great shopping. This short guide will tell you how you can enjoy Kathmandu and the surrounding valley in four to five days.
Places to visit and things to do
Spend your first two days getting to know the city of Kathmandu. Lonely Planet and other guides offer walking tours, and these are useful for visiting some of the highlights without hiring a tour guide or wandering aimlessly. You will notice that Nepalese live and work around ancient sites, so you will see children playing and people leaning on 6th century monuments. The temples and historical monuments are part of their daily life and are not cordoned off like in many other countries.
Durbar Square is the heart of historic Kathmandu, and this is where the ancient kings ruled. Many Nepalese now trade and spend time lounging on temple steps. There are a number of rooftop cafes and restaurants around the edges that will provide visitors with panoramic views of the square, so a cup of traditional Nepalese tea is recommended at one of these locations. There are a number of Buddhist and Hindu temples and historic sites to the north and northeast of the square, and most of them can be viewed within a three- to four-hour window. As you travel between these sites, you will be able to look at the shop windows and see how many urban Nepalese spend their days.
A visit to Kathmandu is not complete without seeing the Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath, commonly known as the Temple of the Monkeys. You can walk to the Monkey Temple in about forty minutes from the Thamel neighborhood, or you can take a taxi. Traveling from the base of the temple grounds to the temple itself is half the journey as there are over a hundred steps to climb and as you go you will have to fend off hordes of monkeys and touts offering all kinds of of goods. on sale. Sellers are not very pushy so this is not a problem, but staying away from monkeys is more difficult. They have become accustomed to tourists and people, but they keep their belongings, especially food and cameras, close to their chest, as monkeys have been known to snatch them from visitors. The colorful temple sits in the middle, with devotees doing their circumnavigation ritual clockwise and offering prayers.
When you’re done at the Monkey Temple, head to Thamel, which is the heart of the shopping scene in Kathmandu. It is very touristy, but most of the best restaurants and shops are in the three or four long streets that make up Thamel. Many of the hotels and hostels are also located in this area. If you are looking for a traditional Nepalese snack or meal, look for a place that serves momos, which are dumplings filled with meat or vegetables and served with curry sauce. Momos buffalo are particularly good.
The areas outside of Kathmandu are definitely worth exploring if time permits. You don’t have to venture far to see some interesting sites. Rent a car and driver for a day for about US $ 40 (either through your hotel or one of the many travel agencies in Thamel) and see the surrounding towns of Patan, Bhaktapur and Bodhnath, with the first two cities they have their own durbar squares (durbar square essentially means the central square, so there are many durbar squares in Nepal). As in Kathmandu, be prepared to pay for a ticket to enter and wander the monuments in the square. Prices will vary, with Bhaktapur being the most expensive at US $ 10 per person. Patan has the best durbar square in all of Nepal with its variety of temples and architecture. Bhaktapur is the best preserved historical city, so strolling the streets here will be time well spent. Finally, Bodhnath is a beautiful temple that is a must see if you want to see the pilgrims doing their devotionals and want to take some great photos of probably the most striking stupa. These three cities are separated by an hour by car and no more than two hours outside of Kathmandu. You can hail a cab to and between all of these locations, but availability isn’t constant and the few dollars you’ll save by not hiring a car and driver are probably not worth it.
You can spend the fourth day doing an easy hike through the Kathmandu valley. A popular hiking trail is Nagarkot, which offers stunning views of the Himalayas if the weather, fog, and clouds work to your advantage and give you a clear day. The View Point Hotel is the closest to the mountain range with a good view from the roof. You can visit the restaurant for lunch and take the stairs up to the roof to enjoy the view, so you don’t necessarily have to spend the night there. The best times are usually during sunrise or sunset, but there are no guarantees. This is a popular place for an overnight stop or a day trip to see the mountain range, as there is not much else to do in Nagarkot. An organized walk through a travel agency will consist of a short one-hour drive to Changu Narayan (a temple and a city), and then a three-hour walk with a guide to Nagarkot. Then your guide and a driver will take you back to Kathmandu. It can all be done in one day if you start early.
Purchases
All of Durbar’s main temples and squares are surrounded by vendors selling all kinds of paraphernalia that attract tourists, such as scarves, bronze statuettes, works of art such as Thangka paintings, and handmade clothing, all at low prices for tourists. western standards. However, be prepared to negotiate if you want an even better deal, as the prices that the vendors will tell you initially are heavily inflated. A savvy buyer who is willing to negotiate can usually get around a third of the asking price. Just be aware of the fact that a couple of dollars will mean a lot more to a Nepalese than it does to you.
Thamel offers the most stores in a neighborhood. In addition to Nepalese artwork and handmade clothing, you can also find all the maps, books, trekking gear, and faux western winter clothing you need in Thamel.
Move
Be prepared for the combat march in Kathmandu. There are few sidewalks, so you will have to literally push motorcycles, cars, tractors, pedestrians, and carts as you walk down every street. However, walking is truly the best way to see and experience Kathmandu, so regardless of the danger, it is still recommended. Another option is to hail a taxi. These are small white Suzuki Maruti hatchbacks. They have meters, but drivers don’t like to use them, so set a price before you start moving. Usually one hundred rupees (a little over one US dollar) is enough for a single trip within Kathmandu, if you negotiate. Whether you are walking or taking a taxi, be patient and take more time than you think you need to get from one point to another.