Exploring the beauty of Kathmandu, Nepal

Home to the Himalayas, Nepal is blessed with natural beauty. Unlike other destinations, the most beautiful places to visit in Nepal are not related to human-made forts and museums. Here, nature shines in its full glory! From lakes perched on hilly summits to trekking trails that lead you to a summit that feels like heaven, Nepal is truly breath-taking! When visiting Nepal, the capital city Kathmandu is where you'll most likely end up first. Don't make it a brief stop on your itinerary, though. It's worth staying a while in this enchanting place and soaking up its atmosphere. These top things to do in Kathmandu encompass heritage, architecture, culture, spirituality, and shopping.

• Durbar Square - Kathmandu's ancient old city is set around the Durbar Square at Basantapur, south of Thamel, where the royal family lived until the 19th century. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. However, Poor upkeep, ongoing restoration works etc. may have discouraged many tourists from entering the Durbar Square.

• Explore the Old city - From Durbar Square to Thamel, exploring old Kathmandu's fascinating narrow streets and alleyways will keep you busy for hours, if not days. You'll be surprised to discover shrines and statues hidden away in unlikely places. Ensure to grab a map and get exploring! Pathan square is one of the most stunning destinations and architectural wonders. 

• Shop and Hang Out in Thamel - Kathmandu's Thamel tourist district is crowded and frenetic at times. However, it still manages to retain an old-world feel, perpetuated by the rows of Tibetan prayer flags and cycle rickshaws that trundle by. This lively area's streets are lined with shops overflowing with brightly colored clothing, jewelry, paper lanterns, thangka paintings, wood carvings, bronze statues, music, and books. A quick tip for all, bargain hard to get a fair price on your trinkets and souvenirs.

• Explore the Backstreets of Kathmandu – To get to know Old Kathmandu more in-depth, many tourism companies and local guides conduct a remarkable three and a half-hour immersive walking tour that will provide you with a diverse range of cultural experiences. These include tea tasting, having a sniff in a spice den, discovering hidden temples, learning about local legends, and standing where the ancient Tibetan caravan route started. The tours usually depart in the morning or afternoon and cost about 900 rupees per person.

• Try the Local Cuisine - Just around the corner from Kathmandu's Durbar Square, Roots Eatery opened in 2016 as an extension of a foundation set up by the owners after the devastating 2011 Kathmandu earthquake. It aims to promote the region's Newari heritage and serves delicious authentic Newari cuisine cooked by the family. Apart from the food, the ambiance is lovely with friendly staff, groovy interiors made from recycled materials, and an outdoor seating area.

• Explore Pashupatinath - Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath draws devotees from the Indian subcontinent along with a motley collection of painted sadhus (Hindu ascetics). Most of the sadhus are friendly and happy to be photographed for a small fee, in return for which they'll give a blessing. Ancient Hindu rituals, astonishing and unchanged by time, are practiced inside the temple complex. Enter, and you'll get an uncensored (and confronting) perspective of life, death, and reincarnation, including the open-air cremation of bodies on funeral pyres along the river bank.

• Visit Villages in Kathmandu Valley - Two of the most popular villages to visit are Bungmati and Khokana, located to the south of Kathmandu, not far from Patan. These two villages were unfortunately hit hard by the 2015 earthquake and need tourism more than ever now. Leave Kathmandu's traffic and urban sprawl behind, and step back in time in the Kathmandu Valley, where villages have retained a traditional way of living, untouched by modern development.

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