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Kathmandu

NepalAsia
Explore Kathmandu on Nearaway

Local Greeting

Namaste (नमस्ते) — said with palms pressed together

How locals say hello in Kathmandu

Best Time to Visit

October–November (post-monsoon, crystal-clear skies) or March–April (spring blossoms before trekking season peak)

Must Eat

Dal Bhat (rice, lentils, curried vegetables — eaten twice daily by locals)Momo (Tibetan-style steamed dumplings)Sel Roti (crispy ring-shaped rice bread)Newari Samay Baji (beaten rice feast platter)Butter tea (po cha) in the Tibetan quarter

Local Tip

Kathmandu's Thamel neighbourhood is tourist-central but the real soul of the city is in the Newari old town around Asan Chowk and Indra Chowk. Walk north from Durbar Square at dawn when the vegetable sellers set up and the temples come alive with puja smoke and devotees.

Origin Story

Medieval
📅 Founded circa 723 AD (Licchavi era city foundation); valley settled since at least 7th century BCOriginally Kāntipur (City of Glory) — 'Kathmandu' derives from Kasthamandap, a 12th-century wooden pagoda pavilion built from a single treeBy Licchavi dynasty, later consolidated under the Malla kings

The Kathmandu Valley has been a centre of civilisation for over 2,500 years, situated on ancient trade routes connecting India and Tibet. The Licchavi dynasty built the first great monuments; the Malla kings transformed the valley into a trio of city-states (Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur) from the 12th–18th centuries, competing to outdo each other in temple architecture and producing the ornate wood-and-brick pagodas that still define the skyline. The iconic Kasthamandap pavilion — from which the city takes its name — was a single-roomed shelter for pilgrims on the India–Tibet trade route, reportedly built from the timber of a single sal tree. Kathmandu was unified under the Shah dynasty in 1768 when Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley and declared it the capital of a unified Nepal. Today it is the cultural and spiritual heart of the Himalayan world, home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the living goddess Kumari.

Fun Fact

Kathmandu sits in a valley that was, geologically, an ancient lake — the Kathmandu Lake drained roughly 10,000 years ago. The city is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within just 15 km of each other, including the living goddess (Kumari) whose incarnations have been venerated since the 17th century.

Cultural Dos

  • ✓Remove shoes before entering any temple or someone's home
  • ✓Walk clockwise around stupas and Buddhist monuments
  • ✓Accept any offered food or tea with both hands as a sign of respect

Cultural Don'ts

  • ✕Touch religious statues or prayer wheels with your left hand
  • ✕Point feet toward shrines, sacred images, or elders
  • ✕Wear shorts or sleeveless clothing when visiting temples — carry a scarf

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