When visiting Nepal, the capital city of Kathmandu is likely to be your first stop. But don’t make it a quick stop on your way to somewhere else; it’s worth spending some time in this fascinating city and taking in the ambience. Heritage, architecture, and culture, as well as spirituality and shopping, are among the most fascinating activities to do in Kathmandu. This is how to get the most out of your visit.
Visit the Garden of Dreams and take a stroll.
It’s difficult to think of anything more soothing than strolling around the Garden of Dreams, which is located across the highway from what was once the Royal Palace in the heart of Thamel’s tourist zone. The European-style garden, which was built in 1920 by researcher and horticulture enthusiast Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, presents a concise respite from the remainder of the congested place and is open to the public daily between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., making it excellent for a cookout or mid-day nice walk.
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is located along the northern side of the valleys, approximately two hours from Kathmandu, and offers more than 61 square miles of nothing except wilderness. The previous watershed and nature reserve became Nepal’s ninth national park in 2002 and is now a popular hiking destination, habitat of many rhododendrons, pine and oak trees, Himalayan black bears, rhesus monkeys, leopards, 177 species of birds, 102 varieties of insects, and 129 types of mushroom.
The Historic Durbar Square is a sight to behold.
The medieval city of Kathmandu is centred around Durbar Square in Basantapur, south of Thamel, in which the royal family resided until the nineteenth century. In 1979, it was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Various Hindu and Buddhist temples are going back to the 12th century, in addition to the Royal Palace and Hanuman Dhoka. Unfortunately, a major earthquake in 2015 demolished almost all of the southern temples and severely harmed other structures, along with the palace.
Take a stroll through the historic district.
Exploring around old Kathmandu’s interesting labyrinth of narrow alleys and lanes would keep you occupied for hours, if not days, from Durbar Square to Thamel. Seize a map and go discovering! You’ll be amazed to find holy sites and monuments hidden away in unexpected places.
From Makhan Tole, on the northeastern corner of Durbar Center, take Siddhidas Marg to Indra Chowk, a bustling market square where five roads intersect. Continue straight down Siddhidas Marg to Kel Tole, which is home to the Seto Machhendranath Temple, one of Kathmandu’s most exquisite temples.
Hire a Gorakhpur to Kathmandu car rental to visit all these amazing spots and have a great experience.
Sure, there are a plethora of activities and places to see in this area, but you can be assured that the items listed above will provide you with a fantastic Nepal encounter that will be well worth your time and money. Enjoy!