What Are Kathmandu's Main Tourist Attractions and Activities

Standing at an elevation of around 1,400 meters in a bowl shaped valley of Himalayas, Kathmandu is the capital and largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city not only acts as the economical hub of the country but is also the main gateway to explore the treasures of Nepal tourism. Enriched with a history of nearly 2000 years, Kathmandu presents itself as the perfect point to experience the beauty of Himalayas. Catch flights to Kathmandu to explore various interesting places and facts about this mountainous land. Direct flights to Kathmandu are easily available from several locations, especially from India and other Asian countries. Though holidays in Kathmandu are loved by all travellers but the trip is especially admired and meant for adventure seekers and culture lovers. On the one hand snow-covered mountains and hilly terrains of Kathmandu Valley give ample scope for trekking, mountain climbing and rock climbing while on the other side the ancient holy temples and shrines reflect the heritage of culture and tradition. Start you exploration tour of Kathmandu from Durbar Square, the main attraction point of the city. The square is the site of the royal palace and is surrounded with quadrangles, courtyards and temples displaying spectacular architectural skills of Newari artists and craftsmen. At the southern end of Durbar Square is located the most curious attraction of Nepal, “The Kumari Chowk”. After admiring the monuments of Durbar Square head towards Swayambhunath, an ancient and main religious complex located on the peak of a hill in Kathmandu Valley. Situated west of Kathmandu city, the site is very sacred for Buddhist worshippers and consists of a stupa, a Tibetan monastery, a museum, a library and some shrines and temples among which some belonged to the Licchavi period. Boudhanath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another main attraction of the capital city of Nepal. Featuring one of the largest ancient stupas in the world, Boudhanath is the holiest Buddhist site in Nepal. Located in the eastern part of Kathmandu city is another UNESCO World Heritage Site- the mighty Pashupatinath Temple. Dedicated to national deity, Lord Pashupatinath, the temple is much more than a religious site for Hindus and art seekers. Besides these main cultural sites, there are other notable ones too like Akash Bhairab Temple at Indra Chowk, White Machhendra Nath Temple, pagoda-style Annapurna Temple at Ason and many more. Apart from sightseeing, Kathmandu is also known for shopping. Thamel, located in close vicinity with the city center, is a bustling and well popular area full of lodges, hotels, restaurants and shops. Indra Chowk, another busy square of Kathmandu is good spot for buying Nepali shawls, bead necklaces, local goods and spices. The city also has two shopping malls (City Center Mall and Civil Mall) where travellers can easily get goods of international brands. There are many other things to do in Kathmandu too like excursions to nearby places, flight tours to Mount Everest and other Himalayan Peaks etc. Flights to Kathmandu are available round the year. So pack your bags and be ready to explore the mountain beauty of Nepal with direct flights to Kathmandu.