Kathmandu - Nepal Travel Information

Photos from Kathmandu

Kathmandu, the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal, is situated in a vast valley hidden behind a chain of mountains surrounding it. Although the romantic image many have on Kathmandu, the traveler will face a city of contrast ? colorful happiness in one hand but many poor parts on the other hand.

Nepal?s international airport is situated in Kathmandu and most travelers arrive there at the beginning of their journey to Nepal.

Thamel

The area which most backpackers stay in while they are in Kathmandu is called Thamel. This is a crowded street filled with goods that is actually isolating the travelers from the less colorful face of the city. The area is centralized around a long street that has everything a traveler needs.

Durbar Square

Many squares carrying the same name are situated in different cities in Nepal. The meaning of the word Durbar in Nepalese is ?palace? and the name implies that the square is actually the plaza in front of the palace. In the case of Katmandu?s Durbar Square, the palace is the old kingdom?s palace called Hanuman Dhoka, where the Nepal?s royal family lived until a century, before it moved to the new royalty palace.

There are many temples in the square, which the ancient ones were built in the 12th century. The most important building is called Kumari Bahal. In this building lives a little girl that has been chosen as the Living God of the city. This girl will be replaced once she reaches her adulthood. Most of that building is closed and tourists are only allowed to enter the area in front of the building. This side has a big porch overlooking this area and the Kumari sometimes come out and wave her hand to her fans. It is totally forbidden to take a photo of the Kumari.

The square is full of activity all day long and the tourists are mingling together with peddlers and ?saints? (Sadhu) that are dressed with colorful cloths and willing to have a photo together with any tourist for a symbolic payment.