MUSEUMS
Patan Museum
The Patan Museum is a must-visit for all people in Nepal, whether interested in Buddhist and Hindu architecture and religious crafts or not. This place, located in the old royal palace at Patan Durbar Square, has been called the best museum in South Asia, and as soon as you step inside it’s easy to see why. Its entire interior has been beautifully restored (with the help of Austrian funding), making the museum a beautiful place to wander, peek out the latticed windows down to the Durbar Square below or the inner courtyard.
Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Kathmandu
The Narayanhiti Palace Museum was lived in until as recently as 2008 when Nepal finally became a republic after a decade-long Maoist insurgency against the royal family. Built in the 1960s, it may not be as beautiful as Kathmandu’s older palaces (such as those at the Patan and Kathmandu Durbar Squares), but it is an imposing building nonetheless, with its tall white tower and design that resembles the traditional pagoda architecture of Nepal.
International Mountain Museum, Pokhara
While not exactly a substitute for actually getting out into the mountains that loom over Pokhara, at the International Mountain Museum, visitors can learn about the history of mountaineering in Nepal. There are displays of the local cultures, flora and fauna that reside in the mountains, photographs of various expeditions, a library and a 31-foot-high model of Mount Manaslu.
Taragaon Museum, Boudhanath
If you’re staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (or anywhere else in Boudha, for that matter), check out what’s on at the Taragaon Museum, on the premises of the Hyatt. It operates with the aim of documenting the cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley and supporting historic preservation. Displays and events here change periodically so it’s not always open.
National Museum of Nepal, Kathmandu
Although rather ‘old school’, the century-old buildings of the National Museum in Kathmandu are attractive. There are art and history galleries displaying items related to Nepal’s ancient and more modern history, as well as rooms displaying Buddhist art and artifacts. The bronzes and scroll paintings are particular highlights. It’s a popular place among Nepali families and school groups and located quite near Swayambhunath.
Red House Kagbeni Gallery & Museum, Kagbeni
This might just be the most remote museum you’ll ever visit. The small town of Kagbeni, in Lower Mustang and about an hour’s drive from Jomsom, is the last place that travellers without a pricey Upper Mustang permit are permitted to stay. The recently renovated Red House Lodge has been used for various purposes throughout its history, including a nunnery. The current owners of the distinctive red, grey and white-striped lodge have committed to preserving and displaying art and artifacts from the stunning region at the foot of the Himalaya.
PARKS
Garden of Dreams
Garden of Dreams is one of the most serene and beautiful gardens in Kathmandu built in the 1920s. This place located at the edge of Thamel has dozens of gorgeous details including the original gate, a marble inscription from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, a new fountain, clear ponds and a hidden garden to the south of the garden. The garden has undergone a facelift recently, after being run down for several years, but now it’s a true beauty thanks to an Austrian team that founded the Patan Museum.
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is one of the 10 national parks in Nepal and is about 15 km (9.3 miles) from the main city. This national park is the nearest from Kathmandu Valley. Shivapuri National Park is considered a mid-hill on the northern part of the Kathmandu city. It covers a vast area in the district of Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Dhading and Sindhupalchok Chisapani. Shivapuri is the best destination for travellers who are looking for that mountain thrill.
Manjushree Park
Manjushree Park is one of the 10 parks in Nepal and is located near the Manjushree cave. This park is ideal for sightseeing and photography for travellers who are seeking to capture the winning views of Kathmandu. This park is located on a small hill where it offers visitors with panoramic views of the beautiful surroundings. The park is believed to be named after Manjushree, who was a Chinese saint.
Upper Mustang
The Upper Mustang trek is one of the trails that leads you to the hidden world of the old Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also called Lo. The region’s isolation from the outside world has contributed to a highly preserved Tibetan culture and unspoiled nature. This barren landscape is dotted with settlements of whitewashed houses, barley fields and chortens festooned with prayer flags which add a splash of colour to the landscape. Lo Manthang is a different world of narrow alleyways, hidden chortens, long walls of beautiful prayer wheels and herds of farmed animals from the fields.
Balaju Water Garden
Balaju Water Garden is a quiet park 5 km (3.1 miles) northwest of Kathmandu, best suit for relaxation when you are touring this beautiful place. The garden has a line of 22 stone water spouts built in the 18th century, each of which has an ornately carved crocodile head. During an annual festival, many people come here to bathe. The garden has a swimming pool open to the public and the ponds beside the flower gardens, are home to a variety of fishes. A replica of the stone image of Budanilkantha was built here specifically for the royal family as they were barred from visiting the real one.
Godwari Botanical Garden
Godwari Botanical Garden is a haven for bird watchers who wish to avoid the rigours of hill climbing. It is surrounded by lush green hills, pleasant environment and natural diversity making it suitable for a variety of birds to live around this place. The garden is also a plantation containing exotic and local flora and is a ‘Garden of Dreams’ for birds and bird watchers alike. The Godavari area should be visited for bird watching only on working days, as on public holidays it is a popular picnic location and the crowds reduce the chances of seeing the timider birds.
Tribhuvan Park
Tribhuvan Park popularly known for being a picnic spot is an amazing place inside Kathmandu Valley. The park is equally famous for relaxation and rambling away from the buzzing city. It lies in Thankot which is a large village in the west of Kathmandu in the Bagmati zone, Nepal. At the centre of the park stands a glorious statue of King Tribhuvan and offers you a beautiful park with the serenity for picnic spots.
MARKETS
Asan Market
More than just a market, Asan (also spelled Ason) is a lively neighbourhood with temples and stupas, old Newari buildings, its own festivals and a very long and distinguished history. Asan was on the old India-Tibet trade route and has been a bustling marketplace for many centuries. The location is actually a square upon which six streets meet. If market browsing is on the agenda, Asan should be the first port of call in Kathmandu. Along the congested lanes around Asan, vendors sell traditional Nepali items like dried spices, cheap textiles, Nepali wedding paraphernalia and much more.
Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market
The Kalimati Market is less of a tourist experience and more of a local, wholesale market that sells everything from marigold garlands to dried chillies. Travellers who are particularly interested in food and fresh produce will enjoy a stroll through the busy market, checking out the raw ingredients that go into many meals served in the city’s restaurants.
1905 Farmer’s Market
The 1905 Restaurant and boutique hotel in Naxal (previously on Kantipath) holds an organic farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. It’s a popular weekend hangout for foreign residents of Kathmandu residing on the north side of town. As well as meal ingredients that can be bought to prepare at home, there’s also a range of ready-to-eat items for sale, such as pastries and cakes. Prices are high, but the quality is good.
Taragaon Organic Agro Market
Another weekend farmer’s market, this one is convenient for those staying in the Boudha area, which is also known as the Tibetan enclave of Kathmandu. It’s held on the grounds of the red-brick, modernist Taragaon Museum, beside the upmarket Hyatt Regency Hotel. The quality of the produce here is particularly good as it’s the only market in Kathmandu certified by the District Agriculture Development Office.
The Art Market
The Art Market, held once a month on a Saturday at The Yellow House in Sanepa, focuses on the contemporary arts and crafts of Nepali designers. Here, you can expect to find one-off paintings, screen-printed t-shirts, contemporary photography, handcrafted jewellery and more. There’s usually live music and The Yellow House is a popular choice for brunch. The market is especially lively in the couple of months before Christmas as more vendors seem to appear on the grounds.
NexUs Night Market
Kathmandu is not known as a lively place once the sun sets. The NexUs Night Market – which started operating at the beginning of 2018 – is taking small steps to change that. On the last Friday of every month, live music, food and stalls selling handcrafted items set up in the garden of NexUs, a community arts and activism space. It’s connected to The Village Cafe, a Newari restaurant run by local women, which is a great place to head to for some post-market-browsing dinner.
