Top 10 Best Things to Do in Kathmandu
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Top 10 Best Things to Do in Kathmandu

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  • Kathmandu Durbar Squaretop_1
    󰺂5.9
    Kathmandu2.2 km from downtown
    Highlights:
    󰀆Experience traditional celebrations during Indra
    Kumari's residence up close
    󱨠Saved by 202 users󱨠180 positive reviews
    4.7/5
    Hossain Hoq ProhorHossain Hoq Prohor

    Kathmandu Durbar Square is a mesmerizing historical and cultural hub that reflects the rich heritage of Nepal. Located in the heart of Kathmandu, this UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases stunning palaces, ancient temples, and intricately carved wooden architecture. Visitors can explore the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, Taleju Temple, and the Kumari Ghar, home to the living goddess. The square buzzes with local life, from traditional markets to cultural performances, offering an authentic glimpse into Nepalese traditions. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, photographer, or traveler seeking cultural immersion, Kathmandu Durbar Square promises an unforgettable experience steeped in art, spirituality, and centuries-old history.

  • Buddha Stupatop_2
    󰺂5.0
    Baudhatinchule3.8 km from downtown
    Highlights:
    󰋄Buddhist architecture & World Heritage
    󰋄Circumambulate & pray for blessings
    󱨠Saved by 138 users
    4.5/5
    郭润龙浪迹天涯郭润龙浪迹天涯

    20240615 AM: 1. Boudhanath Stupa is a landmark building in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. It is the world's largest round stupa and one of the world cultural heritage sites. It is 38 meters high and 100 meters in diameter. It is said to have been built by King Shiva Deva of the Lichavi Dynasty in the 6th century BC. It is a cultural relic of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal and an important spiritual totem of Mahayana Buddhists. It is said that there are relics of Kasyapa Buddha in the stupa, which is an important spiritual totem in Mahayana Buddhism. Because the top of the stupa is painted with wisdom eyes, it is also called the Big Eyes Stupa. It is also said that when the stupa was built, it was a drought, and the craftsmen took dewdrops and mud, so it is also called the Dewdrop Stupa. During the worship season, Buddhists from Bhutan, Sikkim, and Tibet in my country will gather here to worship, so Chinese signs are often seen. The scenic area is divided into three major parts: the stupa, the Padmasambhava Temple, and the shop area. It is a good place for sightseeing photography, humanities learning, worshiping Buddha, shopping, and parent-child strolls. When praying around the pagoda, you need to go around it three times in a clockwise direction. ①Address: Circle Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Nepal ②Transportation: Direct bus access, difficult to park by car ③Peak season: None ④Time: 2 hours ⑤Ticket price: 400 rupees (22.2 yuan) 2. The Great Pagoda consists of four-story pagoda base and five-story pagoda body, specifically: ①The first floor of the pagoda base: There are small Buddhist niches, prayer wheels, bells and other Buddhist instruments between the entrances and exits ②The second floor of the pagoda base: There is an incense burner standing at the worship area in front of the pagoda, which looks very much like the pagoda in Tibetan Buddhism (the instrument for storing the corpse of a monk). You need to take off your shoes on this floor, as the ground may be hot in summer. You can also walk around the tower on this floor, and enjoy the street view under the tower ③ The third and fourth floors of the tower base: It is forbidden to go up, and these two floors are blank and have no scenery ④ The four corners of the tower courtyard: Because the tower courtyard wall is circular and the tower base is similar to a cross (12 corners), there are four open spaces in the first floor of the tower base, which are respectively equipped with a painting pool (a pool for painting the white tower body with paint, and a small statue stands on the wellhead next to it), green plants (2 places, the edge of the green plants in one place is surrounded by dense stainless steel small bowls, each bowl contains 2 flowers, orange and yellow; the other place has a small Buddha statue under the green plants), and a small tower ⑤ The first floor of the tower body: The semi-circular tower base represents water, and it is also said to be the womb that creates life. There are golden niches on all four sides, and the five Tathagatas are enshrined inside. The ground is a circle of prayer wheels, and visitors can turn it clockwise to pray for blessings ⑥ The second floor of the tower: a square structure, representing the earth, four squares are painted with a pair of eyebrows and eyes, called "wisdom eyes", symbolizing omniscience ⑦ The third floor of the tower: a triangular structure, representing fire, divided into 13 levels, with a decreasing cross-sectional area layer by layer, in a cone shape, symbolizing the thirteen positions of the Bodhisattva from cause to effect ⑧ The fourth floor of the tower: an umbrella-shaped structure, representing the wind, with a small bell hanging below, and a gentle breeze will make bursts of sound, symbolizing nirvana ⑨ The fifth floor of the tower: a spiral structure, representing the essence of life, composed of all things composed of water, earth, fire, and wind, called "the harmony of the four elements" in Buddhism ⑩ Colorful ribbons: multiple, connecting the top of the tower to the ground, shaped like colorful prayer flags, in the order of blue, white, red, green, and yellow... The number of words exceeds the limit, continue in the last picture

  • Swayambhu Mahachaityatop_3
    󰺂4.8
    Kathmandu3.3 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 1 of Night Attractions in Kathmandu
    Highlights:
    󱨜Golden pagoda & monkeys at sunset
    󰀆Iconic landmark for distant views
    󱨠Saved by 119 users󱨠25% positive reviews
    4.6/5
    郭润龙浪迹天涯郭润龙浪迹天涯

    20240615pm: 1. Swayambhunath Stupa is a famous Buddhist temple in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. It is also called Monkey Temple because of the many wild monkeys in the temple. It is also called the Four-eyed God Temple. It is a world cultural heritage with a history of 2,500 years and one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Asia. It is an important spiritual totem for Mahayana Buddhists. It also has a Hindu shrine. It is the only temple in the world where Buddhism and Hinduism coexist. The shrines are lined with spires, incense is strong, solemn and sacred, and the mountain top has a wide view, overlooking the panoramic view of Kathmandu. The scenic area is divided into two major areas: the giant stupa and the mountain trail. It is a good place for viewing photography, humanities learning, worshiping Buddha, shopping, and parent-child walks. There will be celebrations every year on Buddha's Birthday (April or May) and Tibetan New Year (February or March). Due to the 8.1 magnitude earthquake in Nepal on April 25, 2015, the ancient buildings were severely damaged, and there are still buildings under repair. ①Address: Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Nepal ②Transportation: Direct bus access, difficult to park by car ③Peak season: None ④Duration: 2 hours ⑤Ticket price: 200 rupees (11.1 yuan) 2. The giant stupa is the core building of the temple. It is mainly white and more than 40 meters high. Its shape is very similar to the Boudhanath Stupa. It has five floors, specifically: ①The first floor of the tower: a semi-circular structure tower base, representing water, and also said to be the womb of life creation, with golden niches embedded on all four sides, and the five Tathagatas are enshrined inside. The ground is a circle of prayer wheels, and visitors can turn them three times clockwise to pray for blessings. ② The second floor of the tower: a square structure, representing the earth, with four squares painted with a pair of eyebrows and eyes, called "wisdom eyes", symbolizing omniscience. ③ The third floor of the tower: a triangular structure, representing fire, divided into 13 levels, with a decreasing cross-sectional area layer by layer, in a cone shape, symbolizing the thirteen positions of the Bodhisattva from cause to effect. ④ The fourth floor of the tower: an umbrella-shaped structure, representing the wind, with a small bell hanging below, and the breeze will make bursts of sound, symbolizing nirvana. ⑤ The fifth floor of the tower: a spiral structure, representing the essence of life, composed of all things composed of water, earth, fire, and wind, in the Buddha It is called "the harmony of the four elements" in Buddhism. ⑥ Five-color ribbons: multiple ribbons, connecting the top of the tower to the ground, shaped like five-color prayer flags, in the order of blue, white, red, green, and yellow, representing the blue sky, white clouds, flames, green water, and loess respectively. 3. The platform where the giant stupa is located is also the core area of ​​the scenic area. There are many people and dense landscapes around the stupa. The ones that impressed me the most are: ① Stone pagoda matrix: neatly arranged small towers (cover photo), which contain relics such as relics and clothes left after the death of eminent monks of all generations ② Hindu goddess temple: two-story eaves Buddha niche, the only temple in the world where Buddhist and Hindu buildings coexist. There is a row of Hindu believers sitting on the ground eating hand-held rice in the doorless house next to the temple, which is very exotic ③ Small temples: none of them have names, and are named according to their characteristics. There is a single-story reclining Buddha temple (the main enshrines a reclining Buddha, and there are stone artifacts in the glass showcases around it)... The word count exceeds the limit, and continues in the last picture

  • Pashupatinath Temple
    4
    󰺂4.5
    Kathmandu2.6 km from downtown
    Highlights:
    󰋄Hindu cremation ceremony site
    󰋄24/7 Hindu cremation ceremony
    4.5/5
    Shahin Alom - RUShahin Alom - RU

    🛕 Pashupatinath Temple – Spiritual Heart of KathmanduPashupatinath Temple is one of Nepal’s most sacred Hindu sites, nestled along the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this UNESCO World Heritage site enchants visitors with its intricate pagoda-style architecture, gilded roofs, and beautifully carved wooden struts. The temple is a vibrant center of spirituality, especially during festivals like Maha Shivaratri, when thousands of devotees gather in devotion. The surrounding ghats, sacred rituals, and the serene river setting create a deeply immersive cultural experience. Pashupatinath Temple is not only a religious landmark but also a place where tradition, devotion, and heritage converge beautifully.

  • Thamel
    5
    󰺂4.2
    Kathmandu.Thamel1.2 km from downtown
    trip best small logoNo. 2 of Night Attractions in Kathmandu
    Highlights:
    󰀆Kathmandu's top 3 must-sees
    󱨜Himalayan adventurers' must-visit shops
    󱨠Saved by 103 users
    4.5/5
    ClaireChiClaireChi

    This little hub inside of Kathmandu is constantly hustling and bustling. You'll find shops and restaurants everywhere, and the people are always kind. Traffic can be a bit daunting at first, but you'll get the hand of it quickly.

  • Garden of Dreams
    6
    󰺂4.1
    Kathmandu.Thamel988m from downtown
    󱨠31% positive reviews
    4.5/5
    E29***12E29***12

    Garden of dreams, Keshar Mahal, Kathmandu. Built in 1920 and designed by Kishore Narshingh, it consists of 6,895 square metres (74,220 sq ft) of gardens.

What Best Things to Do are there in Kathmandu?
These are all Best Things to Do in Kathmandu:Kathmandu Durbar Square, Buddha Stupa, Swayambhu Mahachaitya, Pashupatinath Temple, Thamel
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Kathmandu?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Kathmandu include:Kathmandu Durbar Square:4.7, Buddha Stupa:4.5, Swayambhu Mahachaitya:4.6, Pashupatinath Temple:4.5, Thamel:4.5
At what locations in Kathmandu can Best Things to Do in Kathmandu be found?
The Best Things to Do in Kathmandu are mainly located in:Kathmandu Durbar Square:Kathmandu, Buddha Stupa:Baudhatinchule, Swayambhu Mahachaitya:Kathmandu, Pashupatinath Temple:Kathmandu, Thamel:Kathmandu
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