Kathmandu, Nepal Hotels and City Guide

Kathmandu Maps

The largest city in Nepal and the nation’s historical centre, Kathmandu successfully brings together a blend of the country’s varied population and boasts a distinctive, age-old religious influence visible in the daily life of its inhabitants even today.

In truth, Kathmandu is a city with two faces; a legendary capital of beauty and charm with carved rose-brick temples and an alluring ambiance, and a contradictory busy society in a country of simplicity in the Asian continent. It reeks of a magnificent history and the wear and tear of increasing modernity at the same instance.

For the unprepared visitor, the capital city of Kathmandu can trigger an overwhelming sensation - it is a heaving city of intriguing culture, behavioural patterns and decibel levels, as well as interesting sights that etch themselves in ones memory, if not captured on film.

Narrow alleyways lined with vegetable, handicraft and spice shops where the majority of the pedestrian traffic is found, hooting taxis, cobblestone streets leading to open squares surrounded by beautiful temples of all shapes and sizes; a wealth of attractions, including several Buddhist and Hindu shrines and museums offering a glimpse of the majestic allure of this once great Himalayan city - Kathmandu is a haven for sightseers as well as for the adventurous traveller.

On the other hand, set amidst snow covered mountains, the Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by flourishing agricultural hills sprinkled with small villages boasting charming brick houses. Clean and peaceful, these Kathmandu Valley towns and mountain resorts are sometimes preferred by many over the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu city.

One thing’s for sure; whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller, the enchanting allure of Kathmandu is an experience you wouldn’t want to miss!

Kathmandu City Facts
Kathmandu Population: 1,081,845 (Source: UN Population Division 2000 estimate)
India Population: 27,676,547 (Source: UN Population Division 2000 estimate)
Currency: Nepali Rupee (Rs)
Time Zone: GMT plus 5 hours 45 minutes
Language: The official language is Nepali (spoken by 49 per cent). There are many other languages, including Maithili and Bhojpuri. English is spoken in business circles and by people involved in the travel trade.

Hotels in Kathmandu, Nepal