Kathmandu, also called Kantipur, is the capital of Nepal, and its only big city. For most visitors to Nepal, Kathmandu is the start and end point of the trip, which most likely begins at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Rickshaws congregate at the Kathmandu Durbar Square in front of the Hanuman Royal Palace.
This city of 800,000 inhabitants lies within a metropolitan area with 1.5 million inhabitants. The valley is located 1300m (4265ft) above sea level, and is one of the three cities within the Kathmandu Valley. The other two cities within the Kathmandu Valley are Lalitpur (also known as Patan) and Bhaktapur. The main ethnic race in Kathmandu are the Newars and they speak Nepal Bhasa, the main language of communication.
History of Kathmandu
The earliest history of Kathmandu can be traced back to the Licchavi period, which began around AD 300. Archaeological evidence indicated that the Kathmandu Valley has been inhabited even earlier, to a few hundred years BC, with the earliest dated inscription found to be from about AD 185. Nevertheless, it was only from the 14th century onwards, during the time of the Malla kings, that the Kathmandu valley saw an upsurge in artistry. It was from this period that the three cities of Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur - were founded as three separate kingdoms that vie among themselves to be the finest. Kathmandu and Lalitpur were very close to each other, separated only by the Bagmati River, while Bhaktapur is a little further away. King Jayasthiti Malla unified the valley into a single kingdom in the 14th century, and chose Kathmandu as his capital.
Kathmandu derived its name from Maru Satal, a wooden structure located in the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Maru Satal is also called the Kaasthamandap, meaning wooden shelter (Kaashth = wood, Mandap = covered shelter), and that's where the name Kathmandu originated.
Getting into Kathmandu
If you book your hotel or guesthouse in advance, some of them may even arrange transfer for you from the airport. If you arrive independent of a hotel booking, be ready to confront a whole battalion of touts eager to take you to Kathmandu, and to the hotel of their choice. Check here for accommodation in Kathmandu, to prepare yourself.
You may order your taxi from the pre-paid counter inside the airport, for 300 NRS (Nepali Rupee), to take you to Thamel, the main tourist hub of Kathmandu. If you are prepared to negotiate prices, then go outside the airport and you can get a taxi for 150 NRS - but expect a cut-throat start price and bargain hard.
Where to stay in Kathmandu
Thamel is the tourist hub in Kathmandu. This is where foreign tourists find most of the hotels and guesthouses of Kathmandu, where restaurants, tourist agencies and souvenir shops congregate. You can get everything from travel books to trekking gear from the shops in Thamel.
Some of the most significant sightseeing places in Kathmandu are within 10 to 30 minutes walking distance from Thamel. This includes the Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Swayambhunath.
Getting around Kathmandu
For most places within Thamel, take bus no. 11 (a.k.a. walk). Going on foot allows you to absorb the atmosphere and sound that makes for a memorable experience in Kathmandu. Most of the streets in Thamel are likely to be overcrowded with pedestrians (it is often baffling where all these people come from - don't they have something better to do?) If you need to go further afield, a rickshaw is always available somewhere. As usual, bargaining is the order of the day. Agree on the price before you step on board. Roads in Kathmandu don't carry street names, apart from the major thoroughfares. The price of taking a rickshaw is likely to be the same as taking the taxi, except that the taxi will be faster and can go farther. It may not be a bad idea to negotiate with a taxi to take you for the entire day, allowing you to visit all the different sights in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
About the Author: AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. We take reasonable care to check and verify the accuracy of the content. However, we disclaim any responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the advice provided directly or indirectly by AsiaExplorers and the comments on its pages. All the photographs in AsiaExplorers are available for publication. Please contact AsiaExplorers at this email address for your enquiries.
