Nepal Travel Guide

A city that's equal parts chaos and spirituality: street barbers, monkeys stealing food and drink from unsuspecting tourists, and a mix of temples and markets that reward slowing down. Even a single day covers a genuine cross-section of it.

A real child chosen through a rigorous selection process from the Shakya family, worshipped as a goddess until puberty, at which point she retires, rejoins normal life, and receives a government pension for the rest of her life.

Non-Hindus can't enter the main shrine, but you can still watch the open air cremation ceremonies along the river from outside it, families gathering, ashes scattered in the water, and holy men sitting quietly in saffron robes.

A reference to a fierce black statue in the city once used as a lie detector, one of the quirkier stops on a shortlist of what's actually worth doing in Kathmandu before heading up into the mountains.

Thamel, the main tourist hub, is easy to explore on foot, though the pavements are narrow and rocky in places. For longer trips across the city, ride-hailing apps like Pathao or InDrive work well, just don't expect seat belts.