Kathmandu City Tour - 1 Day

Kathmandu city tour Highlights

• An exciting sightseeing tour that harmonizes both Hindu and Buddhist cultures.
• A city steeped in UNESCO World Heritage Sites and masterpieces of art.
• Experience the lifestyle of the locals of Kathmandu.
• Learn about the Kathmandu Durbar Square, home of the Malla dynasty.
• Try out the local Nepali food.
• Explore beautiful temples and religious monuments of great historical interest.
• Wonderful places to observe local traditions and customs, full of charm and beauty.

For whom is the Kathmandu city tour is suitable?

For travelers interested in history, culture, and tradition, the Kathmandu city tour is perfect, as the Kathmandu day tour helps to get introduced to the way of life of the local Nepali people. This is one of the best chances and ways to get vintage pictures of Kathmandu city. Kathmandu is still a living, breathing city, and the whole city is still considered as a museum with stunning historical and cultural landmarks. The Kathmandu day tour showcases the harmony between two religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, which cannot be found anywhere in the world. But in Nepal, travelers and tourists can see two temples of different faiths in the same place that cannot be seen anywhere else.

Note: Kathmandu is perfect for travelers who are interested for history, culture and tradition fans, nature lovers, adventure hunters, foodies, spiritual searchers and shoppers or purchasers.

Note: Travelers who are not interested in taking vintage pictures and who are not interested in history, tradition, and culture can skip this tour and go for other activities instead, like one-day hiking, sunset or sunrise programs, yoga programs, hill stations, or other activities.

How does the Kathmandu day tour start and end?

Kathmandu City Day tour begins with a discovery of cultural and historical treasures in the city's center. The first stop is the famous Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with pagoda-styled monuments depicting Nepal's history. Visitors will come across Kumari Ghar, the Living Goddess's abode, and Hanuman Dhoka, a medieval royal seat. The trek continues to the legendary Taleju Temple, the resounding Great Bell, the Big Drums, and the legendary Golden Gate guarded by Hanuman.

The exploration extends to the unique Kasthamandap Temple, constructed in 1596 A.D. from a single tree and a namesake for the city. Then, the tour leads them to Boudhanath Stupa, South Asia's largest Buddhist shrine, where visitors will meander through its three-tiered terraces and experience the vibrant local market, often referred to as "Little Tibet" due to its Tibetan origins and culture.

Visitors can even savor local Nepali cuisines at a restaurant within the Boudhanath complex, all while basking in the stunning presence of the stupa. The journey proceeds to the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, known for its splendid three-tiered golden pagoda rooftop dedicated to Lord Shiva. As non-Hindus are not permitted within the main temple premises, a guide offered by Holiday Planner Nepal will provide a suitable vantage point to observe the temple and its spiritual activities along the Bagmati River so that visitors don’t miss out on anything.

The tour concludes with a visit to Budhanilkantha, known as Narayanthan, which is home to an enthralling Hindu temple devoted to Lord Vishnu. Visitors will be able to see the magnificent figure of Lord Vishnu lying on a bed of serpents in a sacred pool.

UNESCO heritage sites that are in Kathmandu

People often claim that there are seven world heritage sites in Kathmandu, which is not true; actually, there are 4 sites in Kathmandu that are listed as world heritage sites. Two of the heritage sites are in Bhaktapur, and one of them is in Lalitpur.

The heritage sites that are in Kathmandu are mentioned below:

UNESCO heritage sites and their importance

Kathmandu Durbar Square (Hanuman Dhoka Palace Area)
Location – Basantapur, Central Kathmandu
Religion/Culture – Primarily Hindu with Newari Influence

• Once a royal palace where the Malla ruled, and then later the Shah dynasty rulers ruled 
• Popular for Newar culture architecture, carved windows, courtyards, and pagoda-style temples, and wooden carving with different architectures
• Home to Kumari Ghar, the living goddess og Kathmandu
• Home to the Taleju temple, Hanuman statue, and Jagannath temple
• The major site for one of the biggest festivals, Indra Jatra, and a place that represents the political, social, and artistic history of the Kathmandu valley

Swyambhunath stupa (Monkey Temple)
Location: West side of Kathmandu, on a hilltop in a place called Swayambhu
Religious/Culture: Buddhist culture with Hindu elements

• One of the oldest stupas of Kathmandu is believed to be over 2000 years old
• Symbol of a harmony worshipped by the Hindus and the Buddhists
• Stupa's eye on the sides represents awareness and wisdom, and an eye watching over all of Kathmandu
• Offers panoramic view of the entire Kathmandu Valley
• Nicknamed as monkey temple due to the holy monkeys living in that area

Bouddhanath stupa
Location: North north-eastern side of Kathmandu, near the gaushala area
Religion/Culture: Tibetan Buddhist

• One of the largest stupas in the world and the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.
• A UNESCO heritage site since 1979
• Stupa's massive mandala design is believed to contain Buddhist cosmology and enlightenment.
• Believed to contain the relics of Kassapa Buddha
• Surrounded by monasteries and prayer wheels (also known as kora)
• A key destination for celebrating Lhosar (Tibetan New Year)

Pashupatinath temple
Location: Eastern Kathmandu, bank of the Bagmati River
Religion/Culture: Hindu (dedicated to lord Shiva)

• One of the most sacred Hindu temples dedicated to lord shiva, also known as the head of lord shiva
• A spiritual center for Hindu pilgrims, especially during Shivaratri and other Hindu festivals
• The temple contains thousands of shrines, lingams, and ashrams.
• The river flowing on the bank of Pashupatinath is considered holy, and open-air cremation ghats are there where people cremate their loved ones.
• Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple, but still observe the rituals and roam around other places
• Pashupatinath represents life, death, and the cycle of rebirth, giving a deep symbolic value to the Hindu belief.

History of Kathmandu city?

First, before starting the trip, we need to know about the history of Kathmandu city. The history of Kathmandu is a mix of mythology, art, and resilience, which makes this city a vital point for the identity of Nepal. The nickname of Kathmandu is the city of a thousand temples because the city possesses a lot of Hindu and Buddhist shrines, temples, art, architecture, and sculptures. The original name of Kathmandu was Kantipur before it was renamed with the name Kathmandu. In the modern period after 1951 AD, Kathmandu has been the hub for tourism, receiving travelers from all over the world, especially those who want to visit the Himalayas.

So, let's go back in time; it is believed that the Kathmandu Valley, then known as Kantipur, was once a vast lake. According to mythology, the Bodhisattva Manjushree drained the lake by cutting a gorge at Chobar, making the valley habitable. That’s why the elders say the soil is fertile and scientific studies say the soil is black, has organic clay, and slits are dark gray to black; the soil is best for agriculture but is not good for the foundation of buildings as it is highly compressible.

Some archeological studies provide evidence that a human settlement existed and people were habituated here before 185 BC when the Kirat dynasty ruled.

After the Kirat dynasty, the Licchavi dynasty took over Kathmandu from 400 AD to 750 AD. The Licchavi period is credited widely for laying the foundation on which modern Kathmandu is today. During the Licchavi period, iconic structures, temples, palaces, and stupas were constructed, in which, to this day, the most famous are Swyambhunath (monkey temple) and Pashupatinath temple. It is said that Bouddhanath was built during the Licchavi era, and the history of this place is complex, as multiple kings and personages are associated with its construction.

After the Licchavi dynasty, Kathmandu was ruled by the Malla dynasty from 1200-1768 AD, which transformed Kathmandu. Licchavi laid the foundation for construction, but the Malla rulers transformed that and made Kathmandu the center of art, culture, and architecture. During the Malla period, the Kathmandu Valley was divided into Kantipur, Bhadgaon, and Patan, which in the modern generation are known as Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar Square were constructed during this time.

What is the specialty of the Kathmandu city tour?

The specialty of the Kathmandu day tour is the bonding between Hinduism and Buddhism, their culture, and the harmony between them, as both Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries are located together. The age-old culture, traditions, history, and exquisite art.

The cultural diversity of Kathmandu holds various ethnic groups. Newars are the original ethnic groups habituating in Kathmandu. The culture, festivals, and cuisine, of Kathmandu has been preserved by the Newars which in today’s date travelers love the most.

Kathmandu is known as the "City of Thousand Temples" and is a living museum of Nepalese tradition, art, and architectures. Kumari, known as the living goddess, resides in Kathmandu and is one of the top attractions and topics for people worldwide.

The food of Kathmandu is really popular as well, especially the street foods and Newari foods. Foods such as MO: MO, Samosa, Yomari, Chatamari, Bara, Choila, Chow mein, and Sekuwa are most famous foods.

Kathmandu also owns four UNESCO World Heritage sites. Custom wood carvings, custom stone carvings, brickwork excellence, and pagoda-style architectures can be seen around the houses of Kathmandu. The bustling local markets, festivals, and modern hustle make Kathmandu a famous destination to visit. A lot of tourists and foreigners can be seen taking a tour of the city with a guide capturing its beauty.

Tour Fact: The Kathmandu city tour is done by at least 90 percent of the tourists and foreigners who come to Nepal.

What are the entry fees and contact number for UNESCO heritage sites and other sites during Kathmandu city tour?

The entry fees for various sites are different according to the nationality and age of the tourist. The entry fees as per 2025 is mentioned below.