A Digital Nomad Guide to Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu Visa

Nepal has a Visa on Arrival scheme, which means that visas are issued by Immigration Offices  like the one in Tribhuvan International Airport. The procedure is quick and simple; however, some  queues are to be expected during peak Tourist season. There is also the possibility of getting a visa from Nepalese Diplomatic Missions stationed abroad, prior to your arrival. This avoids queues  on arrival, but you have a time span of six months to enter Nepal from the visa issued date. Your  total stay is counted starting from the day you enter Nepal. 

These are tourism visas, and they allow for reentry into the country in a number of situations. This  is the only visa for entry in Nepal, as such if you are visiting Nepal for purposes other than tourism,  you should still get a tourist visa. You then must change the category of visa, as per your purpose  and length of stay. 

Beware some nationalities are requested to acquire a Visa prior to their arrival so be sure to confirm  this. 

You can get visas for 15, 30 or 90 days, extendable from a minimum of 15 days. Prices go from  30 USD to 125 USD depending on the length of time.

Culture and Food in Kathmandu

Momos are the iconic delicacy of Nepal. While its origins stem from Tibetan culture, it has  been heavily integrated into the Nepali gastronomical identity. They vary in shape and size,  but you’ll usually find leaf-shaped or round momos being sold in street-shops and individual  carts. Momos are meat and/or vegetable filled dumplings, either steamed or fried, or both.  Most places will offer a spicy, tangy tomato chutney on the side, but depending on where you  eat them, condiments may change.  

Chatamari, Nepal’s take on pizza, is a traditional food of the Newari people. It resembles a  pancake made of rice flour and topped with a spicy filling, usually containing meat or eggs.  There are vegetarian versions, and even sweet ones topped with ricotta and sugar. The Tibetan comfort food, thukpa assumed its Nepali identity as it crossed the border. A thick  broth with hand-pulled noodles, vegetables, meat, and a myriad of spices make this a  delightfully heartwarming dish.  

Juju dhau is a rich, sweet custard served in clay pots. Said to represent purity it is a must in any festival or ceremony.  

Yomari was initially an offering to the Gods made during Yomari Punhi celebrations, to ensure  a good harvesting year. This delightful treat can now be found all year round. A sweetened  bun is made of rice flour, filled with a gooey paste made of sesame seeds, coconut, and  molasses, and then steamed. Recent iterations incorporate chocolate.  

Culture wise Kathmandu is a true hidden treasure showcasing all types of arts and culture.  The various temples, stupas, palaces, courtyards, and streets are the true heroes  contributing to the jaw dropping beauty of Nepal. The religious artwork is particularly prominent, where Hindus and Buddhists influenced masterpieces are sure to conquer you. Surprisingly to some, Kathmandu has a big culture in literature, music and dance that dates  back centuries. From jazz to meditation or from Sanskrit to Nepali, Kathmandu exudes  variety. 

Festivals are the carriers of tradition and cultural activities par excellence. Kathmandu itself is home to many a stand out, from which Holi, Bisket Jatra, Dashain, Diwali, or Mani  Rimdu are a must. During these festivals you’ll be immersed in a deep enriching experience, filled with fun and unforgettable moments.

Kathmandu Nightlife

With the rise of the metropolitan urban scene in Nepal, Kathmandu has seen a substantial increase in  the popularity of nightclubs. Nightlife is majorly concentrated in Thamel, where a multitude of bars,  nightclubs or casinos are but a few of your options. The area is, however, usually jam-packed with  both locals and tourists dancing through the night. 

For the party animal amongst us Club Dejavu is a great option. But if you are a cultural enthusiast  Pokhara Lok Dohori Naach Ghar puts on more traditional parties filled with folk music and dancing,  complete with local food and wine.  

Finally Upstairs Jazz is a personal favorite. It introduces a taste of the small but rich jazz  appreciation in Kathmandu. Be sure to go on a Wednesday or Saturday.

Things to do in Kathmandu

• Durbar Square

Any trip to Kathmandu certainly begins in Durbar Square. The heart of the old city, Durbar exudes  history and tradition of days past and coronation ceremonies. The area is, in fact, composed of  three loosely connected squares. To the south sits Basantapur Sq, where former royal elephant  stalls are now souvenir stalls. The main Durbar Square is to the west, and to the northeast lies its  second section. This latter one was the entrance to Hanuman Dhoka and houses a myriad of  temples. Crawling out from here you can also find Makhan Tole. It used to be the main road in  Kathmandu and for this is still the most interesting path to stroll through. 

• The Royal Palace of Kathmandu

The Royal Palace of Kathmandu, known as Hanuman Dhoka, dates to the Licchavi period IV to  VIII centuries AD. However, the complex was significantly expanded in the XVII century with the  influence of King Pratap Malla.  

From the outside, the palace is truly extraordinary. Hanuman, the monkey god, is believed to have  helped the noble Rama during the Ramayana and, as such, he is incorporated in many important  entrances. A statue of Hanuman draped in red and protected by an umbrella, marks the entrance to Hanuman Dhoka and baptizing the palace. The statue dates back to 1672 and the god’s features  have dwindled under a coating of orange vermilion paste that has been smeared by the many  generations of devotees. Nepalese flags border the statue on either side, while brightly colored  stone lions guard the extremities of the palace gate. One has Shiva mounted while the other has  Parvati, Shiva’s wife. Above the gate sits a brightly painted statue of a tantric depiction of Krishna.  The Hanuman Dhoka originally housed 35 courts or chowks, but the 1934 earthquake reduced the  palace to the present 10 chowks. 

• Swapna Bagaicha, the Garden of Dreams

Swapna Bagaicha, the Garden of Dreams, is the materialized vision of Kaiser Sumsher Rana, a  field marshal of the Royal Nepalese Army, who ordered its construction on the grounds of his palatial  home in 1920. Despite being badly neglected after his death in 1964, the exquisitely manicured  landscapes and preserved fountains, pergolas and pavilions have since been restored to their  former glory. 

The garden was designed by landscape architect Kishore Narshingh to mimic the English gardens of  the Edwardian era, and totals to a whopping four acres. Most notably, the grounds are divided in  six pavilions that symbolize the “six seasons” of Nepal, notably: spring, early summer, summer  monsoon, early autumn, late autumn, and winter. In its prime, the garden was seen as a true feat  of wonder.

Today, visitors will find only three of the six pavilions, sitting on just over an acre of land. Nonetheless, the garden remains a dream-like green sight, not least because of the restoration projects undertaken by the Austrian government and Nepal Ministry of Education. Beyond the garden’s  original gates, picturesque fountains and ponds emerge. An amphitheater and individual gardens  of varying sizes follow, and the Kaiser Café Restaurant & Bar completes the painting. The winding  pathways have ornate borders of hedges, plants, trees, and flowers from all corners of the globe.  Lavish stone urns and charming benches offer contemplative views. 

Despite being a public space, The Garden of Dreams is still a beacon of tranquility in the center of  Kathmandu, and a popular meeting spot for sun worshippers, walkers, residents, and tourists alike. 

• Vaisha Dev

Vaisha Dev, also known as the Toothache Tree, sits in a random courtyard behind Thahiti Tole.  Foreigners, however, rarely realize it is a tree stump, as locals cover it with nailed-on coins as an  offering to the god of sore teeth. It is said to be part of the legendary tree Bangemudha.  Funnily enough the coin filled wood chunk, is located inside Kathmandu’s “dental district” where a  number of clinics are located and serves as a wishing well. People with toothaches or other dental  complications visit the site and nail a coin to the tree trunk as an offering to Vaishya Dev. It is  believed that it contains a tiny idol like figurine, however the coin-blanket impedes any ways of  verifying that claim, in fact, you can’t even see actual wood.  

The sight is appealing to worshippers as it is to dentists. It’s both a spiritual beacon of hope for  health complications and a marketing goldmine for dental businesses. 

• Seto Machhendranath temple

Southwest of Asan Tole at the intersection of Kel Tole, sits the Seto Machhendranath temple dedicated to a deity common to Buddhism and Hinduism.  

The courtyard of the temple houses many small shrines and chaitya,small stupas, that are adorned  with multiple statues, including one of a mysterious female figure surrounded by candles that gazes at the temple. Some speculate that it is imported from Europe and simply added to the pantheon of  deities, due to its western resemblance. Just outside the temple, two beautiful bronze figures of  Taras, emerge sat on the pillars. It is here that one can follow tradition and feed the pigeons to 

improve karma. 

Inside the temple, you can see a flower covered statue of a God with a white face. This idol is  removed every year during the Seto Machhendranath festival in March/April and driven around the  city in a chariot.  

In the courtyard, you can usually see men with a bizarre string instrument. This is a tool used to  separate and fluff the cotton stuffing that is sold in surrounding shops. 

As you leave the temple, if you look to your left, the small Lunchun Lunbun Ajima appears. This is  a tri-roofed tantric temple in red tiles adorned with erotic carvings at the base.

Best Time to Visit Kathmandu

In Kathmandu, the wet season is warm, humid, and partly cloudy whilst the dry season is  comfortable and mostly clear. Temperatures range from 3°C to 29°C, rarely descending  below 1°C or above 32°C. The best times of year to visit Kathmandu would be early April to early  June or late September to late October. 

The warm season lasts from April to October, with an average daily high temperature above 27°C. The hottest days are in June.  

The cool season spams from December 9 to February 11, January being the coldest month.  

The chance of wet days in Kathmandu varies very significantly throughout the year, but the wetter  period is from May to September and drier from September to May. The rainy season lasts  roughly between April and October. Most of the year Kathmandu is humid.

Kathmandu for Families

Kathmandu is not a city necessarily set up for kids. There are no interactive kid-friendly museums, with  a lack of play areas, and of green spaces to run free. However, from stuffing your face with momos and  shopping in Thamel, to chasing monkeys around temples or creating your own rollercoaster in a tuk tuk, kids are bound to have fun.  

Whoopee Land is just a short 30-minute taxi ride south of the city. This is an amusement park with loads  of rides for little ones. Pirate ships, teacups, or crazy rollercoasters the park is a great day trip to ease  out of the more cultural side of Kathmandu.  

The Water Park is also a great option, with slides galore and a splash play area for kids. Water quality  is questionable though. 

School wise, Nepalese education has, for the most part, lagged in extracurricular and all-round child  development activities. Most Nepali schools only promote strictly academic learning and do not focus  on personal character and skill development. However, this is changing with the establishment of  several international schools that promote overall learning in children. A few good options would be the  Lincoln School, Malpi International Schools, the British school, amongst others. Beware fees may be  higher in these international schools.

Living in Kathmandu

Kathmandu Transportation

 Kathmandu offers a myriad of local transportation options like public buses or battery run three wheelers. Rickshaws are usually readily available, and a great option for some  quick travel or sightseeing, if you don’t mind a bit of adventure in your life. Government  sponsored buses known as Sajha Bus are actually comfortable and run along the north-south  and east-west main roads of the valley. Other buses are also available. 

Taxis are easily recognized by its taxi sign on top and black license plate. Private taxis charge  higher rates but are more comfortable, plus no tip is expected. Night taxi service can also be  arranged and operated by major hotels. Renting a private car is also a possibility through a  travel agent or a car rental company. 

Mountain bikes and ordinary bicycles are cheap and the best form of transportation for any  budget tourist. They can easily be rented out in Thamel and Jhochhen. 

For longer distances, day or night bus services provide easy transportation and are available  from Kathmandu to all major cities. Out-of-valley trips by bus leave from New Bus Park at  Gongabu, Ring Road near Balaju, Kathmandu. More comfortable and smaller vehicles may also be an option. 

Fitness and Health

Given the zen ambience and culture that emanates from Kathmandu, it  comes as no surprise that many people come to Nepal for Yoga and Meditation retreats. Enjoy  a relaxing couple of days in the mountains bordering the town, experiencing, living, breathing  the Yoga lifestyle. Learn Buddhist teachings and culture, while immersing yourself in the  tranquility of the nature that surrounds you.  

For the more fitness junky amongst us, Kathmandu’s gym culture is a growing market, with  more and more options on offer.  

Gymkhana Muay Thai, The Physique Workshop, Club Paradise International or The Pump are  great gym options. They are all arounders offering both a myriad of classes and all gym  amenities. You can also find more specialized modalities. Pricing is on par with their western  peers, which is to be expected as gym culture is still a niche in Kathmandu and varies from  around 15 USD to 100 USD per month depending on the club and plan you choose. 

Kathmandu People

People in Kathmandu are extremely welcoming and kind. They  welcome anyone with open arms and love to chat about their culture and country. They have  huge respect for visitors and guests.  

Offering something to a guest is largely considered akin to duty and is taken extremely seriously  by the Nepali people. This hospitality is a huge contributor to many people’s passion for the  country and its attractiveness. Stop to people watch and see daily life unfold. Talk to the  local people and take an interest in them and what they do, and you’ll be rewarded with a great  deal of wisdom and compassion.  

Spirituality is of the highest importance to the Nepali population, their daily life is full of ritual  and prayer, and their deities are very much present in everything representing the most  mundane manifestations of life. Nepalis are notably tolerant in terms of religion as there is  almost no religious tension in the country. They are patient and good humored, rarely hostile or  angered.  

Nonetheless, caste and status still play an important role, contributing to a strictly defined  hierarchy that plays a huge part in determining each marriage, career and human interaction.  This extends to familial life where each person has a clearly defined place in the hierarchy. It is 

still common for extended families to all live together in one house. The elderly are respected  members of the community and are well cared for as they are seen to be in a period of life  dedicated to prayer, meditation, and relaxation.

Kathmandu Insurance and Medical Care

Nepal is quite renowned for its traditional medicine, whereby  Ayurveda and herbal medicine is common practice. For this a substantial health tourism craze has developed in the country attracting many to Kathmandu. Tibetan medicines, Ayurveda,  yoga, meditation, SPA, faith healing, naturopathy, homeopathic and western medical systems  are common medical practices in Nepal. Health tourism in Kathmandu offers natural healing,  whereby different kinds of medical treatments are tailored to the needs of each person or group in preventive and wellness programs. 

There are also several Central and University Hospitals in and around Kathmandu if in any case  you need more western based medicine. 

Under the current health insurance policy, a family of 5 members must pay 3500 Nepalese  rupees per year to cover all types of health service with a maximum limit of 100,000 rupees. If  there are more than 5 members in a family, they need to pay 700 rupees per person. MetLife American Life Insurance Company Limited, Asian Life Insurance Company Limited, Citizen Life  Insurance Company Limited are all good options and will help you setting up your health  insurance. 

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide.

Jobs in Kathmandu

The best way to find a physical job in Nepal would be following the  education route. Degrees and certificates give you the confidence and self-assurance you need  to get internships, entry level jobs, and many more opportunities.  

Nonetheless, physically putting yourself out there is an amazing way to get jobs in Nepal.  Visiting door to door of companies to see if they are hiring sounds too 90s in today’s digital  world, however it works. Despite this, many content creators are now making a living via the  internet. You can find several online platforms to publish your creations, or just simply upload  resumes, portfolios and CVs and get discovered, followed, or hired.  

Further, many in the young Nepali generations created a culture of participating in skill generating  programs to increase their chances of being hired. Vocational training courses are available to  choose from, and people can always pick the one that best suits their aptitude.  In Nepal competitiveness is very much present, and though there is a slight favoritism for  international western workers, you should strive to maintain a steady work ethic and try to  maintain good relations as well as a substantial net of contacts. You never know when someone  more qualified might appear. You are expected to outdo yourself to maintain a stable job. The government of Nepal has quota benefits for women, marginalized communities, and people  of different ethnic backgrounds. This is to encourage and ensure inclusion both at the local  levels and national level. This system has succeeded in ensuring job opportunities to many, however there is still a long way to go towards full equality and overall unemployment.

Check out our Digital Nomads Jobs Postings to find the best jobs available for Digital Nomads.