Thing to Know Well Before Heading towards Kathmandu, Nepal

Thing to Know Well Before Heading towards Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal’s largest city and its capital, Kathmandu, attracts all types of people: students, travelers, job-seekers, and entrepreneurs. They arrive here to review , work or do business, but most never leave the town , which is now home to an estimated 3 million people. I, like many Nepalis, came to Kathmandu for education within the primary 1990s and since then are a resident, even a lover . Despite its many flaws, I even have grown attached to Kathmandu, whose deep-rooted traditional heritage sits comfortably alongside its modernity.

Kathmandu is additionally the primary stop for international visitors who come to experience Nepal. the town and its people will welcome you with open arms—but it's going to also overwhelm you. Here’s how you'll efficiently plan your trip.

First, make it out of the airport.

Nepal’s only international airport, serving Kathmandu, could even be a picture of chaos. The airport receives more passengers than it can handle. Though most foreigners are eligible for an on-arrival visa, it’s better to use beforehand at an embassy, which could save time once you arrive. Sometimes the ATMs within the airport don’t work, so bring a couple of of hundred U.S. dollars with you to vary into Nepali rupees. And don’t forget to fill out the immigration form before you land, so you'll join the long lines sooner. Every minute helps you get out of the airport sooner.

Don’t expect to work out the Himalayas. 

Eight of the world’s 10 tallest Himalayan peaks are in Nepal. you'll see snow-capped mountains from Kathmandu, which lies during a bowl-shaped valley in central Nepal. aside from the mesmerizing view of the towering Himalayas, you'll got to attend either in autumn (October and November) or in spring (April and May): February to early April is that the so-called burning season, when forest fires and smoke from “slash-and-burn” farming across Nepal’s southern plains create a haze within the valley. That said, even during Spring and Autumn dense smog can obscure the view. But if you’re lucky, you'll see Dorje Lhakpa (6,966 meters/22,854 feet), Ganesh Himal (7,422 meters/24,350 feet) and even Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest mountain. If you go some extra miles from Kathmandu—such because the resort towns of Dhulikhel and Nagarkot on the city’s outskirts—you may catch a glimpse of Everest . 

A mask could even be a requirement . 

Kathmandu is ranked together of the foremost polluted cities within the earth , which is why it’s sometimes called Maskmandu. Dust from road-widening projects, post-quake reconstruction, emissions from brick factories near the town , and truly , the smoke-belching vehicles that stay the roads thanks to lax enforcement of regulations, have all contributed to the city’s growing pollution . The city’s traffic department and native authorities have tried to stay the air clean by banning vehicles older than 20 years. Last year, the authorities also declared the tourist district of Thamel and inner parts of the town a vehicle-free zone, meaning cars, trucks, and mini-buses weren't allowed to drive. While these efforts have had some impact, the sole protection against pollution could even be a mask. as an example , CleanAirNepal.com offers Vogmask for US$25 to US$30. These internationally-certified masks accompany built-in filters.

Learn to mention hello. 

It never hurts to hunt out out a couple of of local words. you'll say “Malai Thaha Chhaina” (I don’t know) to the ever-inquisitive Nepalis who may bombard you with questions on your country’s politics. Saying “Dhanyabad” (thank you) can work wonders. “Namaste” is that the foremost greeting, and it’s even better if you furthermore may hold your palms together vertically before your chest—a gesture of respect. Other useful words include “Bhai” (young brother) or “Dai” (older brother) and “Didi” (older sister) or “Baini” (younger sister) because Nepalis use these words rather than names to affect people, even strangers.

Get on Nepali time. 

Nepalis aren't known for taking punctuality very seriously. Most appointments and meetings usually happen an hour after they're scheduled, which locals derisively call “Nepali time.” People may have legit excuses, like traffic jams, but mostly it’s right right right down to their relaxed attitude towards time. exposure an hour late for a gathering could even be a norm, not an exception. This laid back attitude is reflected in services like transportation, with buses and flights not departing—and arriving—on time, or officialdom making you await hours. There’s no way around it. You’re welcome to urge on time, and wait, of course.

Try Newari and Thakali food. 

Kathmandu has many options for food-minded visitors, but you shouldn’t miss the local stuff. The Newars, an ethnic community indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley, have an aesthetic and diverse cuisine. Try a plate of mouthwatering chhwela (spiced meat or chicken barbecue), kachila (a quite spiced mincemeat tartare) and bara (a cake made from lentils and egg.) Most Newari speakeasies are tucked inside narrow, dark alleys within the old an area of town, but a growing number of upscale restaurants now include Newari delicacies on their menus. i'm a lover , which i'd recommend Newa Lahana in Kirtipur and Honacha in Patan’s Durbar Square. The Thakalis, whose name derives from Thak Khola, a valley within the Annapurna region, are a minority ethnos that have mastered the art of the Nepali staple, daal bhat (rice and lentils), by transforming it into a delicious, elaborate Thali-style meal with heavy doses of sautéed vegetables, meat or fish, rice, pulses, curry, pickles, and even ghee. There are dozens of restaurants serving Thakali food, like Tukche. (Here’s an inventory of Thakali restaurants in Kathmandu.)

Discover Thamel, the opposite Thamel. 

Most visitors to Kathmandu find yourself in Thamel, a tourist district made famous by the hippies who started coming to the town within the 1960s and 70s. Central and convenient, it caters to tourists and travelers, with stores for trekking gear and souvenirs, currency exchanges, European-style bakeries, and bars—everything a world visitor may have . But over the years, Thamel has become crowded and congested, and thus , unappealing. Some smart entrepreneurs have established an alternate to Thamel: Jhamel. within the last few years, Jhamsikhel, within the Lalitpur district south of Kathmandu, has served expats and visitors a way better version of Thamel: less crowded, good food, and a more pleasant environment. Its streets are lined with high-end restaurants, bars, and groceries.

Choose your momos wisely. 

When Tibetan refugees arrived in Nepal within the 1960s and 70s, they brought with them a special treat—recipes for steaming, succulent momos, or dumplings. Momos are believed to possess originated within the normal Chinese city of Xi’an, but the standard snack, after crossing the mighty Himalayas on its journey to Nepal, has skilled multiple innovations over the decades. the first momos were made with yak meat, but now they need a way bigger range of fillings and are somewhat smaller than the first version. In Nepal, round or half-moon shapes of wheat-flour dough are crammed with fillings of ground chicken, mutton, or buffalo meat (called “buff” here) and vegetables. Momos also are popular in northeastern India and Bhutan, but Nepalis are perhaps its most faithful consumers; a gaggle of young Nepalis has even produced a video about their love of momos. Momos are so popular in Kathmandu that nearly every restaurant serves them. Every Nepali features a favorite momo haunt, and you'll need to choose carefully to urge the sole fix. (My personal momo favorite is Bakery Cafe.) the town also regularly hosts momo festivals, called Momo Mania.

Come to celebrate. 

Many areas of Kathmandu are, rightly, described as living heritage sites, and festivals are an enormous an area of life for Kathmandu’s indigenous Newar community. During Rato Machchhindranath Jatra, or the chariot festival (in spring and end of summer), celebrants haul an enormous wood-and-bamboo chariot containing an idol of the deity Rato Machchhindranath (believed to be the god of harvest and rain) through the streets of Patan to welcome the season. Bisket Jatra, held in mid-April celebrates the Nepali New Year and thus the spring season. Time your visit to a minimum of 1 among those festivals to witness the cultures and traditions that have endured for several years . The Hindu festival of Holi, the rice-planting festival during monsoon, and thus the Dashain festival within the autumn also are windows into Nepali culture. (Here’s a comprehensive list of major festivals celebrated in Kathmandu Valley.)

Avoid the monsoon, mostly. 

One among my colleagues once said that monsoon was the worst season in Kathmandu. She had a point: From late May to early September, Kathmandu gets huge amounts of rainfall. During monsoon, roads are waterlogged because they lack adequate sewage systems, vehicles splash muddy water on you, and even your umbrella could even be no match for the downpour. The running joke every monsoon in Kathmandu is that you simply simply simply can row a ship in its flooded streets. But the season also has its share of delights: the rain dripping off the eaves of your guesthouse or hotel, the emerald-green vista that emerges after the rain, and thus the occasional rainbow.

Embrace the one-day weekend. 

Nepalis observe a one-day weekend, on Saturdays. Sunday could even be a working day: Offices (except foreign missions and international NGOs), schools, and markets remain open. This convention began by decree within the 1930s during the Rana dynasty (the autocratic rulers who presided over Nepal from 1846 until a well-liked revolt dislodged them in 1951) and has endured, almost uninterrupted. within the mid-2000s, the govt. introduced a two-day weekend (Friday and Saturday) for state officials within the Kathmandu Valley, but it had been withdrawn a year later.

Appreciate the art. 

There are murals on the walls of major intersections, private houses, and public buildings—the results of a campaign launched in 2013 by Kolor Kathmandu, which has given the town a much-needed facelift. After the 2015 earthquake, murals became a vehicle to spread messages of hope. Kathmandu features a vibrant art scene, with big galleries a bit like the Siddhartha gallery and Nepal Art Council Gallery frequently holding exhibitions. Also inspect the Taragaon Museum, a former hostel with exhibits that consider Nepali culture and heritage.

Watch out for strikes and bandhs. 

Nepal wont to be mentioned as a land of bandhs—general strikes that pack up markets, schools, factories, and offices. Though most major political parties have vowed to not organize nationwide shutdowns, smaller groups (political parties or maybe trade unions) still resort to them to pressure the govt. . , perhaps by using them to undertake to secure the discharge of jailed colleagues or to precise displeasure with India’s interference in Nepal’s affairs. continue with strike announcements by monitoring social media. Though most print newspapers don’t publish involves general strikes on their pages, digital outlets might, and it’s worth checking if there any bandhs planned during your visit.

See the opposite Durbar Squares. 

The Kathmandu Valley is home to 3 Durbar (royal palace) Squares—in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan—with centuries-old palaces listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu’s Durbar Square could even be the best-known, but it had been badly damaged by the earthquake and far of of its monuments and temples are still awaiting reconstruction. Local communities in Bhaktapur and Patan, however, steered the reconstruction of their Durbar Squares, presenting a model for faster recovery. Unlike Kathmandu’s, they're well-maintained, and also less crowded. Perhaps most significantly , they need convenient public toilets, which are hard to hunt out around Kathmandu’s Durbar Square.

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