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In a three-story building which contains an impressive collection of traditional utensils and handmade dolls and items typical of a medieval Newar house, giving an important insight into Nepalese history.
स्वय म्भू AKA the Monkey Temple
Perched on a hill overlooking Kathmandu, Swayambhu is a revered site featuring a grand stupa surrounded by Buddhist and Hindu iconography. According to legend, a former Buddha visited the valley, which was then a vast lake. The Buddha planted a lotus seed in the clear waters that bloomed after 84,000 years, crowned with an eternal flame. Drawn by the flame from Mount Wutai in China, the bodhisattva Manjushri drained the lake by cutting through the valley wall, making the site accessible for pilgrims. The stupa now stands where the lotus once blossomed, making Swayambhu one of Nepal’s most sacred Buddhist sites. The hilltop can be reached by climbing 350 steps, with a gentler but less scenic back route also available. A 30-minute walk from Thamel leads to the base, though a map is helpful due to several confusing intersections; taxis and bikes are also options. The site teems with monkeys—keep food hidden—and hosts ancient temples, souvenir stalls, cafes, and restaurants offering Nepali and Tibetan cuisine. For those with limited mobility, parking at the rear entrance minimizes the climb. Swayambhu is one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley and includes the Swayambhu Buddhist Museum.
Historic street where western hippies seeking enlightenment would stay in the 1970s and 80s. Now just a few restaurants and hotels but the iconic Snowman Cafe is tucked away here. Opened in 1965 as a full functioning restaurant, Snowman is now a cafe shop with new Nescafe machine and paper cups, but still run by the same family. Since the family owns the property, this cafe shop survived from the pressure of rent. However, it's mostly a one-man shop, and that man is 50 years old. His father is too old to work and the next generation of the family are studying in Australia and seemingly won't take over. No one knows how long this final bastion of Freak Street will last.
A tourist area with many restaurants and shops.
Swapna Bagaicha
Relax in this beautiful and peaceful walled garden close to Thamel and the former Royal Palace. Beautifully renovated in partnership with the Austrian government. It has two pavilions depicting two of the six annual seasons in the Hindu calendar. There is a mini exhibition showing old photos of this garden. There is a restaurant (Kaiser Cafe) in it. You are not allowed to bring own food into the garden and even if you just want to go to Kaiser Cafe you still need to buy the ticket for the garden. Nice toilets.
लखु फलेचा
A roadside shelter is linked with the founding of Nepal Sambat. This is where the porters from Bhaktapur are said to have rested with their loads of sand. The procession of the goddess Dāgin, which is held during the Yenya festival, starts from this house.