Free walking tour in Kathmandu is a unique tour package for steady walk through the streets in Kathmandu. Tour is free of cost but the participants could tip. It is a tip based tour which you could tip at the end of the tour if you’re happy with the service provided. It will be a bit long walk, 3-4 hours walk in the city and it will cover major parts of the city and anyone can join with us for walking few hours in Kathmandu. Kathmandu walking tour is not like a normal paid tour, during this you’ll explore the places that aren’t main tourists spots in Kathmandu.
In this tour tourists will witness the daily lives of locals, visit UNESCO World Heritage Site and local market too which can’t find in Google.
We’ll start our tour from Garden of dreams near Narayanhiti museum (previous Royal palace), Thamel, Chhetrapati (local market), different local temples, open cremation place on the banks of the holy river Bishnumati and finally at Swayambhunath. It is also known as monkey temple as there are lot of monkeys but proper name is Swayambhu or Swayambhunath. Tour starts from Garden of dreams and it will complete at Swayambhunath.
Although, it is a Free walking tour you’ll get a professional English speaking guide with many years of experience and a tour guide license issued by the government of Nepal. This tour is best for budget travelers as no any tips is compulsory or travelers who’d like to try our service.
DETAIL ITINERARY
This tour begins from Garden of Dreams at 9:00 then we’ll move towards Thamel, which is a popular tourist destination, then to Thahity. You’ll see small stupa at Thahity. From there we’ll visit Kathesimbhu Stupa (Shree gha), mahabihar and monastry there. There in a local tea shop you can try laphing, a Tibetian snack popular in Nepal. From there, we go through Chhetrapati and there you’ll find ancient resthouse for visitors when they were no hotels in the world for travellers.
Then, moving ahead we’ll come across Shobha bhagwati, an open cremation place. After crossing the Bishnumati river we’ll reach Bijeshwori where wedding’s are performed. After walking few minutes from Bijeshwori temple we’ll reach the Swayambhunath Temple.
Garden of Dreams
Garden of Dreams is a historical garden located near the former Royal Palace (now a museum) built in 1895. It is a neo-classical garden make as one of the unique landscaping monument of South Asia.
Thamel
This place is popular for nightlife in Nepal and also for handicrafts, antiques etc. Beside modernization in Thamel you can also find ancient water system in Kathmandu known as “Dhunge dhara” where you can still find flowing water and some locals fetching water as well. Thamel is a mixture of ancient monuments and modern infrastructures like Chhaya Devi Center. Digging deep you’ll come across unknown facts of Thamel.
Kathesimbhu Stupa
Kathesimbhu Stupa (Shreegha) is replica of Swayambhunath. It is said that Kathesimbhu Stupa was built using the left over materials from Swayambhunath stupa which means this stupa is as old as Swayambhunath.
Shobha bhagwati
Shobha Bhagawati temple is located at Dhalko and it is a holy shrine devoted to the goddess Bhagawati. On the bank of the Bisnumati River there is a temple of Goddess where you’ll also find an open cremation place.
Bijeshwori Temple
The Bijeshwori Temple is situated on the west bank of Bishnumati River. It was established in 1655 AD as a Newar Buddhist temple in the Kathmandu valley. It is also known by other names such as Bidjeshwori Bajra Jogini, Vidhyeshvari Vajra Yogini or Visyasvari Temple. It is dedicated to the Vajrayana Buddhist deity Vajrayogini.
Swayambhunath Stupa, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Swayambhunath Stupa is close to Bijeshwori Temple. There are many ways to reach at the top of Swayambhunath but you can take front way and climb the 365 steps. You’ll see different statues on the way, build many centuires ago. At this historical place you can explore the Swyambhunath stupa, Harati Mata temple, monastery, Shantipur (a living man on meditation from 5th century on underground chamber), shrines etc. From top you’ll get a beautiful panoramic view of Kathmandu valley.
Time
Morning Shift : 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Morning Shift : 5:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. During one month Guhla festival at Swayambhu
Afternoon Shift : 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. During summer
Afternoon Shift : 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. During winter
Trip Facts of free Kathmandu walking tour
Trip Duration: 1 day
Duration: 4 hours
Trip grade: Easy
Best season: All season
Expert information
COST EXCLUDE
Heritage Site entry fees
Food and drink, Transport during walking
Things to remember
Comfortable shoes
Passport or ID card
Cash for paying entrance fees etc.
Take off your shoes before entering inside the temple and walk clockwise around Temple.
Taking pictures at some sacred places is prohibited like at Harati temple at Swayambu.
Not suitable for pregnant women and wheelchair users.
Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Sites
The remarkable old city Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. It is a beautiful city with many natural and religious tourist destinations. There are seven World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu as follows:
- Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square
- Patan Durbar Square
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square
- Swayambhunath
- Bouddhanath
- Pashupati
- Changu Narayan