Kathmandu the Capital of Nepal
Kathmandu, the spiritual capital of Nepal, beckons travellers with its ancient temples, serene monasteries, beautiful Himalayan landscapes and vibrant culture. Join us as we travel to this mystical city, where we intend to explore sacred sites, indulge in local cuisine, and immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of Nepali life. In April we two friends decided to fly from Delhi to Kathmandu. The budget per head for an eight-day stay was about INR 40K per head. This is the itinerary that we followed.
Day 01: Delhi to Kathmandu Flight
On day one we took the flight to Kathmandu from Delhi from IGIA (Indira Gandhi International Airport), New Delhi on Royal Nepal Airlines. The flight was delayed by a few hours. By the time we touched down at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu it was dark. The representatives of the tour operator were waiting for us at the airport welcomed us and then drove us to the Ramada Hotel which is only 6 km from the airport.
Stay at Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu
Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu is a 4-star hotel, just 7 km from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. This hotel is centrally located in the hip Thamel neighbourhood. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast, parking, a 24/7 front desk, and a concierge. The rooms are equipped with a 43-inch Smart TV, writing desk, Wi-Fi, mini-bar, ironing amenities, and digital locker.
We stayed at this hotel for 4 nights and 5 days and the experience was amazing. What I liked the most about the Ramada Wyndham, Nepal was the infinity swimming pool on the rooftop, the restaurant and the view of the city from the rooftop.
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing (Pashupatinath Temple and Boudanath Temple)
Our hotel package included breakfast. The buffet breakfast was delicious. I started with a fruit platter, moving on to sausages, bread, butter etc and finally finishing off with a coffee. The day is set for sightseeing. The first visit was to the famous Pashupatinath temple.
Pashupatinath Temple Nepal
One of the most sacred Hindu temples of Nepal – Pashupatinath Temple is located on both banks of the Bagmati River on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu. Pashupatinath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple complex is a building with a bunk roof and a golden spire, considered a masterpiece of Hindu architecture having a cubic construction with four main doors, all covered with silver sheets. The two-storied roof is made from copper and is covered with gold. This richly decorated temple with wooden sculptures is believed to make wishes come true. One of the most astonishing decorations of the temple is the huge golden statue of Nandi, Lord Shiva’s bull. Only followers of Hinduism can enter the main temple, but all the other buildings are available for foreigners to visit. Our guide Rajendra helped me enter the main temple complex perform the puja and get blessings from the Lord Shiva. I bought a rudraksha and got it purified and blessed by the pujari at the temple.
After this enriching experience at Pashupatinath Temple, our guide took us to the Boudhnath Temple and dropped us there.
Boudhanath Stupa Kathmandu
The Boudhanath Stupa Kathmandu is also called Boudha and is the largest stupa in the world. The Boudha stupa is semicircle-shaped and contains the relics and remains of Buddha. The stupa’s massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in the world. Boudha Stupa was listed on the world heritage list by UNESCO in 1979 and it is a popular tourist site in Kathmandu. The main complex was closed on the day of our visit. It is however a nice tourist attraction in Kathmandu. At the time of our visit, the place wasn’t that crowded. The complex is surrounded by shops of all kinds. From Boudha we walked back to Ramada Hotel as it was within walking distance.
The Casino Mahjong
Our evening was reserved for a visit at the Mahjong Casino. Mahjong Casino is located at the Hotel Soaltee Crown Plaza having an area of 60K sqft. It is one of Kathmandu’s most renowned and well-established casinos. While in Kathmandu after a tiring day of sightseeing, one can go to a casino to enjoy cuisine, wine and dances. Besides of course the game at the tables. I enjoyed food, wine and dance at Mahjong Casino Kathmandu. I was not allowed to shoot the tables where games were being played. However, I managed to shoot some dance performances which I found quite entertaining.
Day 4. Day at Leisure and Shopping in Kathmandu
Today we decided to take it easy and just laze around the area. Ramada Hotel is located in Thamel and this place is quite popular with tourists. Thamel is a commercial neighbourhood located in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Thamel has been the centre of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for over four decades, starting from the hippie days when many artists came to Nepal and spent weeks in Thamel. It is considered the hotspot for tourism inside the Kathmandu Valley. Thamel is known for its narrow alleys crowded with various shops and vendors. Commonly sold goods include food, fresh vegetables/fruits, pastries, trekking gear, walking gear, handicrafts, souvenirs and clothes. Travel agencies, small grocery stores, budget hotels, restaurants, pubs and clubs also line the streets. We decided to walk the streets of Thamel and find out for ourselves what it has in store for us. We did some shopping buying cargo, sandals and Nepali caps.
Nepal Casino Entry Fee
In the evening we again went to a casino. I bought a membership card for Rs 3000/- What you get in 3k is drinks, buffet dinner, casino dance and chips worth 1k. Not a bad deal. However, it was quite strict here and photography was a strict no-no.
Day 05: Kathmandu to New Delhi
Initially, we had booked 4 Nights 5 days Kathmandu Package. However, we later on decided to extend our stay by one more day to explore Kathamandu, especially Thamel and Darbar Market. All good as well as bad things come to an end. Our nepal tour ended on day 5. Said farewell to our tour operator Mr Bhandari. We really enjoyed our trip and returned with fond memories. As it was the morning flight, we reached Delhi during the daytime and it was sweltering hot there unlike the pleasant weather in Nepal.
Nepal Tour Package Cost
The package offered to us by the tour operator was as follows:-
- The cost per person is INR10,999/- At 3 Star in Hotel Dom Himalaya with an INR 4,000 casino coupon.
- The cost per person is INR14,999/- At 4 Star Hotel Soaltee with an INR 10,000 casino coupon.
- The cost per person is INR17,999/- At 4 Star Hotel Ramada with an INR 10,000 casino coupon.
- The cost per person is INR 22,999/- At 5 Star Hotel Soaltee with INR 10,000 casino coupon.
- The rates are exclusive of airfare and other costs. The above rates are based on INR for Indian Nationalities only.
Conclusion
Kathmandu, a city steeped in history and spirituality, offers a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern comforts. Whether you’re seeking spiritual enlightenment, cultural immersion, or simply a relaxing getaway, Kathmandu has something to offer everyone. Our trip from Delhi to Kathmandu and back was enjoyable and a memorable one.
