Kathmandu (map), officially the Kathmandu Metropolitan City is the capital and most populous city of Nepal. It is located in the Kathmandu Valley, a large valley in the high plateaus in central Nepal.
In 2013, Kathmandu was ranked third among the top ten upcoming travel destinations in the world by TripAdvisor, and ranked first in Asia. The city is considered the gateway to the Nepalese Himalayas and is home to several World Heritage Sites: the *Durbar Square, *Swayambhunath, *Boudhanath and *Pashupatinath.
The ancient trade route between India and Tibet that passed through Kathmandu enabled a fusion of artistic and architectural traditions from other cultures to be amalgamated with local art and architecture.
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If you fly in, be sure to pick up a free Kathmandu Valley map at the airport. The first thing some visitors notice about Kathmandu is the general lack of house numbers and street names except for major roads such as Tri Devi & Ring Road (loops around the city). In the tourist district of Thamel, the Kathmandu Guest House (map) & Hot Breads bakery (map) are two main landmarks.
It is possible to get around Kathmandu by foot, but some may not always find the walking pleasant. It’s worth considering, however, whether any form of public transport would be easier or more convenient than walking when you consider the crowds, the narrow streets and lanes, the traffic and everything you might want to see.
Bhaktapur (map) – a UNESCO World Heritage site noted for its temples, and the wood, metal and stone carvings. Has festivals and celebrations nearly each month during the year; does not allow motorized vehicles inside the city.
There are dozens of tourist restaurants clustered in Thamel serving everything from Middle Eastern to Mexican food. Indian and Nepali dishes are always the most authentic and economically priced.

BUS > Sajha Yatayat
AIRPORTS > Tribhuvan International Airport, Ring Road (located 5.5 km east of the popular tourist area of *Thamel (map))