Thamel

如何抵達

By taxi A taxi from Tribhuvan International Airport to Thamel is around Rs800 (more if pre-paid, you can also pay by US dollars), and the journey takes around 20 minutes (July 2024).

By bus From Boudha and Patan, take a local bus or microbus to the Ratna Park/Kanthipath area. From there either walk north (20 minutes) or take a second bus up the ring road to north Thamel. From Boudha, buses depart from opposite Boudha Gate. The journey, which mostly follows the ring road, takes around 45 minutes and costs Rs40. Swayambhu is not the last stop, and so look out for a row of stupas on the left. This marks the stop for the monastery. From Pokhara, both public and tourist buses make stops on the Banasthali Ring Road or on Pushpalal path/Swayambhu Marg northwest of Thamel, from where you can get a local bus to near Thamel

必看景點

1 Swayambhunath (स्वय म्भू AKA the Monkey Temple), Manjushree Marg (2.6 km west of Thamel). 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. Foreigners: Rs200 for single entry; Rs750 for a multiple entry pass. (updated Mar 2026) 2 Freak Street (south of Kathmandu's Durbar Square). 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 o

體驗活動

Singing bowl workshops, there are several free singing bowl workshops in Thamel, one can be found on the third floor in an apartment near Kathmandu burger.

1 Baisdhara park, Balaju (West from Gongabu Bus Park). 2 National Table Tennis Training Center, Lainchaur Marg. 3 T U Cricket Stadium, T U, Kirtipur.

購物

Books Pilgrims Book House, Chaksibari Marg (Next to Kathmandu Guest House). It is the largest and most well-established English language bookshop in Kathmandu. They have great sections on Buddhism, including a whole room devoted to Vajrayana, as well as an encyclopedic selection on books devoted to subjects on Nepal. (updated Apr 2025) Tibet Book Store, Tridevi Marg (road running between Thamel and the palace). Great selection of books on all subjects, but specializes in books on Buddhism and Tibet studies. (updated Sep 2018) Second Hand: The alleys of Thamel are full of second-hand bookshops. Check around for a good price, as they do vary immensely. Return read books for 50% buyback or store credit. 1 Vajra Books, Amrit Marg (Jyatha, Thamel - close to Chikusa Café). Has huge selection of books on Buddhism, Nepal and Tibet studies. Trekking gear. Many stores in the area sell low quality trekking gear, haggle hard. a very cheap wholesaler can be found (with difficulty) upstairs across from "Hotel Himalayan oasis" on the south end of Chaksibari marg, haggle hard)

Handicrafts The streets, lanes, and alleys of Thamel are packed with handicraft stores. In particular, Cashmere shawls and scarves, Tibetan carpets, T-shirts, hippy clothes, and brass items are particularly common. Be aware of fake products, particularly cashmere, pashmina (which really just means wool), and silver. Also, avoid products sold as made from baby yak wool. This kind of wool does not exist, and it is just a marketing ploy. Most of the shops in Thamel sell exactly the same items, but there is a row of shops on Tridevi Sadakfor (the street leading from Thamel to the former palace) that offer more stylish and unique cashmere and pashmina goods. The shops below offer unique items:

Fair Circle, Thamel Marg 1, https://faircircleshop.com A large shop selling good quality and distinct hand-woven bags, scarfs, and shawls under the Woven label, a fair trade brand established to empower impoverish

美食

Local food can be found in Nepali restaurants for Rs70-100, street vendors sell steamed dumplings (momos) and fried food. Hygiene is usually very poor- even for Nepal.

Thamel

Ace Cafe and Bar. Good mix of Indian, Nepali and Western. Costs generally Rs50-120. On the first non-touristy street West of Thamel, across from the People's College. Alchemy. An Italian restaurant. Somewhat expensive for Thamel. Excellent Italian dishes and nothing else. Pizzas from Rs300 and pastas from Rs280. Cappuccinos. You get wine in 1/4 or 1/2 litre so suitable for dining alone or in two. It's about 100 m before Chetrapati Chowk. BK's French Fry heaven in Thamel. Opposite Funky Buddha Bar. Cafe Kaldi has a small menu with drinks, salads & snacks as well as free Wi-Fi for customers (please refrain from downloading anything as the connection is limited.) On Mandala Street, behind OR2K. Café Mitra Serves excellent European meals. It is expensive for Kathmandu, but the standard of the food more than makes up for this. 250/13 Thamel Marg. Cozy Restaurant. Good buffalo steak and chocolate banana pancakes. New place, relatively unknown, but excellent food. On the right as you walk down Tridevi Marg from Thamel Chowk, on the second story by an internet cafe. Meals Rs200-300. Electric Pagoda is a very eclectic bar on Satghumti Road. Specializes in Mexican cuisine and also offers local and continental dishes between Rs100-300. Easy going atmosphere with well rounded music and very friendly staff. Tuborg/Everest beer approximately Rs350. Everest Steak House. Traditional pre- or post-trekking feast: massive steaks costing about Rs300. Just off Chhetrapati, the pagoda-cum-roundabout. Fire & Ice. Popular with westerns for the excellent traditional Italian-style stone-baked pizzas, which are delicious (probably better than Roadhouse). Certainly pricier than mo