Kathmandu
Kathmandu
has been the home of Newar culture, a cosmopolitan urban civilization in the Himalayan foothills. The city was the royal capital of the Kingdom of Nepal and hosts palaces, mansions and gardens of the Nepalese aristocracy. Today, it is the seat of government of the Nepalese republic established in 2008; and is part of the province 3 in Nepalese administrative geography.
Kathmandu has been the center of
Nepal's history, art, culture and economy. It has a multiethnic population
within a Hindu and Buddhist majority. Religious and cultural festivities form a
major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu. Tourism is an
important part of the economy as the city is the gateway to the Nepalese
Himalayas. There are also seven casinos in the city.Fell
According to a census conducted in
2011, Kathmandu metropolis alone has 2.5 million inhabitants. The metropolitan
city area is 50.67 square kilometres (19.56 sq mi) and has a population density
of 3000per km² and 17000 per km square in city
The city stands at an elevation of
approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley of
central Nepal. It is surrounded by four major mountains: Shivapuri, Phulchoki,
Nagarjun, and Chandragiri. Kathmandu Valley is part of three districts
(Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur), has the highest population density in the
country, and is home to about a twelfth of Nepal's population.
Kathmandu is the gateway to tourism in
Nepal. It has the most advanced infrastructure of any urban area in Nepal, and
its economy is focused on tourism, which accounted for 3.8% of Nepal's GDP in 1995–96.
Tourism in Kathmandu declined thereafter during a period of political unrest,
but since then has improved. In 2013, Kathmandu was ranked third among the top
10 travel destinations on the rise in the world by TripAdvisor,and ranked first
in Asia.
Weather
Kathmandu Valley is in the Warm Temperate Zone of Nepal
(elevation ranging from 1,200–2,300 metres (3,900–7,500 ft)), where the climate
is fairly temperate, atypical for the region. This zone is followed by the Cool
Temperate Zone with elevation varying between 2,100–3,300 metres (6,900–10,800
ft). Portions of the city with lower elevations have a humid subtropical
climate, while portions of the city with higher elevations generally have a
subtropical highland climate.
The city generally has a climate with warm days
followed by cool nights and mornings. Unpredictable weather is expected given
temperatures can drop to 3 °C (37 °F) during the winter. During a 2013 cold
front, the winter temperatures of Kathmandu dropped to −4 °C (25 °F), and the
coldest temperature was recorded in January 10, 2013 at −9.2 °C (15.4 °F).
Rainfall is mostly monsoon-based (about 65% of the total concentrated during
the monsoon months of June to August), and decreases substantially (100 to 200
cm (39 to 79 in)) from eastern Nepal to western Nepal. Get Around To
If you fly in, be sure to pick up a free Katmandu Valley map
at the airport. The first thing some visitors notice about Kathmandu is the
general lack of street names except for major roads such as Tri Devi & Ring
Road (loops around the city) & address numbers. In most cases directions
are given relative to the nearest chowk
or tole or a noteworthy location
or building.By foot
It is possible to get around Kathmandu by foot, but it is not always a pleasant walk & you may want to consider a public transportation for anything more than wandering around a specific area.
By rickshaw
Rickshaws can be found around the tourist area of Thamel and
taxis are everywhere. All taxis have meters which should be used - simply say
'no meter no pay' if the driver refuses to use the meter and move to the next
taxi. Before 9pm rates start at NPR14 and after 9pm they are 21NPR. If a driver
uses his meter it is courteous to tip. Alternatively, negotiate a price before
you get in a taxi or Rickshaw. A negotiated price will typically be two to
three times the metered rate unless you are a very good negotiator! Prices go
up after dark (see above) and in less busy areas. Taxis are easy to find; they
park near all major streets & have fare-meters. After 22:00 it can be very
difficult to find taxis away from central tourist areas or major hotels. It
should be possible to hire a taxi for 300rs one-way to Patan & 800-1,200 rs
to Bakhtapur from Thamel or the airport. For longer trips & to hire a taxi
by the day negotiate with the driver. Haggle hard; you will easily find another
driver if you are not satisfied. The meter is always your best bet if you are
not confident enough to negotiate. However it should be avoided if the driver
suggests using it, as it is probably fixed and will overcharge you. After 11PM,
taxis can be harder to find outside Thamel.
By buses & coaches
There are also buses for longer trips within the
valley, ie Patan, Bakhtapur, Boudha, etc. that can be used for trips in &
around around town. See below for tips on traveling outside of the valley. Blue
buses & green buses
constantly drive in circles/loops around the city on "Ring Road" -
for 20 to 35rps - depending on the distance. Every bus has a cashier/attendant
who can tell you where it stops & alert you upon arrival. Riding the buses with
the local people can be very pleasant & interesting but at the same time it
is confusing as well as there are no proper signboards for navigating around.
The buses are typically very old and rough. Local people are usually very
friendly and helpful in case you are confused during the excursion. Having 5
and 10 rupee notes can be very helpful. From Thamel, it is about 1.5km walk to
the Ring Road, and you can take the bus for many of the main attractions,
saving money of a taxi/rickshaw.
Its the Khathmundu Temple so u can travel this place.
Map
Kathmandu is one of the world's tour places. places
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