Kathmandu
Capital of Nepal
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and has a population of about 846,000 people as of 2021. Visitors are drawn to the city by its many UNESCO sights, including Kathmandu Valley and several historic squares and temples.
What to see
The city features several UNESCO locations grouped across the area. Visitors can explore the Kathmandu Valley, along with specific cultural and religious sites such as Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath, Boudha Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar Square.
When to go
January sees daily highs of 16 °C and lows of 6 °C with 19 mm of rain on about 1 day, while February brings highs of 18 °C and lows of 7 °C with 24 mm of rain on about 2 days. March records highs of 22 °C and lows of 10 °C with 32 mm of rain on about 6 days, and April has highs of 25 °C and lows of 13 °C with 52 mm of rain on about 11 days. May reaches highs of 26 °C and lows of 16 °C with 122 mm of rain on about 19 days. June experiences highs of 26 °C and lows of 19 °C with 234 mm of rain on about 23 days. July brings highs of 25 °C and lows of 20 °C with 450 mm of rain on about 28 days, and August has highs of 26 °C and lows of 20 °C with 411 mm of rain on about 27 days. September records highs of 25 °C and lows of 18 °C with 265 mm of rain on about 22 days. October sees highs of 23 °C and lows of 15 °C with 56 mm of rain on about 8 days. November brings highs of 20 °C and lows of 11 °C with 8 mm of rain on about 0 days. December records highs of 17 °C and lows of 8 °C with 11 mm of rain on about 1 day.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Tribhuvan International Airport, located 4 km from Kathmandu.
Top sights in Kathmandu
Weather by month
The warmest month is June, with an average high of 26 °C. The wettest is July, with about 450 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 16 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 17 |
| Average low, °C | 6 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| Rainfall, mm | 19 | 24 | 32 | 52 | 122 | 234 | 450 | 411 | 265 | 56 | 8 | 11 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 19 | 23 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Kathmandu (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Garden of Dreams
- Guhyeshwari Temple
- Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling
- Kasthamandap
- Narayanhiti Palace Museum
- Thamel