Photos: Georgia Popplewell
Kathmandu is the capital and most populous city in Nepal (population 1.4 million approx.), and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. The city is located in the Kathmandu Valley in central Nepal at an altitude of about 1,400 m (4,600 ft). Nepal's economic and cultural centre, Kathmandu is a vibrant city with a multi-ethnic population and a rich heritage of art and architecture dating back centuries. Numerous religious and cultural festivals are celebrated throughout the year.
Nepal at a glance
Time zone: UTC + 5:45
Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
Population: 29,651,054 est.
Official languages: Nepali is the official language, but several other languages hold semi-official or indigenous status, including Newar, Tharu, Kurukh and Santali, as does English, which is widely spoken in Kathmandu.
Getting to Kathmandu
Visitors arriving in Kathmandu by air will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), located about 7km from the city centre.
Visa requirements
Most international visitors can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at the airport—see the Nepal Department of Immigration page for information and exceptions. Pre-fill your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online here to speed up the process at the airport.
Climate
Kathamandu has a subtropical climate. Temperatures in December typically range between 5°C and 19°C, so bring your layers!
Books about Nepal
Want to read up on Nepal before the Summit? Here are a few recommendations available in English:
Non-fiction
- Kathmandu by Thomas Bell. A rich, fascinating portrait of Patan and Kathmandu and their most recent history, from the royal massacre to the Maoist civil war.
- The Nepal Nexus: An Inside Account of the Maoists, the Durbar and New Delhi by Sudheer Sharma. An excellent introduction to Nepal’s contemporary history and political life.
- All Roads Lead North: Nepal's Turn to China by Amish Raj Mulmi. A rigorously researched examination of “the histories that tie remote Himalayan communities to each other” and the rise of China as a global power.
- Himalaya A Human History by Ed Douglas. A sweeping view of Himalayan history that places Nepal at the center of this cultural, religious, trade and geopolitical narrative.
- Massacre at the Palace by Jonathan Gregson / Love and Death in Kathmandu by Amy Willesee. Two accounts of the massacre of nine members of the Nepalese royal family by the then-crown prince that shook Nepal in 2002.
- The Bullet and the Ballot Box: The Story of Nepal's Maoist Revolution by Aditya Adhikari.
Fiction
This section covers various geographic and linguistic realms, including literature originally written in Nepali, English and other languages by authors from different ethnic groups living in Nepal; literature by ethnic Nepalis living in India; and literature emerging from the Nepali diaspora, usually written in English by authors living in Australia, North America or Europe. Nepali and Indian literature maintain a strong literary dialogue and influence each other.
Novels
- The Wayward Daughter, by Shradha Ghale
- The Vanishing Act by Prawin Adhikari
- We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama
- There’s a Carnival Today by Indra Bahadur Rai
- The Woman Who Climbed Trees by Smriti Ravindra
- The Tutor of History by Manjushree Thapa
- Arresting God in Kathmandu by Samrat Upadhyay
- Buddha’s Orphans by Samrat Upadhyay
- Palpasa Café by Narayan Wagle
- Karnali Blues by Buddhisagar
- Blue Mimosa by Parujit
Short stories
- Leech and Other Stories by Ranjan Adiga
- The Gurkha’s Daughter: Stories by Prajwal Parajuly
- City of Dreams: Stories by Pranaya SJB Rana
