Kathmandu Valley
Nepal's cultural heart: seven UNESCO World Heritage monument zones packed into one valley, from royal squares to ancient stupas.
The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, covering seven monument zones: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, and Changu Narayan Temple. Each site can realistically be visited on its own half-day trip, so most travelers base themselves in Kathmandu or Patan and move between them.
Things to do in the valley
Walk Kathmandu Durbar Square at dawn
Before the crowds arrive, when the temple bells and pigeons have the square to themselves.
Circle Boudhanath Stupa
One of the largest stupas in the world, and a living center of Tibetan Buddhist life in the city.
Getting between the durbar squares
Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur durbar squares are each a short taxi or local bus ride apart.