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  About Kathmandu

Kathmandu is a peaceful and serene city in Nepal that will take your breath away. It is the most accessible city in the country and also the capital of Nepal. Kathmandu is popular for its mountains and trekking activities. You can also buy all the trekking equipment you need here, in case you missed out on something. Durbar Squares in Kathmandu is one of the fascinating places and quite old, too. The city is home to over a million people and is at an altitude of 1400 metres. One of the specialities of Kathmandu is that the climate remains favourable throughout the year. You can plan a trip to Kathmandu whenever you want.

Along with lush greenery and a scenic view of the mountains, you will also find a lot of monasteries and temples here. This is the perfect place to embrace spirituality, and the natural beauty of the city makes tourists return to the city. Kathmandu also offers a few adventurous activities for tourists to try. The best part is that Nepal is a neighbouring country to India, and it is quite easy to reach the country.

Best Time to Visit Kathmandu

Late September to December, March and April are some of the best months to plan your trip to Kathmandu. The weather remains pleasant, and you will be treated to views of the glaciers. You will also get to attend the local festivals here. September to December is a high tourist season in Kathmandu and the temperature ranges from 20 to 26 degree Celsius during the day and drops to about 4 degree Celsius at night. The place is dry, and the weather does not affect any of your plans to try out outdoor activities. This is the best time for travellers to go out trekking and explore the city. Since this is a peak season for the city, make sure you book your hotel in Kathmandu several weeks in advance since they will be packed as the peak season approaches. You will also experience wildlife at its best here during these months. You will come across birds, monkeys, elephants, rhinos and more.

March to May is also an ideal time to head to Kathmandu. It is right before monsoon, and the weather is quite pleasant. However, there are high chances that it might rain once in a while during the spring season. The temperature ranges from 9 to 29 degree Celsius. One of the main reasons for you to visit Kathmandu during this season is to see a fully blossomed rhododendron, which only blooms this time of the year. You can also sign up for the Annapurna trek, one of the most famous treks in Nepal.

Kathmandu experiences winter from December to February, and it is a low tourist season for the city. The temperature ranges from 2 to 15 degree Celsius, and it gets really cold. If you are on a budget, this might be a decent time for you to visit the city. You will get cheap flight tickets to Kathmandu, and you'll also get a great deal on hotels. You can sign up for the Annapurna trek or Everest Base Camp if you are planning your trip in winter. You can also attend the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival in December. June to August is the summer season in Kathmandu and the temperature averages around 28 degree Celsius. Since there are high chances of rainfall, too, during this season, make sure you pack an umbrella.

Places to Visit in Kathmandu

While Kathmandu is known for its trekking trails and adventure sports, the city also has a lot of temples and religious sites that you can visit. The Boudhanath Stupa is a popular tourist spot. It is believed that if you circumambulate the stupa without any ill thoughts or ulterior motives, you not only receive good karma but also get a good chance to go to heaven. The Pashupatinath temple is a Hindu temple that is located across the banks of Bagmati River and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thamel is one of the most popular spots in the city that you can head to if you want to go on a shopping spree, enjoy delicious food at some of the cosy restaurants. It is also a WiFi zone, which is another reason why Thamel sees a lot of crowds. The Swayambhunath Temple is another important shrine, and it is believed that praying here will rid you of your sins. It is dedicated to Lord Buddha, and it has a lot of Buddhists and Tibetans visiting. The Kathmandu Durbar Square is where the Kings of Nepal sat and ruled. Half of the site collapsed because of the earthquake in 2015, but it has managed to retain its glory.

Garden of Dreams, also known as Swapna Bageecha, built by Kishore Narsingh in 1920 and has magnificent pavilions, pergolas, ponds and urns that draw tourists to the garden. You can go trekking to the Langtang National Park. It was established in 1976 and is the fourth national park in the country. It is about 32 km away from Kathmandu and is also connected to the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve, Tibet. Kumari Bahal is an ancient palace where a Kumari, who is the chosen Devi, lives. Built in the mid-1700s, the palace has an idol of Goddess Saraswati and also has a magnificent chariot to take the Kumari around the city. Taudaha lake is on the outskirts of Kathmandu and is the perfect place for birdwatchers. You can also go hiking at Phulchowki, which is the highest hill in Kathmandu Valley. You can also visit Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati temple that a lot of tourists visit. If you want to gamble a little bit, you can head over to Casino Royale in hotel Yeti & Yak. You can try your luck at slot machines or other gaming tables. You can also go hiking around Kathmandu and try out different trails.

Things to do in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is a popular place for travellers who love going on treks and hikes. If you are a nature lover, this is the perfect place for you. You can either book a hotel in Kathmandu overseeing the mountains or go camping. There are quite a lot of camping trips organised in the city, especially during the peak travel season. The city is popular for momos, and you will find yourself hogging momos all day long. Kathmandu is also known for its religious significance, and there are a lot of temples worth visiting here. You will get to explore and learn more about the culture and lifestyle of the locals. Head over to Thamel to shop for souvenirs, dine at some of the finest restaurants here and take a stroll just to have a nice evening.

Food and Restaurants in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is famous for momos, and you will find a lot of variety in it. You can choose between steamed and fried momos with either chicken or vegetables for stuffing. Tibetan and Indian cultures inspire a lot of cuisines. You will also find a lot of cuisines ranging from Indian, Oriental to European. You can head to Thamel to try a variety of cuisines at the restaurants here. You will find quite a few Indian restaurants here, especially in Thamel. If you want to try naans and Indian curries, Western Tandoori in Thamel is the perfect place. It is a small food joint, and the food here is extraordinary. OR2K serves the best vegetarian and vegan food. You will also find Middle Eastern cuisines on the menu here. If you are visiting any of the temples, most food joints and restaurants near them will only serve vegetarian food.

How to reach Kathmandu (Transportation)

Tribhuvan International Airport is named after the former King of Nepal, Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah. The flight connectivity to Kathmandu from India is excellent, especially since it is the neighbouring country. Vistara and Indigo have frequent flights to Kathmandu from India with a layover in Delhi. If you book your tickets well in advance, you might get cheap flight tickets to Kathmandu. If you are travelling to the city during the offseason, you might come across exciting flight deals to Kathmandu. Patna and Gorakhpur are some of the popular routes to Nepal by bus. You can also hire a taxi or a car to reach Nepal from India if you want to avoid travelling by bus. Though reaching Nepal by road is not the most popularly chosen way to travel since the permissions and formalities at the border might take a lot of time. Taking a flight to Kathmandu is not only time effective but is also quite convenient. You will get a taxi or a car rental service from the Kathmandu airport quite easily. Commuting within Kathmandu is also quite convenient. You can either opt for a cycle rickshaw or a regular rickshaw to get around the city.

  About Nepal Airlines

Nepal Airlines Corporation or formerly called Royal Nepal Airlines. It is the national flag carrier of Nepal. The airline was founded in 1958 and is known to be the oldest airline in the country. The airline's main base is at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. All domestic operations within Nepal take place from the airport. Nepal Airlines also has designated medium-haul services across Asia. Following its genesis, the airline roped in Douglas DC-3 for its domestic route operations. The airline also started serving a few Indian cities. Nepal Airlines brought in its first jet aircraft, a Boeing 727s, in 1972. As of 2019, the airline hosts a fleet of thirteen aircraft that includes an Airbus as well. In 2013, Nepal Airlines found itself on the list of European Union's banned air carriers. Due to the failure in meeting with the regulatory standards of the European Union, the airline has been banned from entering the EU airspace.

In the 1980s, Royal Nepal Airlines faced tremendous competition with Indian Airlines as the newest entrant in the aviation business. The two airlines also faced severe competition from other major airlines in the industry for market shares. These players included Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa, who provided a direct flight service from Kathmandu to Frankfurt in 1987. This special international route service was started in cooperation with Royal Nepal Airlines. Following this, various other airlines also opted to make such flight accommodations. The airlines connected to about 38 domestic route destinations and ten international cities as well. A direct flight flying to and from Nepal to Hong Kong were also chartered in 1988 where they used the Boeing 757. In the same year, the Civil Aviation Administration of China accommodated to provide a dedicated service between Kathmandu and Lhasa that is present in the autonomous province of Tibet. Between the year 1988-89, the airline reported revenue of USD54.3 million, producing a profit of USD17 million.

With the liberalisation of the country's domestic air market in 1992, new competitors such as Necon Air, Buddha Air, Sita Air, Everest Air, Yeti Airlines and Cosmic Air emerged. Nepal Airlines did undergo some losses due to which, the government of Nepal had to sell off about 49 per cent of its stakes in Nepal Airlines to a private sector and also give up on management control. The idea was to get the airline out of significant debt. In 2005, the airline's former chairman, Ramagya Chaturvedi was jailed over corruption charges. The airline witnessed quite a few accidents too. To ensure that there are no further casualties faced, the airline actually conducted a sacrificial ceremony to appease a Hindu god.

Interestingly, for an entire decade, Nepal Airlines didn't have any accidents or other technical concerns. In 2014, the airline also revealed a new livery consisting of the flag of Nepal on the tail. With this, they replaced the original red and blue stripes livery that was predominantly present on all aircraft.

Fleet size of Nepal Airlines

Established as Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, the airline started with one Douglas DC-3. The airline's services catered to domestic routes of Nepal with cities such as Simara, Pokhara. Simultaneously, Nepal Airlines also operated international routes of India with destinations such as Kolkata, Patna and Delhi. In 1961, the airline added Pilatus Porter STOL aircraft to its fleet followed by a Chinese Feng Shou-2 Harvesters in 1963. Although the airline started with a mixed fleet, in 1970, it acquired its first Hawker Siddeley HS-748 along with Twin Otters that joined in 1971. In 1972, the airline further added a Boeing 727 to its fleet. In 1987, the airline replaced its Boeing 757s with Boeing 727s. At the Dubai Airshow in 2009, Nepal Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding and acquired two Airbus A320-200 aircraft. The aircraft were acquired to operate flights to cities in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In 2015, Nepal Airlines acquired its first Airbus A320 aircraft called Sagarmatha. The same year, the airline acquired its second Airbus A320 called Lumbini, which landed in the capital city.

Following 2015, the passenger traffic witnessed a spike as the airline flew about 253,658 travellers. In comparison with the previous year, the passenger traffic witnessed a 22.87 per cent growth. Domestic passenger numbers also saw a growth as the airline catered to 42,535 travellers in 2015, a 21.06 growth compared to the previous year. After providing services for three whole decades, Nepal Airlines' Boeing 757-200 retired over non-profitable operations and an exorbitantly high maintenance costs. The aircraft was sold to BB Airways. Currently, Nepal Airlines has only two Airbus A320-200s and two A330-200s in its fleet. Plans to expand the airline's international presence and to connect to cities such as Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo with operations of wide-body jets, Nepal Airlines has been working on acquiring the same.

Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance of Nepal Airlines is quite decent. The airline has laid out a few rules and regulations that the passengers need to adhere to for a smooth transit. The hand baggage protocols include the weight of the baggage not to exceed 7 kg. The baggage dimensions that the passenger needs to follow should be no more than 22"x 18" x10". Additionally, the passenger can also carry a handbag or a laptop bag, etc., as part of the hand baggage. Senior citizens and physically disabled passengers can carry crutches. A special reservation is made for travellers with infants. The airline allows passengers with infants to carry a piece of extra baggage with baby products.

The checked baggage allowance varies according to the cabin class of the passengers. Travellers of business class are allowed a baggage allowance of 40 kg in Nepal Airlines. However, if the baggage exceeds the set range, the airline charges a certain tariff per kg. Similarly, the passengers travelling from the economy class are allowed a piece of free baggage of 30 kg. Interestingly, the baggage allowance by Nepal Airlines for flights to specific cities in India have different policies. While the flights to Mumbai and Bangalore have more baggage allowance, the same is restricted to cities such as Delhi and more. The range changes yet again for cities such as Doha, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and more. It is advised to carefully peruse through the airline's official website to get an idea of the final baggage allowance that can be carried by passengers. Flights to Osaka have a completely different baggage allowance as they allow about 50 kg for business class. As for the economy class, the airline offers 46 kg weight that cannot be exceeded. In-flight baggage weight should not be more than 10 kg, according to the airline's website.

In-flight services

Nepal Airlines offers phenomenal in-flight services. The airline offers exquisite and comfortable seating in both business class and economy class cabins. The services are also exemplary as there are dedicated stewards and stewardesses who help out passengers. The in-flight meal services witnessed in Nepal Airlines is also quite decent. You can pre-book your meal, or the airline would serve it as complimentary, depending on your ticket-type and the journey's duration. Each seat is equipped with a personal HD screen from which you can browse through entertainment content while you prepare for the journey. The airline also has dedicated lounge services for its business class passengers that are available at Tribhuvan International Airport, the hub of Nepal Airlines. Further, you can also request for specific meals onboard and receive assistance with respect to baggage and other such facilities.

Popular routes and top cities for Nepal Airlines

Nepal Airlines has excellent flight connectivity with international routes surrounding its neighbouring country, India. Some of the international destinations that Nepal Airlines caters to include Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Bangkok and Dubai. As for domestic routes, Nepal Airlines has a slew of destinations that it connects to within the country. These cities include Baglung, Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, Bhojpur, Dhangadhi, Dolpa, Jomsom, Jumla, Khotang Bazar, Lukla, Phaplu, Pokhara, Rara, Ramjatar, Simara, Simikot, Tulsipur, Tumlingtar and Nepalgunj, to name a few. Earlier, the airlines did cater to European cities such as Paris and Frankfurt along with London and Amsterdam, these services were terminated as the EU banned the airlines over failure to follow the EU protocols.

Why travel by Nepal Airlines?

Nepal Airlines has witnessed tremendous growth after several controversial incidents. Over the years, it has managed to grow as an airline that can match with competitions and surpass its contemporaries. With time, Nepal Airlines enhanced its domestic routes and international routes by adding more cities and connectivity. Simultaneously, they have also expanded their venture to cater to a more passenger-friendly service. The airline recently introduced a mobile app for passengers to use when travelling to Nepal. The airline's app has updated flight schedules of Nepal Airlines as well as the flight status. Not to mention, travellers can do web check-ins on the app and even book a Nepal Airlines flight. The flight tickets are also quite cheap and affordable.

  About Tribhuvan Airport

Tribhuvan International Airport is situated in the capital city of Kathmandu, in Nepal. The airport is named after the former King of Nepal, Tribhuvan Bi Bikram Shah. Currently, it is the only airport in Nepal that caters to international passenger traffic. Tribhuvan International Airport operates with a tabletop runway and two terminals. The airport also plays as a hub to two international airlines, including the flag carrier Himalaya Airlines and Nepal Airlines and many other Nepalese airlines too. Buddha Airlines also operates from Tribhuvan International Airport and connects with Indian cities. Currently, due to the passenger traffic and demand witnessed for the country, the Government of Nepal has planned to expand its capacity to the maximum. This is to ensure that traffic congestion is minimised. The works on additional international airports in Nepal such as Pokhara International Airport, Nijgadh International Airport and Gautam Buddha Airport have already commenced.

About Airport Terminals

There are currently two functioning public terminals at Tribhuvan International Airport. One of the terminals is dedicated to catering to domestic traffic while the other one is for international. A specific terminal dedicated to VIP guests is also available and is operated under the Government of Nepal. The space has international guests of the state arriving and are welcomed with enthusiasm. The airport also plans to expand further to add a terminal that would offer a base for helicopter transportation. The terminals also have Radisson Hotel Kathmandu's executive lounge that has been installed for first-class and business-class passengers of various airlines. Thai Airways also has an operational lounge which caters to their business-class passengers along with Star Alliance's gold card members. The airport has a single runway that sprawls across 10,990 ft with no distinguished instrument landing system.

About Airport Authority

Tribhuvan International Airport is owned by the Government of Nepal but is operated under the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. The independent body came into existence in 1998 and had its headquarters in Kathmandu. CAAN was earlier under the Ministry of Work, Communications and Transport from 1957. However, after the Civil Aviation Act was passed in 1996, the regulatory body was formed. CAAN takes care of various responsibilities such as new pilot licenses, certification of aerodromes, construction, management and operations of aerodromes, provision of air navigation services, to name a few. Further on this, the Government of Nepal is planning to establish a separate aircraft accident investigation unit as well.

Top airlines flying from Tribhuvan International Airport

Nepal's proximity to India has enabled a few dedicated flights and airlines operations from Tribhuvan International Airport. The Indian airlines that operate from Tribhuvan International Airport include Air India, IndiGo and Vistara. These flights are directly connected to Indian cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The airlines fly in and out of Kathmandu Airport regularly.

Along with Indian airlines, the airport also caters to several international destinations and airlines. It connects to about 17 countries and sees regular flight action from international airlines. Some of the important international airlines that operate from Tribhuvan International Airport are Air Arabia, Air China, Bhutan Airlines, Cathay Dragon, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Himalaya Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Nepal Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Sichuan Airlines, Silkair, Thai Airways, Tibet Airlines and Turkish Airlines. The connect to more than 40 international cities across the globe.

Tribhuvan International Airport also has airlines that provide mountain sightseeing flights, including Mount Everest sightseeing flights. Airlines such as Buddha Air, Simrik Airlines and Yeti Airlines offer these sightseeing flights daily. They usually depart early in the morning from the domestic terminal and return in an hour.

Facilities at Tribhuvan International Airport

WiFi - Tribhuvan International Airport offers free WiFi at the airport premise. It is present at the international terminal and ranges from departure to arrival sections. All one needs to do is to log in to the airport's WiFi connection and avail the benefits. There are two WiFi services present at the airport. To get access to the same, you can simply check out the airport's official website or speak to one of the information desks to get more details on the same.

Press rooms - An interesting highlight about Tribhuvan International Airport is the press room facility. They harbour two press rooms which can accommodate 30 and 40 persons respectively. It is mostly used to conduct press conferences and is perfect for global events and conferences. There is a podium as well as seats to handle the audience.

Post office - For immediate courier of documents and important letters from the airport, you can visit their post office too. It is located right within the airport and is ideal for emergency mail services.

Lounge and airport hotel - Although an airline-affiliated lounge is not present at the airport, it does have some interesting lounges. Thai Royal Silk Lounge, which is located at the departure hall of the international terminal building, is worth the indulgence. The place is quaint and has a character that would enhance a traveller's experience. The services provided are also top-notch. As for business travellers who are only travelling for professional purposes, a dedicated CIP Executive lounge is also available. You can find Radisson Hotel, also installed at the departure hall of the terminal building. In case you need to rest and freshen-up, you can book a room within the airport.

Hotel reservation booth - A dedicated hotel reservation booth is also installed at the airport to help travellers with the same. You can find the counter at the arrival hall of the airport. The booths have been set to help passengers to make hotel reservations or collect vouchers or hotel details of the ones they have booked. It is convenient and perfect for first-time travellers.

Nursing station - Nursing stations are clubbed with senior citizen rooms at Tribhuvan International Airport. It is called Senior Citizen & Breast-Feeding Room. Space has been installed to enable new mothers travelling with infants to use an area where they can feed the baby. Not to mention, space can also be used for other activities such as tending to the baby's hygiene, changing of diapers and more. Senior citizens can use the room to relax comfortably and even sleep a little if need be.

Baggage services - Facilities catering to baggage are also available at the airport. The baggage services include the wrapping of the luggage, baggage trolleys and porter facilities as well. Dedicated baggage counter can be found at the airport premise. It is located at the departure hall.

ATMs and foreign exchange - There is a slew of local as well as international bank branches present at the airport. In case you need to make any withdrawals or transfers or need to deposit money or exchange currency, you can make all of that happen at Tribhuvan International Airport. The essential services are available at the airport plus, the currency exchange rates offered by them are also quite reasonable and within budget.

Restaurants and cafe - You will find fine restaurants and dining experiences within the airport premise. You can find them at the terminal at both departure and arrival zones. Along with fine dining restaurants, the airport has also installed food courts and establishments that are affordable and easy on the pockets. Since a majority of backpackers and solo travellers travel to and from Tribhuvan International Airport, they have ensured to make the food experience be just as pocket-friendly.

Medical services - The airport offers impeccable medical services to cater to emergency cases that occur within the premise. There are dedicated first aid rooms and pharmacies at Tribhuvan International Airport. This also includes ambulance and other such medical-related services. You can approach the information desk or speak to the airport staff regarding the same if you're feeling under the weather. These services are provided by professionals of Kathmandu Medical College.

How to reach Tribhuvan International Airport

Tribhuvan International Airport is very close to the city centre. In fact, it is only about 6 km from the city centre and Thamel, the main tourist attraction. In just about 1 km from the airport is Pashupatinath Temple. Everything is close to the airport, which makes it easier to reach the Tribhuvan International Airport. You can take various modes of transport to reach Tribhuvan International Airport.

Taxicabs

Taxicabs are also available across the country and are the perfect way to reach Tribhuvan International Airport. However, the only flipside with the taxicab is that it is quite expensive.

Buses and minivans

Nepalis often use buses and minivans as a means to get around in the city. It is the most convenient and affordable ways to reach Tribhuvan International Airport as well. There are frequent buses from the city centre to the airport and other parts of the country. Another good way to reach would be to take up minivans. It is quite an experience as you can sit on top of it and enjoy the serenity of the Kathmandu valley. The minivans and buses will reach you to Pashupatinath Temple, which is less than a kilometre away from the airport. You can walk up to the airport right from the temple.