Kathmandu has been a beacon for travelers ever since Nepal first opened its borders to foreigners in the 1950s. The first visitors were geographers and mountaineers, who came here to survey and climb the
highest mountains on earth, but they were soon joined by hippies in search of the
ultimate Shangri-la at the end of the overland trail.
Travelers still come to Kathmandu in search of enlightenment, but these days, the hippies are joined by legions of
trekkers, clad in the latest Gore-Tex gear, and well-heeled tour groups, marveling at the
medieval temples and
palaces of old Kathmandu.
In Kathmandu, Internet
cafes and swish shops and restaurants stand side by side with centuries-old temples and statue-filled courtyards, particularly in the
old town, which stretches from Durbar Square to Thamel, the main hang-out for trekkers and backpackers.
Many of Kathmandu’s stunning temples and palaces were built during the
Malla dynasty from the 13th to 18th centuries, when Kathmandu competed with the rival city-states of Patan and Bhaktapur to build more and more lavish civic monuments. The three kingdoms were finally united under the
Shah dynasty in 1768.
In response to widespread corruption, the
Maoist wing of the Communist Party of Nepal declared a people’s war against the government and monarchy in 1996. Following the murder of King Birendra and nine other members of the Royal Family by Crown Prince Dipendra in 2001, the new king, Gyanendra, assumed direct control, leading to massive civil unrest.
Democracy was restored in 2006 and the Maoists declared a unilateral ceasefire, joining the mainstream political process. Maoist parties gained a massive majority in the 2008 elections, leading to the formal
abolition of the monarchy on 29 May 2008. Kathmandu now looks forward to a new future as the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Kathmandu Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Nepal Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
|
|
Nepal City Guides:
|
| Nepal Attraction Guides: |
|
|
Available Tours to Nepal:
-
iExplore Bhutan & Nepal Experience -
$2895,
10 days
-
iExplore Nepal Active -
$2425,
10 days
-
iExplore Nepal Active - Everest Base Camp -
$2895,
17 days
-
iExplore Nepal Experience -
$3355,
11 days
-
iExplore Nepal: Everest Base Camp -
$3695,
17 days
-
iExplore Nepal: Everest Heli-Trek -
$6395,
9 days
-
Annapurna Circuit -
$1610,
22 days
-
Annapurna, Chitwan & Everest -
$2230,
18 days
-
Delhi To Kathmandu -
$2420,
15 days
-
Everest Base Camp -
$1700,
18 days
-
Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes -
$1890,
21 days
-
Everest In Luxury -
$3120,
14 days
-
Everest Trails -
$1610,
14 days
-
High Passes Of Everest -
$2650,
23 days
-
Lhakpa Ri Ascent -
$8820,
24 days
|
