Thamel

Thamel is the vibrant tourist heart of Kathmandu, a compact warren of narrow streets in the north of the old city that has served as the main hub for travellers to Nepal for decades. Once a quiet residential quarter, it grew from the 1970s hippie trail into a dense concentration of hotels, restaurants, shops and trekking outfitters.

The district is all energy and colour. Its lanes are packed with stores selling trekking gear, pashminas, singing bowls, thangka paintings, handicrafts and outdoor equipment, alongside bakeries, bars, bookshops and eateries serving everything from Nepali dal bhat to international cuisine. Rickshaws, motorbikes and pedestrians share the tight streets, and signboards and prayer flags crowd overhead.

What makes it central to a trip is its role as a base camp for the country's adventures. Trekking and expedition agencies cluster here, arranging permits, guides and porters for the Everest and Annapurna regions, so it is where many journeys into the Himalaya are planned and where they end in celebration.

For visitors, Thamel offers convenience and atmosphere, with accommodation for every budget and easy access to the historic Durbar Square and the old bazaars of Asan and Indra Chowk nearby. Bargaining is expected in the shops, and the area is walkable, though the crowds and traffic can be intense. Some streets have been partly pedestrianised in the evenings, when the district is at its liveliest. It is a place to gather supplies, swap trail stories and enjoy a hot meal rather than to seek monuments. For travellers arriving in Nepal, Thamel is almost always the first and most useful port of call, a lively introduction to Kathmandu.