How to Spend 12 Hours in Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Nepal

A crowd gathers around the rear of the car in the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. The door opens and a body swathed in orange is lifted deferentially from the rear and slowly carried to the side of the Bagmati River. Tourists congregate on the opposite bank, trying to keep a respectful distance, but curious to understand more of this ritual. The mourners place the body on the top of the stairs leading down to the river. Then, begins an elaborate ritual that involves placing garlands of marigolds around various body parts. They hoist the body into the air and carry it to the water’s edge. It seems morbid and grim to be spectating at such an event however it is a fascinating insight into Nepalese life and a must-do if you wish to experience an amazing 12 hours in Kathmandu.

It is worth bartering with a taxi driver to agree on a price for the day so that you can easily visit several attractions. We paid around $25 to travel between a few destinations from the Lonely Planet guide and also got a little history lesson from our driver in the process. You can do organised tours but I often find them expensive and too intense. I like to take things at my own pace so would much prefer to DIY a trip. Then, you can depart at a time to suit you and spend as much or as little time at each place as you like. You will, of course, need to be selective if you have only 12 hours in Kathmandu as traffic is chaotic and sights can be widespread. These sights are relatively close to one another meaning little drive time. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).