Kathmandu is relatively small and very compact with
almost endless opportunities for walks both within the city and further a field
to other parts of the valley
This triangular walk starts and finishes at Durbar Square and takes you past Singha Durbar and Narayan Hiti, the Royal Palace. Allow 2 1/2 hrs.
South of Hanuman Dhoka, the old Royal Palace, generation, leads off the square to the southeast. In contrast, New Road (Juddha Sadak) proceeds to the east and, lined with fashionable stores and supermarkets, is the city’s upmarket shopping area. Continue along here, passing through the large and decorative Juddha gate (named after the man responsible for rebuilding this district after the 1934 earthquake) to the end where the road meets Kantipath, with the green expanse of the Tundikhel opposite. This is used by the army for drill and physical exercise in the mornings.
Turn right (south) down Kantipath, then left (east). You pass the Martyr’s Gate in a roundabout on Prithvipath. Continue along here for 200m and you arrive at the crossing with Ramshahpath. Opposite is Singha Durbar, the magnificent former Rana palace, now headquarters to several government departments and the site of the Supreme Court. You can wander around the grounds and if you can manage to get inside, you can get a taste of this palace’s former splendour.
Proceed north along the busy Ramshahpath. The first major crossroads you reach is that of Bagh Bazaar to your left and Dilli Bazaar on your right which leads eventually to the airport. Both are busy market areas where traditional life thrives. Continuing north through the Kamaladi and Kamal Pokhari areas and along Hattisar, the road meets the eastern continuation of Tridevi Marg. Turn left (west) and, after 5 rains, you reach
Narayan Hiti, the Royal Palace. The modern palace you can see from the southern
side was built for the wedding of the present king, while the name of the complex
comes from a small spring in the western part of the grounds. (If you walk a
little further west, at the junction of Tridevi and Durbar Margs is the Keshar
Library, in the HMG Ministry of Education complex. The trees lining either side
of Kantipath, to the west of the Royal Palace, are home to thousands of giant
bats, an unusually impressive sight.) Returning to the southern entrance of
the Royal Palace, turn right (south) down Durbar Marg, where there are several
opportunities for a good tea break. At the first roundabout where an imposing
statue of King Mahendra stands tall, turn right (southwest) along Jamal Road.
Continue in a southwest direction along this road. On your left is Rani Pokhari.
Cross Kantipath. This is the ancient trading route and oldest artery of the
city (leading to/from the Kasthamandap). You then pass through the Asan and
Indra, Chowk market areas with numerous small temples, stupors and shrines on
either side of the road. Just beyond Indra Chowk, you enter Durbar Square from
the northeast, with the magnificent Taleju Mandir ahead of you.