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Voykit pocket guide · Nepal
Bungmati
Bungamati
Half-day trip from Patan or Kathmandu: see the Rato Machhendranath Temple, watch woodcarvers, and walk to Khokana. Not a base.
Bungmati is a Newar village 10 km south of Kathmandu, known for its woodcarving workshops and the Rato Machhendranath Temple. The village is compact: you can see the main temple, watch carvers at work, and walk to the neighbouring village of Khokana in half a day. Most visitors come from Patan or Kathmandu as a day trip.
- Country
- Nepal
- Local name
- Bungamati
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NPR
- Money
- NPR in small notes (100s and 500s) for taxis, tea shops and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 1,500–3,000 · Mid Rs 3,000–6,000 · High Rs 6,000+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell sell tourist SIMs at Kathmandu airport and in town with passport and a photo.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance 102 · Tourist police 1144
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round-pin sockets; a universal adapter covers them. Treks charge for device charging.
- Tipping
- Trekking guide: About 10–15% of the guide's total fee, at the end.; Porter: US$5–10 a day, at the end, in person.; Restaurant: Round up if 10% service is added; 5–10% if not.; Driver day: Rs 500–1,000.; Hotel staff: Rs 100–200.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Use filtered refill stations (Rs 50–100 a litre) or purification tablets; buying plastic bottles on treks leaves rubbish in the mountains.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug elsewhere. Carry tissue; on treks toilets are outside and freeze in winter.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus from Patan (Lagankhel) to Bungmati | Rs 50 |
| Taxi from Patan to Bungmati | Rs 800–1,200 |
| Wood carving (small piece) | Rs 500–2,000 |
| Tea at a local shop | Rs 20–50 |
| Dal bhat (meal) | Rs 200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KTM · Tribhuvan International Airport
- About 45 min by taxi, depending on traffic
Typical fares
- Bus Patan (Lagankhel) → Bungmati
- about Rs 50, 30–60 min (check)
- Taxi Patan → Bungmati
- Rs 800–1,200, about 20 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk: the village is small and all sights are within a 15-minute walk. A paved road connects Bungmati to Khokana (20 min on foot).
See and do
Known for
- Woodcarving workshops
- Rato Machhendranath Temple
- Traditional Newar houses
- Karya Binayak Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Khokana | Walk 20 min south on the paved road | 20 min |
| Patan | Bus from Lagankhel (30–60 min) or taxi (20 min) | 30–60 min |
| Kathmandu | Bus via Patan or taxi (45 min–1 h) | 45–60 min |
Sleep
- Bungmati village
- A few guesthouses; basic but quiet. Most visitors sleep in Patan or Kathmandu.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavād |
| How much? | कति?kati |
| Yes / No | हो / होइनho / hoina |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste with palms together; a handshake between men in business; avoid: Hugging or kissing in public
- Temples and stupas: Walk clockwise, spin prayer wheels clockwise, shoes off at shrines; avoid: Touching offerings; entering Hindu-only areas
- Food: Right hand, accept refills gracefully; avoid: Sharing food you have bitten; stepping over food
- Feet and heads: Keep feet flat and away from people and altars; avoid: Touching anyone's head
- Photos: Ask first; offer to show the picture; avoid: Photographing cremations or rituals without permission
- On the trail: Pass mani walls and chortens on the left (keeping them on your right); give way to yaks on the mountain side; avoid: Standing on the drop side when animals pass
Scams and watch-outs
- The bus from Patan's Lagankhel station can be crowded; allow up to an hour.
- Woodcarving workshops are on the ground floor of houses; ask before photographing.
- Temples may close during festivals; check locally.
Bungmati is safe. Watch for uneven stone streets and open drains. The bus from Patan can be crowded; keep your bag close.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bungmati yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Woodcarving workshops
- Rato Machhendranath Temple
- Traditional Newar houses
- Karya Binayak Temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bungmati, revision 4730631 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4730631
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bungmati). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.