Place · Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kumari Gharकुमारी घर
The palace of the living goddess, with a carved wooden courtyard: 15–20 minutes, quiet, with strict rules about photography and behaviour.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 15–20 min
- p95 30 min
- Price
- Included with the square ticket
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Best time
- 06:00
- desk crowd estimate
- 28″ bags
- No
- Kathmandu Durbar Square: forbidden
- Getting there
- Beside the south end of Durbar Square (Basantapur)
- Living goddess
- Carved wooden courtyard
- Basantapur
- Shoes off inside
- Works with kids
- Hard in a wheelchair
- Mostly indoors
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with …
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Nepal ↗Get visa information only from the Department of Immigration; visa-service lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Nepal ↗At stupas walk clockwise; at temples and homes remove shoes where there is a rack or a raised floor; cover shoulders and knees.
- Nepal ↗Carry Nepalese rupees in small notes: many stalls, taxis and tea shops are cash-only, and shops rarely take foreign notes.
- Nepal ↗Strikes (bandh) and protests can close roads without notice: check the news and your hotel the night before any airport or highway day.
- Kathmandu Valley ↗In the dry season (Nov–Apr) the valley fills with haze and dust: viewpoints often show nothing after 09:00, so go at dawn or skip.
- Kathmandu ↗Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with motorbikes: taxis stop at the edge, so large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Kathmandu ↗Dust and smoke haze is worst around Feb–Apr and can linger in winter: carry a mask rated for fine particles on walking days and move long walks to the clearest morning.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 06:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: Included with the square ticket (check) (2026 estimate)
- Time to spend
- 15–20 min · up to 30 min if you linger
Know before you go
- Do not photograph the Kumari.
- Keep quiet and respectful.
- Check whether the goddess appears at the window at set times.
- Look up at the carved windows and struts.
Best time of day
Plan 15–20 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends and public holidays
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
10min
Worthwhile
15min
Typical
20min
p95
30min
Opening days and hours not printed until verified.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Entry may be part of the square ticket (check); donations are welcome.
- Dress code
- Modest; shoulders and knees covered.
- Bags & lockers
- Small bags only.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None.
- Photos
- No photos of the Kumari; photos of the courtyard are usually fine.
- What's closed
- Festival dayscheckIndra Jatra brings the Kumari out in a chariot; the house is busy.
- Visitor hourscheckHours are limited; check with your hotel.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Included with the square ticket (check) (2026 estimate) | A small donation is welcome. |
Inside, in order
Courtyard
10 minA three-storey carved wooden building around a small yard.
Window view
5 minThe goddess may appear at set times; do not photograph.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Beside the south end of Durbar Square (Basantapur)
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- unknown
- Shoes
- Shoes off as signed.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Quiet mornings; the goddess appears at a window at set times (check).
- Sensory load
- 2/5
- Exposure
- low
Bailouts
crowd
Durbar Square lanes
heat
Café at Basantapur
Nearest rescue anchor: A — north-west of the cluster: café or restaurant with seating (field-verify)
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: no · no
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: no · no
- Wheelchair: no · no
- Stroller: no · nopoor
Steep, narrow stairs into the courtyard.
Step-free route
- 1Not accessible: steep, narrow stairs.
- 2View the exterior from the square instead.
Combine with
- 2 minKathmandu Durbar Square
- 3 minTea and sweets · eat
Walk the Kathmandu Durbar Square area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Carved wooden windows | Morning | Do not photograph the Kumari. |
Red lines
- Do not photograph the Kumari at the window; it is forbidden.
- Enter quietly; remove shoes if asked.
- Leave a small donation only in the box provided.
More on the groundFacilities · Who it suits · Skip it if · With kids
With kids
- with kids
- A short visit; keep voices low.
- child price
- check
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | no | None inside; nearby public toilets. |
| Lockers or cloakroom | no | None. |
| Café or food | no | Cafés at Basantapur nearby. |
| Seating | no | None. |
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Culture travellers | good | A window on a living tradition. |
| Photographers | ok | Carved wood; the goddess cannot be photographed. |
Skip it if
- You have only a few minutes and want the main square.
- Steps are a barrier.
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Who is the Kumari?
A young girl regarded as the incarnation of a goddess, chosen from the Newar community.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I take photos?
Not of the Kumari; ask staff about the courtyard.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it free?
It may be included in the square ticket; donations welcome.
How long do I need?
About 15–20 minutes.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage