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Voykit pocket guide · Nepal
Kirtipur
किर्तिपुर
Stay one night in Kirtipur for a quiet hill‑town base; a half‑day covers the main temples and the Chandragiri cable‑car.
Kirtipur sits 5 km southwest of Kathmandu on a 1,300‑1,500 m hill. Its historic temples and views from Chandragiri Hills are reachable on foot, making a single night sufficient for most visitors.
- Country
- Nepal
- Local name
- किर्तिपुर
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 US$15–25 excl. bed · Mid US$30–45 excl. bed (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 |
|---|---|
| Tea with milk (chai) | ₨30–50 |
| Momo (steamed dumplings) | ₨80–150 |
| Taxi within valley (per km) | ₨30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KTM · Tribhuvan International Airport
- Main international gateway for Kathmandu Valley, about 15 km (9.3 mi) east of KirtipurMain international gateway for Kathmandu Valley, about 9.3 mi (15 km) east of Kirtipur
Typical fares
- Bus Kathmandu → Kirtipur
- ≈ ₨50, 30 min (check)
- Taxi Kathmandu → Kirtipur
- ≈ ₨500–1,000, 30 min (negotiable)
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
All sights within the town are walkable; reach the town by bus (≈30 min, <₨50), taxi (₨500‑1,000) or bike (≈1 h).
See and do
Known for
- Uma Maheshwar Temple
- Bagh Bhairab Temple
- Chandragiri Hills cable car
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chandragiri Hills | Cable‑car from Chandragiri (bus or taxi from Kirtipur, ≈30 min) | ≈1 h total |
| Patan Durbar Square | Walk across Bagmati River westward, ≈2 h | ≈2 h |
| Kathmandu | Bus from Ratna Park, ≈30 min | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Kirtipur Hillside Hotel
- Rooms with bathroom US$20, without bathroom US$15; good Wi‑Fi.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ गर्नुहोस्maaf garnuhos |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyabaad |
| How much is this? | यो कति पर्छ?yo kati parchha? |
| Can I pay by card? | के म कार्डले तिर्न सक्छु?ke ma card le tirna sakchu? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ छ?shauchalaya kaha cha? |
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
- Taxi fares are negotiable; confirm price before boarding.
- Cable‑car tickets not listed; check the operator site for current rates.
Generally safe; keep valuables secure and be aware of traffic when crossing the Bagmati River.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kirtipur yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Uma Maheshwar Temple
- Bagh Bhairab Temple
- Chandragiri Hills cable car
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: Kirtipur, revision 5253972 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5253972
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kirtipur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.