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.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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.
How much time do you have?
Room to linger: a typical visit is 20 min, people who stay on take up to 30.
With the other 10 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Kathmandu Durbar Square2 min on foot · 8 min spare
- Tea and sweets3 min on foot · 7 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
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
Which month is quietest
- Janbusy
- Febbusy
- Marbusy
- Aprbusy
- Maybusy
- Junlight
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Sepbusy
- Octpacked
- Novpacked
- Decheavy
Quietest Jun–Aug · busiest Oct–Nov.
Estimate: desk reasoning from season and weekend patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
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)
What to have on you
- Clothing that meets the dress ruleModest; shoulders and knees covered.
- Footwear that suits the ruleShoes off as signed.
- A small bagSmall bags only.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
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