The seven UNESCO sites of the Kathmandu Valley

UNESCO inscribed these seven monument zones together in 1979. Each guide covers what's there, what it costs and how to visit with respect. To see them with a guide, compare our Kathmandu UNESCO tours.

Tiered gold temple roofs at Pashupatinath above white shrines, with a large crowd below
Pashupatinath
ThamelAirportRiverMain roadSwayambhunath, Buddhist stupa1SwayambhunathKathmandu Durbar Square, Royal square2Kathmandu Durbar SquarePatan Durbar Square, Royal square3Patan Durbar SquareBhaktapur Durbar Square, Royal square4Bhaktapur Durbar SquareChangu Narayan, Hindu temple5Changu NarayanBoudhanath, Buddhist stupa6BoudhanathPashupatinath, Hindu temple7Pashupatinath
Dots show each site's location. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open the full map, with fees and a free PDF

The seven monument zones

  • Swayambhunath stupa with its gold spire and prayer flags, with shrines around the dome and the city below

    Swayambhunath

    Swayambhunath guide: the disputed step count, the road to the top, history from Manadeva to Pratap Malla, 2015 damage, monkeys and a route around the hilltop.

  • Tiered temple roofs with red cloth trim and pigeons flying over them in old Kathmandu

    Kathmandu Durbar Square

    Kathmandu Durbar Square guide with Malla and Shah history, named temples and courtyards, what the 2015 earthquake destroyed, and a walking route.

  • Looking down on a brick-paved street through old Patan, lined with tiled roofs and people walking

    Patan Durbar Square

    Patan Durbar Square guide with Malla kings and dates, Krishna Mandir, the Patan Museum, which temples were rebuilt after 2015, and a walking route.

  • The five-tiered Nyatapola Temple framed by a window, with two people in silhouette looking out

    Bhaktapur Durbar Square

    Bhaktapur Durbar Square guide with the 55 Window Palace, Golden Gate, Nyatapola, rebuilding after 2015, conflicting dates and a walking route.

  • Brightly painted carved figures on the brick and timber wall of the Changu Narayan temple

    Changu Narayan

    Changu Narayan guide with the 464 AD inscription, the Garuda and Vishnu statues, the 2018 reopening, festivals, how to get there and how long to stay.

  • The white dome and gold spire of Boudhanath stupa with long strings of prayer flags, and people walking on the platform

    Boudhanath

    Boudhanath guide: the founding stories, the 2016 reopening after the earthquake, how to walk the kora, monasteries nearby, and the best time of day.

  • Tiered gold temple roofs at Pashupatinath above white shrines, with a large crowd below

    Pashupatinath Temple

    Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu is a Hindu temple to Shiva. See who can go in, what non-Hindus can visit, history, festivals and how to behave.

More places on our tours

  • A small red and gold Ganesh temple at the Asan crossroads, with shoppers and market umbrellas around it

    Asan Bazaar

    Asan bazaar Kathmandu guide: the old market square where six streets meet, the Annapurna temple, the 2015 earthquake, crowds, vendor bans and how to get there.

  • A tiered brick temple building rising above the old houses of Bungamati under a cloudy sky

    Bungamati

    Bungamati guide: a Newar town south of Patan, the Rato Machhindranath temple, its long and disputed rebuilding after 2015, wood carving and how to get there.

  • A red cable car cabin high above the spread of the Kathmandu Valley

    Chandragiri Hills

    Chandragiri Hills guide: the 2,551 m hilltop near Thankot, Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, the Prithvi Narayan Shah story, what can go wrong and how to get there.

  • The Dakshinkali temple complex in a wooded gorge, with crowds of worshippers and prayer flags

    Dakshinkali Temple

    Dakshinkali Temple guide: the Kali shrine south of Kathmandu near Pharping, its Tuesday and Saturday sacrifices, rules for visitors, and how to get there.

  • A flower pattern laid on the ground in front of a white neo-classical pavilion in the Garden of Dreams

    Garden of Dreams

    Garden of Dreams Kathmandu guide: the 1920s Rana garden by Thamel, its Austrian-backed restoration, hours, NPR 400 entry fee, rules, café and what's nearby.

  • Green and gold fields around Khokana with morning mist below the hills

    Khokana

    Khokana guide: a Newar village south of Patan known for mustard oil, the Rudrayani temple rebuild after 2015, the Fast Track dispute and how to get there.

  • Tiered temple roofs with red cloth trim and pigeons flying over them in old Kathmandu

    Kumari Ghar

    Kumari Ghar in Kathmandu is the home of the living goddess. Learn its history, the rules for visitors, why not to photograph her and its repair status.

  • Snow peaks of the Himalaya rising above forested hills and a hotel at Nagarkot

    Nagarkot

    Nagarkot guide: where this ridge village is, its height, what you can really see, the 2015 earthquake, the disputed tourist fee and how to get there.

  • The gold-roofed Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery on the hilltop at Namo Buddha

    Namo Buddha

    Namo Buddha monastery guide: the tigress legend, the stupa, drive time from Kathmandu, the Dhulikhel hike, etiquette, food and how to plan a day trip.

  • The tall entrance tower and pagoda-roofed gateway of Narayanhiti Palace behind trees, with hills beyond the city

    Narayanhiti Palace Museum

    Narayanhiti Palace Museum guide: the Shah kings' former palace, the 2001 royal massacre site, ticket prices, opening days, camera rules and getting there.

  • A wide Thamel street at night, lit by shop signs and strings of lights

    Thamel

    Thamel guide: how this Kathmandu tourist district grew, what's worth seeing, the noise, touts and traffic ban that doesn't really work, and how to get there.

Entry fees at the seven sites

Rates listed by the Nepal Tourism Board, read on 5 November 2026. The board gives no effective date and says fees may change. At Kathmandu and Patan Durbar Squares, the board labels the NPR 500 rate BIMSTEC rather than SAARC, so check with us if you hold a Pakistani, Afghan or Maldivian passport. Pay in Nepali rupees. * Other sources list a different figure, so we confirm these at the counter.
Site (fees in NPR)ForeignSAARCIndianChinese
Swayambhunath2005050200
Kathmandu Durbar Square1,0005005001,000
Patan Durbar Square *1,000500500500
Bhaktapur Durbar Square *1,800500500500
Changu Narayan *300100100300
Boudhanath400100100400
Pashupatinath1,0001,000Free1,000
All seven5,7002,7501,7503,900

Plan your day in the Kathmandu Valley

Reserve free, then pay online or in cash on the day. Cancel free up to 24 hours before.

Reserve a tour