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What to do if you have nothing to do in Kathmandu

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Holidays are always nice, that is, if you know how to spend them! Once in a while, doing nothing except eating, sleeping and watching TV can be fun. But, there will come a time when that will get boring and let’s face it, that holiday was probably not meant for just that.

Helping you holiday around in Kathmandu, here is a list of things you can do. You might have heard about them and never really done them. This list aims to be your push.

Breakfast at Boudhanath Stupa
Location: Boudha
A good breakfast never goes wrong. Give an early start to your holiday morning and visit the majestic Boudhanath Stupa. Drop by at one of the many delectable restaurants circling the Stupa and enjoy your breakfast as you also take in its view and the vicinity. The serenity will do amazing things to your day.

Plan a trip to the Patan Museum
Location: Patan Durbar Square
Opening hours: 10:30 am to 5.30 pm (Closed on Tuesday)
Entrance Fees: Rs 20 (Nepalis)/ Rs 10 (Nepali students)
Go alone or with a group of friends. This beautiful place, which has wonderfully preserved the past, is worth an afternoon. Probably the finest museum of the country, the Patan Museum exhibits are information sources of Nepal’s culture. It has several galleries that exhibit artifacts related to Hinduism, Buddhism, Tantrism and metal technology. The Museum also has pleasant courtyards that are good resting spots.

Go Mini-golfing
Location: Ground floor, Civil Mall, Sundhara
Opening hours: 10:30 am to 10 pm everyday
Price: Rs 200 (mini-golf) to Rs 1,000 (stimulators)
Puttputt Mini Golf is an affordable golf game that is easily accessible to those who want to pursue it as a hobby or just as a one or two-time fun. Spread over 21,000 sq ft, the indoor golf course has a challenging track with 18 holes. Apart from that, visitors can also experience games in 50 renowned golf courses which are available in the three stimulators. Puttputt Mini Golf also throws in special challenges and gifts for its customers from time to time.

Up the Dharahara
Location: Sundhara
Opening hours: 8 am to 8 pm
Entrance Fee: Rs 50 (Nepalis)
You’ve heard about this nine-storied landmark, seen it, read about it and now it’s time to climb it. Or climb it again. Enjoy the 360 degree view of the Kathmandu Valley after you climb up 61.88 meters or some 200 steps. The entrance fee is exempt for individuals who are below five years and above 65 years.

Garden of Dreams
Location: Kaiser Mahal, Thamel
Opening hours: 9 am to 10 pm
Entrance Fee: Rs 100 (Nepalis)
The Garden of Dreams lives up to its name any time of the day but this historical garden of Kathmandu is especially a sight to behold and be in the evenings. This tranquil place is a good place to read a book, or just to sit around and refresh yourself. A bottle of juice or water and a packet of chips or crackers are permitted food items inside the Garden of Dreams. With the inflow of tourists, the place might get a bit hectic during the day, but the evenings are nicer with fewer people, ambient lights and of course, the night sky.

Window Book-shopping
Location: Bookstores
Kathmandu Valley has some of the coziest bookshops with the kindest book-shopkeepers. Browse through a bookstore shelf, read some or buy some. Some of the bookstores also offer second-hand book sales. If you get lucky, you might just find the paper treasure you’ve been wanting to buy, in mint condition and very affordable price.

Walking tours
Location: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square
We live in a valley with such rich cultural heritage and even though we’ve been living amongst them, we might not have discovered so many things about these places. Take a walking tour in one or all three of the squares and its vicinity. Stone inscriptions, monuments, temples and the local life – there is just so much to observe, discover and cherish.

Indoor wall climbing
Location: Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Climbing Wall, Maharajgunj
Opening hours: 10 am to 5:30 pm
Climbing Fee: Rs 150 (Nepalis), Rs 100 (Nepali Students)
Location: Astrek Climbing, Thamel
Opening hours: 8 am to 8 pm
Climbing Fee (Normal): Rs 300 + Rs 200 for shoe and harness
Climbing Fee (Sunday to Friday between 10 am to 4 pm): Rs 150+ Rs 200 for shoe and harness

Kathmandu has a few options for indoor wall climbing. The Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Climbing Wall, which was built in memory of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to climb Mt Everest, offers a 10 meters high wall. This is one of the most frequented climbing spots and it offers various levels of climbing courses as well.
Another option for indoor climbing is Astrek Climbing, which has one of the highest climbing walls in Kathmandu. 15 meters tall, the center has 20 routes and climbing grades suitable for individuals with all levels of climbing experiences.

source: republica,18 August 2013