Where is Thamel and the old bazaars?

Thamel and the old bazaars is in Kathmandu district, Bagmati Province, in the Pahad belt of Nepal.

What is the altitude of Thamel and the old bazaars?

About 1,300 m (4,265 ft) above sea level.

How much does it cost to visit Thamel and the old bazaars?

Getting around Thamel and the old bazaars is cheap. Budget for a taxi there and back (about NPR 600–1,500, US$5–11) and meals (NPR 1,000–2,500, US$8–19 per person). If you stay in Kathmandu, rooms cost about NPR 1,500 / US$11–NPR 4,500 / US$33 a night.

How many days do I need for Thamel and the old bazaars?

Two or three days covers the town and the sights around it.

Do I need a permit or ticket for Thamel and the old bazaars?

No special permit or ticket is normally needed.

Thamel and the old bazaars

Name: Thamel and the old bazaars
Address: Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, NP

City & bazaar Pahad1 min readUpdated: October 2026

In Nepali: ठमेल र पुराना बजार

Thamel and the old bazaars, Kathmandu — Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Kathmandu's traveller quarter, and a walk south through Asan and Indra Chowk, the city's oldest market streets.

Thamel is a maze of guesthouses, restaurants, trekking shops, bookshops and bars, where most visitors to Nepal spend their first nights. It is also where to hire guides, buy gear and arrange permits.

Walk south from Thamel through Chhetrapati and Thahiti to Asan, a six-way crossroads where spice, grain and brass sellers have traded for centuries around little temples, then on to Indra Chowk and Durbar Square. Tucked in the courtyards (bahal) along the way are stupas and shrines that few people notice.

What to see and do

In Thamel, browse bookshops, trekking outfitters and handicraft stores, and try food from all over the world as well as Newar and Tibetan dishes. On the walk to Asan, look out for Kathesimbhu stupa, a small copy of Swayambhu, and the Annapurna temple at Asan. In Indra Chowk, the Akash Bhairav temple and the cloth and bead markets are fascinating.

Good to know

Thamel's lanes are busy with motorbikes; watch your step. Agree taxi fares before getting in or use ride-hailing apps. Bargaining is normal in shops. Early mornings are the best time to see the old bazaars' daily life.

Quick answers

Where is Thamel and the old bazaars?: Thamel and the old bazaars is in Kathmandu district, Bagmati Province, in the Pahad belt of Nepal.
What is the altitude of Thamel and the old bazaars?: About 1,300 m (4,265 ft) above sea level.
How much does it cost to visit Thamel and the old bazaars?: Getting around Thamel and the old bazaars is cheap. Budget for a taxi there and back (about NPR 600–1,500, US$5–11) and meals (NPR 1,000–2,500, US$8–19 per person). If you stay in Kathmandu, rooms cost about NPR 1,500 / US$11–NPR 4,500 / US$33 a night.
How many days do I need for Thamel and the old bazaars?: Two or three days covers the town and the sights around it.
Do I need a permit or ticket for Thamel and the old bazaars?: No special permit or ticket is normally needed.
When is the best time to visit Thamel and the old bazaars?: Year-round
How do I get to Thamel and the old bazaars?: Central Kathmandu.
What is Thamel and the old bazaars called in Nepali?: ठमेल र पुराना बजार