Do you want to know the things to do in Kathmandu in the Night?
Kathmandu — The City of Beautiful Chaos, amazes us in every phase of the day, be it in the morning with a picturesque sunrise view or when the night falls, unraveling the dazzling city all around.
Besides hiking or trekking, nightlife in Kathmandu is another major attraction and although there are not many options on your plate to enjoy the hours of darkness, Kathmandu Tribune has enlisted the trending yet interesting activities that you should not miss out while you’re in this magical mayhem.
1. Exclusive Bars and Clubs in Kathmandu
Nightlife in Kathmandu is incomplete without hopping and crawling in the most happening bars and clubs in Kathmandu. It’s mostly concentrated in Thamel and you can find different bars with different ambiance and themes.
A few to name would be Sam’s Bar, one of the oldest and finest bars in Kathmandu, located in Thamel, opposite Hotel Mandap. They set up Saturday as reggae night so spruce up your dreadlocks and get ready for some funky sounds and enthralling music if you’ve pinned it down on your list.
Another brand new and probably the biggest club of Kathmandu is club Deja Vu. Located Centrally in Durbar Marg, the club brings a unique concept that has a total capacity of 2500 pax with enough seating arrangements. It’s open every day from 6 pm to 2 am. You can enjoy the live music played by the pro DJs and if you’re a foodie, you can get an array of cuisine at reasonable price. Others famous bars in the town include Bourbon Room Restor Bar, Moksh Live Restaurant & Bar, House of Music, Trisara and many more.
2. Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square has always been the heart of Kathmandu city. Enriched with historical statues, temples, and a grand royal palace takes you to the old regal time. And just when night falls, the amazing lights around the temples and the palace will definitely enchant you. Strolling around the evening and watching the entire area with a cup of coffee in your hand or a local tea is worth the experience.
But this is not it. As you stroll around you can see a number of unique restaurants in the Freak Street, coffee shops, antique markets, local food stalls and pie shops giving you more reasons to enjoy the night there. There are roof-top restaurants available that provide the scenic ariel view of the Durbar Square.
3. Walking Around Thamel Street
Thamel is the popular tourist spot in Kathmandu and a walk around, discovering new street and lanes in this area won’t disappoint you. The bustling local markets, soothing music, the crowd and beautiful setting of the place is pretty impressive. There won’t be a single dull moment when you take a stroll around Thamel.
From pastries to pashminas, Thamel is the ideal place for evening binge shopping but window shopping is even more fun! You can find tons of bars and clubs in every nooks and corner and enjoy a couple of beers and music for a perfect night out. The best way to know this area is taking an insight from a local and visit the most popular areas, including the Mandala Street, which has become traffic-free just recently in October. Being the focal point of nightlife in Kathmandu, Thamel is on our must-do list as you can find everything, stylish restaurants with international cuisines, travel and trekking guide centers, local shops, cafes, spas, and fitness centers as well.
4. Experiencing the Jatras
Nepalese culture is identified by its festivals, religious customs, and ancient history. Jatras refer to a Newari Festival that involves street festival, traditional music and a big carnival. Kathmandu’s oldest and original inhabitants are the Newari people and jatras are important festivals in their customs. The widely celebrated Jatras in Kathmandu are Indra Jatra and Gai Jatra. Indra Jatra is woven around the monsoon-driven agricultural cycle mainly focused on plantation and harvesting of the concerned deities. There’s always a folklore behind every festival in Nepal which makes it more interesting.
Masked dancers perform a traditional mask dance during the Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. Photo: Reuters
Indra Jatra is an eight-day long carnival, falls in September and starts at Basantapur/Kathmandu Durbar Square in front of Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The festival involves pole(lingo) raising ceremony that usually begins in the evening, followed by parading of the chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess in the main streets of Kathmandu. There’s traditional music with drums and dance performance by Lakhays, masked dancers. When night falls, each shrine, ancient palace, and house around Kathmandu Durbar Square illuminate with oil lamp wicks. Escatic mobs gather around the square to enjoy the jatra to take a glimpse of the Kumari.
5. Folk Music and Dance
If you want to experience the diverse ethnicity of Nepal and its people, gear up for a Folk music and dance performance. Cultural programs offer a fascinating experience of Nepal’s tradition and diverse culture. And there are several such places in Kathmandu that provide folk dances and musical performance every evening.
Pokhara Lok Dohori Naach Ghar in Thamel, Durbar Rodhighar in North Gate, New Sayapatri Rodhi Ghar are few famous restaurants and bars that provide live folk music and dance. The major attraction in Nepali folk music includes Sarangi, Panche Baja, Nepali Folk Dance, Khukuri dance, Tharu Dance and so on.
6. Casino and Gambling
Apart from bars, clubs and folk dances, nightlife in Kathmandu serves another fun activity, the fun of gambling and playing in top casinos of the town. Most hotels and restaurants in tourist areas like Thamel and Durbarmarg provide casino facilities and you can enjoy a wide range of exciting games like poker, blackjack, pontoon, baccarat, card and machine games.
The famous casinos of Kathmandu include Casino Anna, located within the five-star Hotel De L’Annapurna. It holds the record of the largest number of jackpot winners here in the valley and the other one to name is Casino Everest, in-built in five-star Hotel Everest. Here, the playing takes place in one of the Kathmandu’s biggest banquet halls and there are ground facilities for beginners and also for those with a limited budget. Casino Royale is another famous upscale casino with table games and dining located in Durbar Marg.
7. Fine Dining Restaurants
Unlike cafes and casual diners, there’s always something special about eating at a fine dining restaurant. The hospitality of the waiter, crisp tablecloths, fancy cutlery, aroma of expensive wine and world-class cuisine is just enough to make your night and in Kathmandu, there are a number of fine dining restaurants to make your visit in Kathmandu an unforgettable one.
High-rated with moderate priced fine dining restaurants in the town include Le Sherpa Restaurant, Embassy Restaurant & Bar, Yangling Tibetan Restaurant. However, if you want to experience the ultimate fine dining experience you can always go for five stars hotels like Hyatt Residency, Soaltee Crown Plaza, Hotel Radisson, Shangri-LA Hotel & Resort, The Malla Hotel, Hotel Yak & Yeti and so on.
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