Skip to main content

One Day in Kirtipur




The city of Kirtipur, while very close to Kathmandu, also seems like entering another dimension. What’s so special about Kirtipur? You will need more than all the fingers on your hand to count that.

“Kirti” stands for glory, and this city definitely justifies the name it has been given. Besides being home to the first and the oldest university in Nepal, and its famous Newari khaja places, Kirtipur is so much more. What makes it different from other parts of Kathmandu is that this city stands atop a hill with houses that seem as if placed one on top of another from afar.

Here is how you can plan one day in Kirtipur
Take a bike ride
The road that leads to Kirtpur and to TU, past the balkhu chowk of course is one of the best roads in Kathmandu. So go biking around to your heart’s content!

Photo at rectangle

Artist Amrit Karki created this art perfectly visible as a rectangle from the Kiritpur ground. A great place for pictures and a perfect start of the day.



Nagar Mandap Sri Kirti Vihar

The name is a mouthful, is it not? Just wait until you see the vihar itself. It is a true beauty built with Thai architecture and a delight to look at.


Lahana

Fill your stomach with Newari delicacies at Lahana. The place is famous for its exquisite Newari cuisine and homemade liquor. Did I also mention that Lahana too, provides an awesome view of Kirtipur city?



BaghBhairab Temple

We all know the history of Kirtipur. We remember how King Prithvi Narayan Shah invaded into the Kathmandu Valley through Kirtipur. And this temple screams history. The weapons and the attire of Kalu Pandey, the soldier that lost his life during the battle can be seen glistening on the pagoda of the temple.

UmaMaheshwor temple

The temple that stands atop of the city and provides a majestic view of the surroundings. You definitely cannot miss it!


Chilancho Stupa

Take a tour of the gorgeous stupa from the medieval times and peek into the history that it has so gracefully carried with it all these years. 



Lohan Dehar
This is another medieval sculpture carved to perfection in Kirtipur. This Shikhara style stone sculpture gets to see many festivals and colors held around it.  



Grab a plate of momos at Momo Station or two or three!

What average Nepali could say to Momos, right? Am I right? Or am I right? Indulge into a plate of your favorite round goodness at Momo Station in Kirtipur. 




Kirtipur – Naikap Bridge
Newly constructed, the bridge sets up a way directly from Kirtipur to Naikap. Stroll around the bridge and enjoy the surrounding.


TU Park

The Park stands as an entrance to Tribhuwan University, the oldest university of Nepal and is a place to relax and spend some leisure time, the TU Park is a place open for all. Lose yourself in the greenery.


That about sums up an awesome day in Kirtpur!

If you need more reason to visit Kirtpur, check out this short video!


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Rajamati

I think we’ve all heard the song of Rajamati growing up. It is so popular that many people in Nepal claim this is the only Newari song that they have heard. The song was written some 200 years back. The first few lines go like this, which I’m sure you must have heard of, unless you’ve been living under a rock: Rājamati kumati, jike wasā pirati Hāya bābā Rājamati-chā Rājamati mabila dhāsā Kāshi wane tela bubā Hayā biu Rājamati-chā. San dhāsā kuli kuli, mikhā dhāsā bālā bālā Sakumi yā mhyāy machā lā Khwā dhāsā tuyu khwā, khwālay niga tee du Tāhā Nani yā Rājamati-chā. It is said to be written by or rather from the perspective of a man who was infatuated and in awe of the beauty of Rajamati. He describes with great admiration: her hair, her eyes, her complexion and the little moles on her face. However it is unknown who the writer of this beautiful song is. The song rushed into popularity after it was played in England in 1850 when Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana vi...

The Leaving vs The Left Behind

  I still remember,  I was standing near the entrance looking out at the garden. I was at my best friend’s home and she had gone to get her ever famous chips chilly for me. I was to leave for Bangalore again, in a couple of days. While I waited, I looked out at the garden and this thought came into my head. “Who is it harder for? The one leaving or the ones left behind?” Is it going to be harder for me in a new place readjusting and exploring, or my best friend here, who will me miss me? Is it harder for a person to settle in a completely new place with a completely new lifestyle and have to find new people or for a person to see the same old places, the same old alleys and reminiscent the good times they had with their friend who are not around at the moment? It was a random thought that filled my mind a couple of minutes and then I got over it. Some time after resettling here in Bangalore, my best friend sent me a reel. The reel was about 2 close friends who used to lived ...

Most Asked Question

  Coming back home after one year has been a rollercoaster of emotions for me the past month. Getting to see everyone again, embracing family and friends, working on an office desk again, walking through same old alleys and of course, devouring delicious food that I so dearly missed. I am actually almost through the food list that I have been saving. But the people have been asking me the same question a lot: do you like it here in Nepal or in Bangalore? And the answer has always been the same for me: I like it wherever I am. Kathmandu is home, it is warm, and it is where family is. Bangalore is a different vibe and freedom and excitement. Kathmandu is a different fun and Bangalore is different fun, which is why I live in the moment and enjoy where I am. My mother always tells me: “ La wani tha nya wani ma” in Nepal Bhasa meaning “ the fish must go where the water goes”. The meaning while very basic is also very deep. If the fish does not flow with the water, it cannot survive. I...