Experience in Kathmandu, Nepal by Keshav

What is it like to live in Kathmandu? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

If you have plenty of money and a girl friend, it is like a heaven. In addition,the people are supportive when a foreigner have faced some problem financial or any others.

What is the student lifestyle like in Kathmandu?

The students are really suffering due to political instability and politician using students as their power. The life style of students are critically divided in to two; students from remote villages and the rich and urban students; the life style between there two seems wonderful and clearly differentiated.

How much does it cost to live in Kathmandu?

Approximately 300 Euro/month if the students would like to have an easy life in average. But there are plenty of students who can spend much higher than this and even 100 Euro can be sufficient If you want to have a very common and understanding life style of food and dress.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Kathmandu? Is there any advice you can give?

Yes, it is. This is because there is no proper arrangement of distribution system of rooms between landlord/lady and tenants. There is no common platform virtually or manually where owner and tenants can meet each others.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Nepal has its own typical food; dal, rice, pickle, vegetables, meat,and hot soup of hot and sour. But these days indian food as main dish and chinese food as fast food are very common in Nepal.

What places would you recommend visiting in Kathmandu?

Most famous, Swambhunath where we can see friendly monkey and unique hills where the statue of Buddha is very famous and another is Pashupatinath, a historic and most religious temple for all hindus- the oldest temple for hindus of the world where we can see naked people during Shivaratri (a festival). The oldest royal places like Darbar Squares are very old palaces of kings ruling thousand years ago. The nearest cool hills, water fall of Sundarijal are equally famous. In addition the sunrise view and sunset view from Nagarkot is the most interesting for all people of the world.

Is it good to eat out in Kathmandu? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are plenty of hotels. I recommend self made food because there are limited hotels and restaurant where they care about the quality, hygiene and budget. The hotels in local area are not much recommended but some like Bakeri Cafe, KFC, Annapurna, Yak and Yeti, Soltee, are good places in Kathmandu.

Is the nightlife good in Kathmandu? Where is good to go?

Yes, only in Thamel and Durbarmarg in Kathmandu and Lakesite of Pokhara because these are touristic areas and have all sorts of fun like buying and selling sexual enjoyment too. In other places, it is risky.

What advice would you give future students heading to Kathmandu?

Before coming if you have someone trustworthy. Contact them because all Nepalese love foreigners and respect as much as possible. If you have someone whom you know, the people want to provide everything like food and shelter and even other like Nepali dresses free of cost. Very important, adults never request any money from our guest even if the guest stay months and months. But children may say one dollar or two dollar very interestingly, take this easy and provide a chocolate, they seems most pleasant.