Rainy Season in Kathmandu: The 11 Best Things to Do

Wondering what rainy season in Kathmandu is like?

You’ve come to the right place! I live in Kathmandu and even if it’s raining, there are so many things you can do in Kathmandu.

Although the rainy season in Nepal constitutes as the low season and only a few travellers visit Nepal during this time, there are still plenty of activities to do in Kathmandu and around Nepal.

Some of the best things to do during monsoon in Kathmandu is to visit the world heritage sites, museums, learn to cook Nepali dishes, go on a day trip, take a thangka painting or Vipassana meditation course and many more!

When is Monsoon Season in Nepal

The monsoon season in Nepal (also referred to as the rainy season), runs from June to mid-September. However, the weather patterns can be unexpected and the monsoon can start and finish earlier or later.

The weather patterns are slightly unpredictable each year, thus, the monsoon can start earlier or be delayed.

Recently, the monsoon lasted even until the end of September, so it is good to check the current weather news.

Kathmandu Weather in Rainy Season

Despite the bad reputation the rainy season gets, it is actually not so bad in Kathmandu or overall in Nepal. Nepal tends to be very dusty but when the rainy season starts, the rain keeps the dust at minimal levels and the air quality becomes much better.

Kathmandu usually does not get that much rain, just around 1-3 hours rain in the afternoon or evenings. 

Is it Worth Visiting Kathmandu in Monsoon?

Yes, it is definitely worth visiting. Even though it is rainy season, everything is still open and operational.

There are many activities that you can still do during this time, from sightseeing, day trips, food tours and cooking classes to museums, pub quizzes, movies, handicrafts and meditation courses.

The other good thing during the rainy season is that due to the low number of tourists, many hotels also offer discounted rates.

So if you are travelling in Kathmandu or across Nepal during this time, you will be able to do things on a lower budget.

Does it Rain All Day in Kathmandu in Monsoon?

No, it doesn’t. It is rare for it to rain in Kathmandu all day long. Usually, it rains for 1-2 hours in the afternoon or evening.

The temperature during monsoon gets very hot and humid though, so make sure to wear sunscreen.

What to Pack for Travelling in Kathmandu in Monsoon

• Umbrella
• Waterproof shoes
• Lights clothes
• Light rain jacket

Best Things to Do in Kathmandu in Monsoon

1. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley

The Kathmandu Valley has 7 World Heritage Sites, including Buddhist stupas, Hindu temples and ancient pagoda-style buildings that used to belong to former kings.

Some of the heritage sites are located far from the city centre of Kathmandu so it may take around 3 days to visit all of them if you don’t want to rush it.

The 7 World Heritage Sites are: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, Swoyambhu Stupa (also referred to as the Money Temple), Pashupatinath Temple and Changu Narayan Temple.

2. Go to a Museum Exhibition

There are many great museums in Kathmandu that give a glimpse into the history and culture of Nepal. Going to a museum exhibition is also one of the best activities for a rainy day. 

Some of the best museums include the Taragaon Museum, Museum of Nepali Art (MONA), Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Music Museum of Nepal, Aviation Museum and the Patan Museum.

3. Go on Day Trips

Although it might be rainy season in Nepal, it never rains continuously for the whole day (maybe just a few odd times during the whole 3 months’ of monsoon period).

There are many options for day trips from Kathmandu that you should not miss:

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur is also called as a “living museum” as many of the temples and former palace buildings have been turned into part of everyday life, such as cafes and restaurants.

Bhaktapur is a very unique place and is only about 1 hour away from Kathmandu by public bus (you can also take a taxi which is faster). As it is close to Kathmandu, it makes a great day trip.

Apart from the temples and museums, it is also a nice place to try Newari Food. Newari people were the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, and Bhaktapur has still preserved typical Newari architecture and restaurants.

Patan

Patan is located in the Lalitpur district, south of Kathmandu, and is most famous for the Patan Durbar Square. Patan may be most famous for the Patan Durbar Square (and it is a must to see!), but there are also other places you should not miss!

Some of the best places to visit in Patan include the Patan Durbar Square, Patan Museum, Mahaboudha Temple, Golden Temple, Ashoka Stupa, Kumbeshwar Temple, Pimbahal Pond, Mangal Bazaar and checking out museum exhibitions.

Lalitpur and Patan are known for their many great western-like restaurants and cafes. If you visit Patan, make sure to walk over to Jhamsikhel (10 minutes walk) where there are many nice restaurants.

Chandragiri Cable Car

The Chandragiri Cable Car is nearby Kathmandu and takes you up to the Chandragiri Hills. Chandragiri can be reached easily from Kathmandu either by taxi or public bus.

The cable car takes about 10 minutes to reach the top. The cable car goes through some pretty steep parts, so if you are scared of heights, it can be a little bit scary at times.

It is popular to come here to see the mountain views, although, during the monsoon season, you will not get clear views. The cable car ride is still fun and once you are at the top, there are some other activities that you can do.

Godawari Botanical Garden

The Godawari Botanical Garden offers some peace, quiet and fresh air away from the air pollution in Kathmandu.

It is located south of Kathmandu, about 1 hour away. The botanical garden is across a large area and it is a perfect trip to spend some time in the nature.

The best time to visit the Godawari Botanical Garden is in the spring (March-April) when the flower bloom, but it is still a nice place to wonder around during the monsoon season.

4. Go to a Pub Quiz

Do you like pub quizzes even if the questions are super hard? Sal’s Pizza runs a weekly quiz night in Lazimpat (near Thamel) on Monday evenings.

The entry is free and even if you arrive alone, you will be able to join a group with other people.

Sometimes they take a break from the quiz night, so best to check the Facebook of Sal’s Pizza to make sure the quiz night is on.

5. Relax in the Garden of Dreams

The Garden of Dreams is right next to Thamel and is a little oasis of peace. The traffic and pollution can get bad in Kathmandu but the Garden of Dreams offer a little bit of a peace.

It is a popular place when the weather is good, especially on Saturdays which is the day off in Nepal. It also has some seats that are covered, so even if it is raining, you can enjoy the garden from a safe place.

6. Join a Free Walking Tour of Kathmandu

There is a tour guide in Kathmandu who runs daily walking tours of Kathamndu. The best part is that it is free and at the end you can give a donation as much as you feel comfortable with.

The walking tour starts from Thamel and takes you through some of the historic places of Kathmandu.

There two walking tours organized per day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Contact Free Walking Tour Kathmandu to book your place for one of the tours.

7. Learn to Cook Nepali Dishes

Learning to cook Nepali dishes is a fun experience and once you return home from Nepal, you can even use the recipes to cook a meal for your friends and family.

There are a couple of cooking classes in Kathmandu and the one I recommend is a cooking class on AirBnB Experience. 

During the cooking class, you learn to cook the dish of your choice (dal bhat, momo or thupka) and at the end you also get to eat the dishes you cooked.

It is a great experience whether you’ve eaten dal bhat a hundred times or it’s your first time in Nepal. My brother came to visit me a few months ago and I sent him on the cooking class. He enjoyed it a lot!

8. Zen Out at a Singing Bowl Session or Vipassana Meditation Course

Vipassana Meditation:

Vipassana meditation is a form of Buddhist meditation. The Dhamma Shringa Vipassana Meditation Centres can be found all around the world and they hold free 10-day vipassana courses.

If you are interested to learn more about meditation, Nepal is a good place to give it a go. Check out my experience of what it’s like to take a Vipassana Meditation Course in Kathmandu.

Tibetan Singing Bowls:

Tibetan singing bowls are a big thing in Nepal. There are many shops selling singing bowls and places where you can sign up for a session.

If you are interested to try a singing bowl session, there are 2 places in Kathmandu that offer free singing bowl sessions for those that are interested:

• FREE: Nepal Singing Bowls and Healing Centre: every day: 9:45 am, 4:30 pm
• DONATION-BASED: Nirvana Singing Bowl: every day: 10 am, 5 pm

9. Watch a Nepali or Bollywood Movie at the Cinema

Movies and cinema is always a good option on a rainy day. The cinemas in Nepal don’t play that many English language movies – at best there is one English language movie showing at any given time.

If you are interested, you can still check out some of the Nepali or Hindi movies which is fun even if you don’t fully understand it.

For movies and prices, check out QFX Cinema, it has a couple of branches in Kathmandu including Thamel and Durbar Marg (near Thamel).

The QFX branch in Durbar Marg is a bit pricier but it has comfy sofa seats that’s worth to treat yourself to.

10. Chill by a Swimming Pool

What’s better than chilling by the pool on a hot day? There are many hotels in and around Thamel that have swimming pools.

Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, you can buy a day ticket to get access to the pool for the day. The day ticket prices are around Rs. 2,000 -2,500.

For hotels with a swimming pool in and around Thamel check out: Mulberry Hotel, Hotel Shanker and Aloft Hotel.

11. Attend Handicrafts Workshops

Signing up for a handicrafts workshop is also a great way to spend a rainy day.

Bhaktapur and Patan are well-known for preserving architecture of wooden carved windows and sculptures.

Both Bhaktapur and Patan are good places to sign up for a woodcarving session or to learn to make a Thangka Painting.

• Thangka Painting: Lama Thanka Painting Centre (Bhaktapur)
• Woodcarving
• Stone Carving

Festivals in Kathmandu During the Rainy Season

There are not many holidays in Nepal during the monsoon season. One of the festivals in August, Gai Jatra, is celebrated specifically in the Kathmandu Valley.

Gai Jatra is especially observed by people who have lost a loved one in the year leading up to the festival. On this day, people also dress up with masks and go around the city for fun.

🎆 Check the festival and holiday calendar for Nepal here!

Where To Stay In Kathmandu

Looking for a place to stay in Kathmandu? Check out my top recommendations for every budget:

Nepal: Month-by-Month

Not sure about when to visit Nepal? Check out my month-by-month guide for Nepal:

• Nepal in January
• Nepal in February
• Nepal in March
• Nepal in April
• Nepal in May
• Nepal in June
• Nepal in July
• Nepal in August
• Nepal in September
• Nepal in October
• Nepal in November
• Nepal in December

Nepal: Seasons

Want to know more about visiting Nepal during different seasons? Check out my seasonal guides to Nepal:

• Spring Season in Nepal
• Monsoon Season in Nepal
• Autumn Season in Nepal
• Winter Season in Nepal

FAQs: Rainy Season in Kathmandu

When is Monsoon Season in Nepal?

The monsoon season is between June-August in Nepal. However, it can start earlier or later. The weather patterns can be unexpected so it can be that it is still raining until mid-September.

Is there monsoon season in Kathmandu?

Yes, just like everywhere in Nepal, Kathmandu is no exception. However, the rainy season in Kathmandu is very moderate. It never rains all day long (or it is very very rare). It usually rains for 1-2 hours in the afternoon or evening.

Is it worth visiting Kathmandu and Nepal during Monsoon Season?

It is definitely worth visiting Kathmandu and Nepal during monsoon season.

Although, it is not recommended to go trekking during monsoon due to landslides, there are still many things to do including sightseeing, museums, day trips, cooking classes, meditation courses, cable cars.

What activities can I do in Kathmandu during Monsoon?

If you are visiting Kathmandu during the rainy season, you can do many things that you could do any other season.

There will not be clear views to the mountains and due to the leeches on the trails, it is better not to go hiking, but overall you can do every other activity.

Conclusion

The monsoon season in Nepal usually runs from June to mid-September. The good news is that it usually does not rain all day, only for 1-2 hours in the afternoon or evening.

With that in mind, there are still so many things you can do in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and there are lots of activities all throughout the year.

Some of the best things to do include visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, going on day trips, museums, taking Nepali cooking or thangka painting classes.