Getting around Kathmandu can first seem a little bit chaotic. There is little information online on the bus routes, there are very few actual bus stops and there is no schedule available of the buses. Locals know all the routes but it may be a bit more challenging for foreigners visiting or living in Kathmandu. Check out this post for information on public bus routes in Kathmandu and on how to get around the city.
Travelling outside of Kathmandu? Check out my post on Travelling by Bus in Nepal.
Modes of Transport
The main modes of public transportation in Kathmandu are buses, micro bus/minivan and tempo. There is no underground system, trains or trams. This means that in the rush hour there is usually big traffic jams, and there is no underground metro system to quickly get you from one point to the next. I did read that there used to be a trolley bus system in Kathmandu between 1975 – 2008 but it was closed for good.
Map of Public Transport
It is nearly impossible to find a complete map of the public transport system of Kathmandu. The only map I have been able to find shows some of the major routes, although still many routes are missing. I still like the map below as it shows the major routes going through Ratna Park and around the Ring Road. It is not a complete map but gives a visual idea of the bus routes of Kathmandu.
I came to find that mainly there are two major routes important to know to be able to get around Kathmandu. One is if you take the bus on the Ring Road or the second is through Ratna Park.
Kathmandu Bus Routes
Bus Routes on the Ring Road: The Ring Road goes around Kathmandu in a circle. It is a good option to take buses on the Ring Road if both your departure and arrival points are near the Ring Road. The good thing about taking the bus on the Ring Road is that in most cases you can take a direct bus from your point of departure to the destination without changing buses. However, if your destination is quite far, it may take longer to take the bus on the Ring Road than to take a bus that will take you through the city centre of Kathmandu.
Bus Routes through Ratna Park: The Ratna Park bus station is in central Kathmandu. Basically, most of the buses going from north to south, south to north, east to west or west to east of the city pass by here. Usually, it is also a spot where you will most likely have to change buses. Ratna Park is also near Thamel, so if you are staying in Thamel, you can walk to Ratna Park in about 10-15 minutes and take the bus from there (e.g. to Patan).
Bus Route Planner: Baato Maps
I recently found a new app Baato Maps which can be used as a route planner for buses in Kathmandu. Although, the buses are not numbered, this route planner is useful to show the route and the approximate location on where to get on and off the bus. Once you select the destination, the app will show 1-2 options to your destination.
Bus Fare in Kathmandu
There is a helper/ticket conductor on every bus who will call out the bus stops and also collects the bus fare at the end of your journey. Try to have small amount of bank notes when paying for the bus fare as it might be difficult to give back change.
As of 2024, the following bus fare is applied:
- 0 – 5 km: Rs. 20
- 0 – 10 km: Rs. 25
- 0 – 15 km: Rs. 30
- 0 – 20 km: Rs. 35
- + 20 km: Rs. 40
Public Bus Routes to World Heritage Sites
Kathmandu to Patan Durbar Square
Route: Thamel → walk to Ratna Park → take minivan from Ratna Park to Patan (assuming you are staying in Thamel)
Fare: Rs. 25
To get to Patan, first you will have to walk from Thamel to Ratna Park. It is nearby and you can get there in about 10 minutes’ walk. You will find here the minivans and buses going from Ratna Park down to Patan. Ask the helper/ticket conductor to drop you off at Labim Mall. It is a popular stop so lots of other people will be getting off here. From Labim Mall, it takes about 10 minutes’ walk to reach the Patan Durbar Square.
Thamel to Pashupatinath Temple
Route: Thamel → walk to Jamal Road → take minivan to Gaushala → walk to Pashupatinath Temple
Fare: Rs. 25
To get to the Pashupatinath Temple from Thamel by public transport, you will have to go to Jamal Road. Jamal is pretty close to Thamel (next to Ratna Park) and you can get there in less than 10 minutes’ walk. From Jamal, you will have to take the minivans that are going to Gaushala. Sometimes, the minivans just pass by Jamal slowly and the ticket conductor on the minivan is calling out “Gaushala” as it passes by. If you are not sure, just ask people around and they will point you to the right minivan (or ask any minivans passing by if they go to Gaushala/Pashupatinath Temple). Once you get to the junction at Gaushala, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the Pashupatinath Temple.
Advice on Taking Public Transportation in Nepal
Locating the bus stop: In many cases, there is no actual bus stop, the only way you will be able to tell the place of a bus stop is that you will see people standing in one particular spot. If you take the bus regularly, you will quickly learn the “bus stops” on the way. Even if you are not sure of where the bus stop is, usually the bus will slow down in particular spots and the bus helper will be calling out the upcoming bus stops. In reality, even if there is no bus stop, you can just hail the bus anywhere and in most cases it will stop for you.
Safety on the bus: Usually women have priority to sit in the front seats of the bus. The bus helper/ticket conductor sometimes will also get people to reorganize the seatings if some men end up sitting in the front but there are more women getting on the bus. The ticket conductor will ask the men to move to the back and let the women sit in the front.
It is also important to look out for your wallet and valuables on the bus. In rush hour, the buses can get extremely crowded and it is an easy environment for pickpockets. Although, I have never had any problems on the buses, some of my Nepali friends have told me stories of how their valuables were stolen on the bus.
Paying for the bus fare: The bus fare in Kathmandu is very cheap. It has a ‘pay as go’ system, there is no option to buy a monthly ticket. Be careful when you are paying your fare at the end of your journey. Some of the ticket conductors may try to rip off foreigners. To be honest, a bus fare in Kathmandu should not cost more than max Rs. 30, wherever you are going.
Taking the Taxi
Taking the taxi (car or motorbike) can be very convenient and quick. In the past few years, many taxi apps (Pathao, inDrive, Taximandu) have become popular in Kathmandu. They work just like Uber and it is very easy to use. Using the taxi apps is great to reduce the hassle of being overcharged for a taxi ride or having to bargain for the price.
When setting the pick up location, sometimes it is easier to set the location near a landmark (restaurant or shop) but the driver should find you either way based on the map. The drivers usually call you to confirm the pick up location and then you can follow on the map how far the driver is from your location. It is good to have smaller notes/exact amount to pay for the taxi as often the taxi driver will not be able to give you back change.
Pathao
inDrive
Taximandu
