Neighborhoods

* **Kathmandu Durbar Square (Basantapur):** The historic seat of royalty, featuring the Kumari Ghar (Home of the Living Goddess) and ancient palace courtyards. * **Swayambhunath:** Located on a hill to the west, this neighborhood revolves around the ancient stupa complex, blending Tibetan refugee communities with local Newari residents. * **Boudha:** Centered around the massive Boudhanath Stupa, this area is the vibrant heart of the Tibetan Buddhist community, filled with monasteries and incense-scented alleyways. * **Pashupati:** The neighborhood hugging the Bagmati River, dominated by ascetic sadhus, temple priests, and the sprawling Pashupatinath temple complex. * **Patan (Lalitpur):** Located across the Bagmati River, known for its pristine Durbar Square and neighborhoods dedicated to traditional metal casting and stone carving. * **Bhaktapur:** The most preserved of the three ancient cities, operating almost as a massive, self-contained living museum of medieval Newari culture.