Also Visit

Science and technology

• B.P. Koirala Memorial Science Museum

  Kirtipur(opens in Google Maps)

  Nepal’s national science museum, next to Tribhuvan University. Hands-on exhibits on electricity and magnetism, sound, light and optical illusions, machines, and robots, a botany hall of Nepal’s plants, and a 3D science theater.

• Simulation Science Center

  Chobhar, Kirtipur(opens in Google Maps)

  A hands-on science center with exhibits on physics, biology and space, robots, and models of planets and spacecraft. Popular with school groups and children aged about 7 to 13.

• National Innovation Center

  Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur(opens in Google Maps)

  Started by Mahabir Pun to help Nepali inventors build their ideas here at home, in farming, health, energy and more. Call ahead to arrange a visit and see what the young engineers are working on.

• Karkhana

  Karyabinayak, Lalitpur(opens in Google Maps)

  A makerspace for children in grades 1 to 9: building, tinkering, and science experiments, in after-school and school programs. Get in touch to find out what is running.

• Aviation Museum

  Sinamangal, Kathmandu(opens in Google Maps)

  A whole airliner turned into a museum, beside the airport. Walk through the cabin and cockpit of an Airbus A330, then see models and objects from the history of flying in Nepal.

  

• Living Mountain Lab

  Godawari, Lalitpur(opens in Google Maps)

  ICIMOD’s 30-hectare park on the forested slopes below Phulchoki, showing ways to farm on steep mountain land: terraces, solar driers, vertical gardens, mushrooms, and compost. Its forest is full of birds and butterflies. Visits are arranged with ICIMOD in advance.

Animals and plants

• Natural History Museum

  Swayambhu, Kathmandu(opens in Google Maps)

  Tribhuvan University’s museum on the slope below Swayambhunath, with about 50,000 specimens of Nepal’s wildlife: thousands of butterflies and moths, birds, snakes, skulls, and fossils, including the Atlas moth, one of the biggest moths in the world.

  

• Central Zoo

  Jawalakhel, Lalitpur(opens in Google Maps)

  Nepal’s only public zoo, run by the National Trust for Nature Conservation: tigers, rhinos, gharial crocodiles, birds, and many more, with a lake in the middle.

  

• National Botanical Garden

  Godawari, Lalitpur(opens in Google Maps)

  Nepal’s oldest and largest botanical garden, at the foot of Phulchoki hill. Look for the orchids and cacti in the glasshouses, the medicinal plants, and the stream running through the garden.

  

• Tiger Lily Petting Farm

  Sirutar, near Balkot, Bhaktapur(opens in Google Maps)

  A farm and hands-on museum where city children learn where food comes from: feed and pet cows, goats, rabbits and hens, grind grain the old way, carry a doko, try archery, and ride a tractor.

Museums and heritage

• National Museum

  Chhauni, Kathmandu(opens in Google Maps)

  Nepal’s oldest museum, in a Rana-era arsenal: stone and bronze sculpture, old weapons and cannons, coins, and a natural history wing.

  

• Military Museum

  Chhauni, Kathmandu(opens in Google Maps)

  The Nepal Army’s museum, next to the National Museum: tanks, helicopters and planes outside, and inside, old weapons, uniforms, medals, and the stories of Gurkha soldiers and Nepal’s UN peacekeepers.

  

• Patan Museum

  Patan Durbar Square(opens in Google Maps)

  A restored royal courtyard full of Newar metalwork and sculpture, from small ritual objects to temple statues.

  

• Tribhuvan Museum

  Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu Durbar Square(opens in Google Maps)

  Inside the old royal palace at Hanuman Dhoka: the rooms of King Tribhuvan and the kings after him, the coronation throne, and courtyards framed by carved wood.

  

• Narayanhiti Palace Museum

  Durbar Marg, Kathmandu(opens in Google Maps)

  Nepal’s last royal palace, kept as it was left in 2008: the throne room, the halls where kings met visitors from around the world, and the gardens.

  

• National Art Museum

  Bhaktapur Durbar Square(opens in Google Maps)

  Paintings and sculpture from many centuries, in the palace at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, beside the famous 55-Window Palace. One ticket also covers the Woodcarving and the Bronze and Brass museums.

  

• Woodcarving Museum

  Pujari Math, Dattatreya Square, Bhaktapur(opens in Google Maps)

  Carved doors, windows and temple struts in an old priests’ house. Don’t miss the Peacock Window on the lane beside it, the most famous piece of woodcarving in the valley.

  

• Bronze and Brass Museum

  Dattatreya Square, Bhaktapur(opens in Google Maps)

  Across the square from the Woodcarving Museum: the brass and bronze lamps, water jugs, cooking pots and ritual vessels that Newar homes and temples have used for generations.

  

• Pottery Square

  Bhaktapur(opens in Google Maps)

  Watch potters shape clay on their wheels, and walk between rows of pots drying in the sun before they go into the kiln. Mornings are the busiest.

  

Libraries

• Kaiser Library

  Kantipath, Kathmandu(opens in Google Maps)

  The private library of a Rana field marshal, kept in his palace just as he left it: about 45,000 books, old maps and manuscripts. The Garden of Dreams is next door.

  

• Nepal National Library

  Sanothimi, Bhaktapur(opens in Google Maps)

  The country’s national library. It has been in a temporary home in Sanothimi since the 2015 earthquake damaged its old palace in Pulchowk.

Around the world

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