Kathmandu Travel Forum

Hello to everybody,

Ill be in Kathmandu around summer, Im already thirsty for informations - but I have no guidebook yet.
So maybe some of you could tell me:

1. where to find some nice guesthouses in a convenient location (close to Durbar square/Pashupatinath or Swayambunath - or Patan, Bakthapur maybe)?

2. Im still building on my private Olymp of gods and godess, so Im looking for some nice woodwork of Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha and friends. Are there some special markets you could recommend for nice woodwork and carvings Nepal is famous for?

Thanks for your help!

Hi, again!
You've got to do better initial reasearch on what you want to do in terms of place to stay: "(close to Durbar square/Pashupatinath or Swayambunath - or Patan, Bakthapur maybe)?" are mutually incompatible- these places are far away from one another. Face it, to get to these places, you may stick to day/half day outings by taxi. Skip the bus as KTM bus traffic is slow and cramped. The main cheap hotel areas are Thamel, Chhetrapati, Lazimpat, and some down by KTM Durbar Square. Personally, I would suggest to stay in Thamel, but not for too long; it's the Khaosan of Kathmandu and far removed from "real Nepal". But it's convenient and everything can be organised/reaced/is accessible from there. There is a delightful hotel smack in the world heritage protected centre of the Bhaktapur temple area (Durbar sq. there as well). Very good option, but you are far from Kathmandu there. If Swayambunath is your main thing, then look at Chhetrapati/northwestern corner of Thamel for a guest house, or Hotel Vajra, toward Swayambu if you're ready to burn off som cash in exchange for a really nice hotel.
Good woodcarvings are all over where there are tourists. For definite upmarket stuff, check out Durbar Marg shops, Babar Mahal Revisited, some stores in the Asan area, around the hotel clusters in Lazimpath and Thamel. Bhaktapur has plenty, but the best stores I have seen near Patan Durbar Square (Patan city). The wood carvers are mainly Newaris, residents of Patan, Bhaktapur and Chhetrapati-Basantapur areas.
I don't particularily like the wooden gods and godesses thay produce; also the wood work tend to crack if you take them to drier climes. I'd go for statues/sculptures made from bronze, brass, copper by lost wax technique.
After all this: read the book "Shopping for Buddhas". Good fun!
All the best,
Saagar

Saagarji:
Where is the best place to find Rudraksha?

Thanks again, Saagar, you are a big help!

The different places are meant as alternatives - not all in one. But again your tip gives a good overview, thanks a lot!

Rudraksha? No idea.
Sorry,
Saagar