The Atlas Obscura Guide To Nepal

47 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Nepal

Updated April 19, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Nepal

Swayambhunath Monkey Temple

Kathmandu, Nepal

Swayambhunath Monkey Temple

Sacred Buddhist home of some spiritual monkeys.

Garden of Dreams.

Kathmandu, Nepal

The Garden of Dreams

This elegant neoclassical garden is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the Nepalese capital.

Boudhanath Stupa

Kathmandu, Nepal

Boudhanath Stupa

One of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world keeps an eye out in every direction.

Namche, Nepal

Namche Bazaar

Last stop before the top of the highest peak in the world.

The scalp purported to be from a legendary yeti, at the Nepal village of Khumjung.

Khumjung, Nepal

The Yeti Scalp of Khumjung

A Himalayan monastery claims to have a piece of a centuries-old abominable snowman.

Kala Bhairava at Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu Durbar Square

This historic square in Nepal is home to temples dating back to the third century.

Coins nailed into the shrine.

Kathmandu, Nepal

The Toothache Tree

Nailing a coin to this holy stump is just another way to ask the gods for relief from dental pain.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur, Nepal

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

The former stronghold of the Malla Dynasty has remained virtually unchanged since the 17th century.

See All 47 Things To Do in Nepal

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Nepal

Yangben Faksa, a curry made from pig meat, pig blood, and wild lichen, is a delicacy of the Limbu community from eastern Nepal.

Lalitpur, Nepal

Raithaane

This restaurant preserves and serves lesser-known and regional Nepali food.

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History & Culture 12

Temples 10

Sacred Spaces 8

Museums 7

Religion 6

Buddhism 5

Animals 5

Hinduism 4

Parks 4

Architecture 4

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Stories About Nepal

Cracks have begun to form in the walls of monasteries throughout Mustang, Nepal. Experts say the deterioration of the centuries-old structures has been accelerated by climate change.

The Rammed-Earth Architecture of Nepal Is Crumbling

Climate change is destroying centuries-old structures in remote Mustang. Can the buildings—and the culture—be saved?

by Tulsi Rauniyar

India's Nanda Devi, once thought to be the world's tallest mountain, tops out at 25,643 feet, more than 3,000 feet shorter than Mt. Everest.

The Long History of the Quest to Find a Peak Taller Than Everest

Ain't no mountain high enough.

October 7, 2021

The Nubri Valley is one of the most sacred and remote highland regions in the Tibetan Buddhist world.

How a Buddhist Community in Nepal Reclaimed Its Holy Water

An anthropologist’s research on water insecurity reveals how clean water can reinforce a community’s physical and spiritual health.

by Atlas Obscura

August 17, 2020

A Nepalese devotee cuts a melon on the ninth day of Dashain in Nepal.

After Generations of Animal Sacrifice, Nepal Is Butchering Coconuts and Squash

Activists envision a bloodless future for the annual Dashain festival.

December 20, 2019

Mononymous artist Mahalaxmi shows some of her Mithila paintings inside her home in Ranti, a small village in Bihar, India.

India and Nepal’s Mithila Art Is Having a Feminist Renaissance

As the region changes apace, so does an ancient style of painting.

by Tricia Taormina

November 20, 2019

A base camp on the Nepalese side of Everest.

Nepal Is Banning Single-Use Plastics On and Around Everest

Will it help solve the peak's trash problems?

by Evan Nicole Brown

August 26, 2019

Nima Tamang molds a hefty wheel of yak cheese.

How the 'Swiss Milkman' Brought Cheese Production to Nepal

Earthquakes and rebels haven't stopped high-altitude yak cheese artisans.

by Richard Collett

Yes, it is very tall.

Nepal's Mounting an Expedition to Discover if Everest Has Shrunk

The long history of measuring the world’s highest point.

by Jonathan Carey

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