Kathmandu Durbar Square is the historic royal palace complex at the heart of the old city, part of the wider Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited heritage sites in the capital. The square contains the Hanuman Dhoka palace complex, the former seat of Nepal's monarchy, alongside numerous temples dedicated to a range of Hindu deities, each contributing to the square's dense concentration of historic religious and royal architecture.
Among the square's most significant features is the residence of the Kumari, Nepal's living goddess, a young girl selected through a rigorous traditional process and worshipped as a manifestation of the divine feminine until she reaches puberty. Visitors can sometimes glimpse the Kumari at her window, though photography of her is strictly prohibited out of respect for this centuries-old tradition, one of the more unusual and distinctive religious practices found anywhere in the world.
The 2015 earthquake caused significant damage to several structures within Durbar Square, and reconstruction work has continued in the years since, with many of the square's temples now restored using a combination of traditional techniques and modern reinforcement. Despite this disruption, Kathmandu Durbar Square remains an essential stop for any visitor to the capital, offering a dense, walkable introduction to Nepal's Newari architectural heritage and its centuries of layered political and religious history in a single compact site.
Mobile signal in the area is patchy at best, and travellers should not rely on constant connectivity once they are this far into the trail network.
Weather at this elevation can change quickly, and a flexible itinerary with a buffer day or two is generally recommended for anyone travelling through this part of the route.
Local guides with specific knowledge of this stretch of trail add real value, both for navigation and for the cultural context they can offer along the way.
A gradual, well-paced ascent through this section remains the best defence against altitude-related discomfort further along the route.