Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal is one of the only countries in South Asia to award licenses for casino operation. I hate gambling but to get a new experience, I went to Tara Casino which is located within premises of Hyatt Regency (Kathmandu). Tara Casino is open daily 24 hours.

Technically Nepalis are not permitted to gamble in casinos, I with my one Indian friend went inside. He started to play and I started to observe the atmosphere and the people. The casino was full of staffs. They were wearing uniforms according to their positions. To my surprise a large amount of gambling took place during 2-3, and a surprising amount of money change hands. I make some friends there too and as per their information, it happens 24 Hours all round year. WOW. Expensive food, drinks, wines, smoking every thing is free for the players and their friends. They have special chefs too, whom you can order anything you want and they'll cook for you. Staffs are ready to serve you, only you have to snap your fingers. But if you have no money to play more or you are behaving rudely, they'll take no time to throw you out. Photography is not allowed inside but I managed to take a picture using my cell phone.:D

The casino's 21,000 square foot gaming space features twenty gaming machines and eleven table and poker games. In addition of all this services, the casino offers babysitting services with doctors and nurses on duty 24 hours, a room exclusively for breast feeding mothers, and children's room with video games and soft toys. You must be 21, however, to play in the casinos.

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We found a wonderful place a couple blocks from our hotel that had many services. We had Thai massages, took a meditation class, a yoga class, my friend got a pedicure and we both got henna tattoos. We went there every day for something. The price were fantastic.

Yoga class for the two of us was about $6 U.S. each. The meditation class for the two of us was about the same. She had a Reiki session for an hour and half that was $10 U.S. Our Thai massages for an hour were $22 U.S. Our last time there when we got our mendi tattoos, we brought in a bottle of wine while we had it done so that was fun. We tipped the first day but was told a tip was not normal so we didn't tip after that.

The people were delightful and happy to see us when we came back 4 days in a row.

They also spelled our names in Nepalese to have henna tattoos put on our wrists. The whole experience was so much fun.

They take walk ins and appts.

Always include a vist to the Pilgrim's Bookstore in your visit to Kathmandu.


As the name indicates, you can buy (and sell!) books there. You can also have a cup of tea. With some cake. Or more pieces of cake. You can sit either inside or outside.

If you stay in KTM for few days and one day is noth enough for you to explore Durbar Square, but your ticket and go (on the same day) to the Site Office (north part of Square) and ask for Visitor Pass - you will avoid paying for entry every single day.

For 3-4 days I would stay in the Kathmandu Valley area, there is alot more things to see and do.

Here's my list of things to do:

1. Spend all day walking round the streets of Kathmandu and see all the main sites, Bodnath, Pashupatinah, Patan, Swayambunath, Durbar Square, Freak Street and chill out in the Tamel area.

2. Go to Nagarkot in the Morning, on the farside of the Kathmandu Valley and stay for the night and watch the Sunset & Sunrise, well worth it. spend the day walking around the lower hills, here you will get some great photos of farmers tending their crops with the Himayala mountain range in the background. After sunrise do a day hike to Bhaktapur via Changu Valley, When arrive in Bhaktapur suggest you stay the night and explore more of the town next day or you can get taxi back to Kathmandu.

3. Explore Bhaktapur visit potter's Square and return back to Kathmandu later in the afternoon.

4. Continue to explore more of Kathmandu.

If you go to Pokhara by bus it is at least 8 hours or more. Flying would best option. to get the best views of the Annapurna range hike upto Sarangkot Hill and stay for the night and watch the Sunrise these will be the best views of Himalayas you will see, but there is not alot to see around Pokhara area it is very much a chill out area around the lake with all the home comforts, well almost anyway. A good place to rest after hiking for a couple of weeks in the mountains.

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Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमांडौ, Nepal Bhasa: येँ) is the capital and the largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city is situated in Kathmandu Valley, which also contains two other cities - Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. Newari language is spoken by all people of the city. English is understood by all of the educated population of the city. Literacy rate is 98% in the city. The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1400 m in valley surrounded by four major mountains, Sivapuri, Pulchowki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri and is inhabited by about 500,000 but due to migration of invader population reached exceeding 7,000,000. Kathmandu is considered to have the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal.

Once upon a time, Kathmandu Valley was a lake. A god named Manjusri cut the mountains and drained the water. So, people had settled here.
There had been 3 kingdoms in Kathmandu Valley. Now they are the three important cities: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan. All three have their own Durbar Square. A Durbar Square is a vivid place full with temples which has an amazing architecture. If you force someone to produce same kind of woodwork (Newari art, I think) nowadays, he has enough motives to murder you. All Durbar squares have temples, palaces, and people sleeping under the sun.

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When you visit Kathmandu and plan to buy art work; carving, rough, pashmeena etc ,you need to visit Thameel street .

In this place you can find mountain climbing and hiking equipment.

Don't forget to bargain the price, ...:)