Kathmandu Valley · – · –
Kathmandu Valley in April
Nepali New Year falls in mid-April, and Bhaktapur celebrates it with Bisket Jatra: a week of chariot pulling, a tall pole raised and dropped, and neighbouring Thimi's vermilion-throwing Sindure Jatra. In Patan, Rato Machhindranath's chariot is usually built and begins its weeks-long roll around this time. Warm days, short storms in the late afternoon.
Local tip for April
Book Bhaktapur rooms early for Bisket week; the old town's small guesthouses fill quickly.
Where to go in April
Kathmandu Valley1,401 mBhaktapur
Khwopa, the city of potters, drums and the five-roofed Nyatapola
Kathmandu Valley1,350 mPatan
Yala, the city of metalworkers, courtyards and Buddhist bahals
Kathmandu Valley1,350 mBungamati
Home village of the red rain god, and of the valley's woodcarvers
Festivals around April
Kathmandu ValleyBisket Jatra
Mid-April, around Nepali New Year (Baisakh 1)
Kathmandu ValleyRato Machhindranath Jatra
Late April to June, starting in the month of Baisakh
Trips at their best in April
Kathmandu Valleymax 1,750 mBuddhist Kathmandu: Boudha to Namobuddha
Five nights following the Buddhist thread of the Kathmandu Valley: three at Boudhanath for dawn koras and monastery visits, Swayambhu and the …
Kathmandu Valleymax 1,750 mHoneymoon: Kathmandu, Dhulikhel and Pokhara
A seven-night honeymoon that moves from the temples of Kathmandu to the quiet hills of Dhulikhel and the lake and mountains of …
Kathmandu Valleymax 1,420 mKathmandu stopover in two nights
Two nights in Kathmandu for travellers between flights or before a trek. See Swayambhu at sunset, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and the …
Kathmandu Valleymax 1,401 mMakers of the valley: metal, clay, wood, masks
Four nights in the workshops of the Kathmandu Valley's craft families. Watch bronze cast by the lost-wax method in Patan, carvers at …
Kathmandu Valleymax 2,551 mKathmandu Valley with children
A five-night family trip around the Kathmandu Valley built for short attention spans and early bedtimes: monkeys at Swayambhu, a momo-making class, …
Kathmandu Valleymax 1,540 mThe seven heritage zones of the Kathmandu Valley
Four nights, five days and all seven monument zones that make up the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site: the Durbar squares of …
Kathmandu Valleymax 1,600 mNepal first-timer: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan
The classic first trip to Nepal in nine nights: three in Kathmandu for the Durbar squares, stupas and Pashupatinath, three in Pokhara …
Kathmandu Valleymax 1,400 mNewar food and festivals of the valley
Five nights in the kitchens, markets and festival squares of the Newars, the valley's oldest people. Eat samay baji in Kirtipur, buy …
Elsewhere in Nepal in April
Questions
Is April a good time to visit Kathmandu Valley?
Nepali New Year falls in mid-April, and Bhaktapur celebrates it with Bisket Jatra: a week of chariot pulling, a tall pole raised and dropped, and neighbouring Thimi's vermilion-throwing Sindure Jatra. In Patan, Rato Machhindranath's chariot is usually built and begins its weeks-long roll around this time. Warm days, short storms in the late afternoon.
What is the weather like in Kathmandu Valley in April?
Kathmandu 11–28 °C, warm, late-day thunderstorms. Conditions change fast with altitude, so check the forecast for each stop a week before you travel.
Where should we go in Kathmandu Valley in April?
We suggest Bhaktapur, Patan, Bungamati. Book Bhaktapur rooms early for Bisket week; the old town's small guesthouses fill quickly.