Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal, with a population of over 550,000, yet is only the size of a small urban town. The city is one of the poorest in the world yet retains a fascinating charm being a virtual museum of narrow streets, hindu pagodas and buddhist stupas.

Thamel is the heart and soul of the city centre, a collection of narrow streets bursting with hotels, shops, restaurants and trekking agencies. There are no tourist sites in Thamel, apart from the district itself, which is one entire site, and worth exploring for a day to witness the sounds and smells that make up downtown Kathmandu.