Where Is Kathmandu? The Complete Location Guide (Nepal, Not India)

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city of Nepal, located in the country's centre at 27.7172° N, 85.3240° E. It sits at an elevation of 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley — a lake bed 10,000 years ago, now the political, cultural and commercial heart of Nepal, ringed by four green hills in the mid-hill zone of the Himalayan foothills.

The city is in Nepal, not India — though the two countries share a long open border along Nepal's south, and Indian tourists cross into Kathmandu freely. Politically, Kathmandu sits in Bagmati Province, within Kathmandu District, roughly 160 km west of Mount Everest and 200 km east of Pokhara.

Key Takeaways

• Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, in central Nepal — a landlocked country between India and Tibet (China).
• It sits at 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) in the Kathmandu Valley, ringed by four hills — Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri.
• Coordinates: 27.7172° N, 85.3240° E. Time zone: NPT (UTC +5:45) — one of only two time zones in the world offset by 45 minutes.
• Kathmandu is in Bagmati Province, Kathmandu District — the third layer of Nepal's political geography.
• The population of Kathmandu city is around 845,000 (2021 census), with the wider metropolitan area at roughly 4 million — about 1/12th of Nepal's total population.
• Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is Nepal's only international airport, sitting about 6 km east of the city centre.
• Kathmandu is roughly 160 km from Mount Everest in a straight line — you cannot see Everest from the city itself.
• Founded traditionally in 723 AD, Kathmandu is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in South Asia.

Quick Facts — Kathmandu, Nepal

Where Is Kathmandu? (The Short Answer)

Kathmandu is in central Nepal, sitting inside a natural bowl-shaped valley in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The city occupies about 50 square kilometers of the Kathmandu Valley floor, at an elevation of roughly 1,400 meters above sea level. The valley itself is about 30 kilometers long east-to-west and 25 kilometers wide north-to-south, ringed on all sides by hills that rise from around 2,000 meters to nearly 2,800 meters. From Kathmandu, the massive snow peaks of the greater Himalaya are further north — visible on a clear morning from higher points around the city, but not the city floor itself.

Everything else in this guide is context for that single geographical fact.

Which Country Is Kathmandu In? (Nepal — Not India)

Kathmandu is in Nepal.

This question gets asked genuinely often, and it's worth answering directly, because Nepal and India share a 1,750-kilometer open border and enough cultural, religious and linguistic overlap that outsiders sometimes assume Kathmandu is Indian.

It isn't. Nepal is a fully independent country, has been since 1768 when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified the various small kingdoms of the region, and Kathmandu has been its capital ever since. Nepal has its own currency (the Nepali rupee), its own passport, its own flag (the only non-rectangular national flag in the world), its own Prime Minister and government, and its own dominant language (Nepali, written in Devanagari script).

Nepal's neighbours:

• India — to the south, east and west, along an open border
• Tibet (China) — to the north, along the Himalayan crest

Kathmandu itself sits closer to the Tibetan border than to the Indian one — roughly 115 kilometers from the Chinese border to the north, and about 200 kilometers from the Indian border to the south. You are geographically much closer to Lhasa than most people assume.

Where Is Kathmandu on the Map?

Kathmandu's exact geographic coordinates are:

• Latitude: 27.7172° N
• Longitude: 85.3240° E

Or in degrees-minutes-seconds: 27°42′36″ N, 85°19′12″ E.

On a world map, look for South Asia. Then find the small country wedged between India and China — that's Nepal. Kathmandu sits roughly at the country's centre, slightly to the east. If you drew a line from New Delhi east to Bhutan, Kathmandu would sit almost exactly on the midpoint of that line, but a little north of it, in the hills.

On a South Asia regional map:

• From New Delhi: Kathmandu is about 1,150 km east
• From Kolkata: about 700 km northwest
• From Lhasa: about 610 km southwest
• From Dhaka: about 700 km northwest

The city sits between the flat Terai plains of southern Nepal and the high Himalayan crest to the north — placing it at that curious middle altitude where lowland South Asian climate begins to give way to high-mountain Nepal.

Where Is Kathmandu Located in Nepal?

Nepal is divided administratively into seven provinces. Kathmandu sits in Bagmati Province — the province named after the sacred river that flows through the city.

Below the province level, Nepal is divided into districts. Kathmandu city sits within Kathmandu District (the district shares its name with the city). Kathmandu District is one of three districts that make up the wider Kathmandu Valley:

• Kathmandu District — home to Kathmandu Metropolitan City
• Lalitpur District — home to Patan, Kathmandu's sister city to the south
• Bhaktapur District — home to Bhaktapur, the ancient royal city to the east

Together, these three districts contain nearly one-twelfth of Nepal's total population and are the densest urban region in the country.

Kathmandu District itself borders:

• Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok to the east
• Dhading and Nuwakot to the west
• Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok to the north
• Lalitpur and Makwanpur to the south

For a country with such dramatic geography — running from the Terai plains at 60 meters to Everest at 8,848 meters — Kathmandu's district is compact and unusually flat by Nepali standards, because it fills the ancient lake floor of the Valley.

The Kathmandu Valley — Where the City Actually Sits

Kathmandu city and its surroundings occupy the Kathmandu Valley — one of the most geographically distinctive urban settings in Asia. The valley is essentially a giant, roughly circular bowl carved into the Himalayan foothills.

Four hills form the valley's rim, and every trekker, pilgrim and daytripper eventually gets to know their names:

These four hills historically served as the four trade passes into the valley — before roads existed, all goods entering Kathmandu came through Chandragiri or one of the other hill passes. Today the same hills host national park land (Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park), day-hiking trails, meditation retreats, and — on Chandragiri — a modern cable car that gets tourists from the valley floor to a panoramic viewpoint in about ten minutes.

The valley itself has an ancient story: around 10,000 years ago it was a lake. Geological and fossil evidence (including ancient hippo and crocodile remains) confirms this. Buddhist tradition tells the same story mythologically — the Bodhisattva Manjushri cut a gorge at Chovar with his sword, draining the lake and revealing the fertile valley floor. To this day, Chovar remains the only outlet for all the valley's rivers, which flow together into the Bagmati and eventually south into the Ganges.

Two rivers thread through Kathmandu itself: the Bagmati (sacred to Hindus, the river the province is named after) and its tributary the Bishnumati. Both are considerably smaller and more polluted than they were even 50 years ago, but they still shape the city's neighbourhoods, mark the boundaries between historic quarters, and hold the funeral ghats of Pashupatinath.

Kathmandu Elevation & Terrain

Kathmandu's elevation is 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) above sea level.

You'll see different figures cited on different websites — 1,300 m, 1,324 m, 1,360 m, 1,400 m — and all are technically accurate for different reference points across the city, which stretches over uneven terrain. Wikipedia lists 1,324 m for the city's official reference point; Britannica says 1,324 m (4,344 ft); topographic maps average 1,400 m (4,600 ft). For a searchable, useful answer, 1,400m is the figure to remember.

What this elevation means practically:

• No altitude sickness. At 1,400 m, oxygen levels are essentially normal. Trekkers landing at Kathmandu do not need to worry about altitude adaptation — that starts much higher, above 2,500 m.
• Kathmandu ranks among the world's top 20 highest capital cities. Not the highest (that's La Paz in Bolivia at 3,650 m), but genuinely elevated compared to most world capitals.
• Moderate climate. Because Kathmandu sits high enough to escape the hot Terai plains but low enough to escape true Himalayan cold, its temperature runs 5-25°C across the seasons, with a monsoon summer and dry, sunny winters.

The surrounding terrain — hills rising to 2,700+ meters within 10 kilometers of the city — creates the characteristic bowl view: from any high point in the city you look up at forested ridges in every direction.

Where Is Kathmandu Airport (Tribhuvan International)?

Nepal's only international airport, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), sits in the eastern part of Kathmandu city, about 6 kilometers east of Thamel and central Kathmandu.

• IATA code: KTM
• Location: Sinamangal, Kathmandu (east side of the city)
• Distance from Thamel: ~6 km (15-30 minute taxi ride depending on traffic)
• Distance from Kathmandu Durbar Square: ~7 km
• Distance from Boudhanath Stupa: ~3 km (very close)
• Distance from Pashupatinath Temple: ~3-4 km (also very close)

Practical airport-to-city notes:

• A pre-paid taxi from the arrivals hall to Thamel costs around NPR 800-1,200 in 2026 (roughly USD 6-10). Taxis outside the terminal may negotiate lower, but the pre-paid counter avoids the haggling.
• Journey time is usually 15-30 minutes, but Kathmandu traffic can double this at peak hours.
• Tribhuvan is the only international entry point to Nepal by air. Pokhara has a domestic international-capable airport (Pokhara International Airport), but it currently handles only limited international flights.

Domestic flights to Lukla (for Everest Base Camp), Pokhara (for Annapurna), and other trekking gateways also depart from Tribhuvan.

Key Places Within Kathmandu

Kathmandu is a city of neighbourhoods, and understanding where its landmarks sit relative to each other helps you plan any trip.

• Thamel — the tourist district and unofficial "arrival centre" of Kathmandu. Roughly 2 km north of Durbar Square and 6 km west of the airport. About four square blocks of narrow streets packed with hotels, trekking gear shops, cafés, and travel agencies. Almost every international trekker begins their Nepal trip here.
• Kathmandu Durbar Square — the historic royal square in the old city centre, roughly 15 minutes on foot south of Thamel, or a short rickshaw or taxi ride. Home to the palaces of Nepal's ancient kings, dozens of Hindu temples, and the Kumari Ghar — the residence of Nepal's living goddess.
• Boudhanath (Boudha) Stupa — the largest stupa in Asia, in the eastern part of the city about 6 km east of Thamel (25 minutes by taxi) and just 3 km from the airport. Centre of Tibetan Buddhist life in Kathmandu. Best visited at dusk, when the local Tibetan community walks the kora (circumambulation) around the stupa.
• Pashupatinath Temple — one of the holiest Hindu temples in the world, on the banks of the Bagmati River in eastern Kathmandu, about 5 km from Thamel and 3-4 km from the airport. Often visited together with Boudhanath since the two sit close to each other on the eastern side of the city.
• Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — the hilltop Buddhist stupa west of the city, about 2-3 km west of Thamel, roughly 10-15 minutes by taxi. Sits on a hill giving the best panoramic view over the whole valley on a clear morning. Named for its resident monkey population.
• Tokha — a semi-rural neighbourhood in the northern part of Kathmandu, about 8-10 km north of the city centre, at the foot of the Shivapuri hills. Increasingly a residential expansion area rather than a tourist site.
• Freak Street (Jhonchhen) — the old backpacker quarter of the 1960s and 70s, immediately south of Durbar Square. Once the centre of Kathmandu's hippy scene when cannabis was legally sold; today a quieter, more atmospheric alternative to Thamel with a handful of old-school cafés and cheap guest houses.

How Far Is Kathmandu from Mount Everest?

Kathmandu is approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of Mount Everest in a straight line.

Two things worth understanding:

You cannot see Everest from Kathmandu. The city's low altitude (1,400 m) and the intervening ridges of the middle Himalaya block any direct line of sight. What you can see from higher points around Kathmandu (Nagarkot, Chandragiri, Swayambhunath) on a clear morning are the more accessible Himalayan peaks — Langtang, Ganesh Himal, and sometimes further peaks. Everest itself hides behind closer mountains.

Reaching Everest from Kathmandu takes days, not hours. The standard route:

• Kathmandu → Lukla by plane — 25-35 minutes, roughly USD 240 one-way in 2026
• Lukla → Everest Base Camp on foot — 7-9 days of trekking
• Total time from Kathmandu to EBC: 8-10 days, if you do it properly with acclimatization

For anyone specifically wanting to see Everest without a full trek, mountain flights from Kathmandu offer roughly one-hour scenic flights that fly close enough to Everest for excellent views. These leave from Tribhuvan International Airport, run early in the morning (best visibility), and cost around USD 200-250 per person.

How to Reach Kathmandu

Kathmandu is accessible internationally by air, and from India by both air and land.

By air (the most common way):

• Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) handles all Nepal's international arrivals
• Direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata (India); Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi (Middle East); Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore (Southeast Asia); Hong Kong, Guangzhou (China); Istanbul (Europe connection point)
• No direct flights from Europe, the Americas, or Australia — most international travellers connect through Doha, Dubai, or Delhi

By land (from India):

• Nepal-India border is open at several points; the most common crossings are Sonauli/Bhairahawa (from Uttar Pradesh, closest to Kathmandu via Pokhara route), Raxaul/Birgunj (from Bihar), and Kakarbhitta/Panitanki (from West Bengal)
• Buses run daily from Delhi, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Kolkata to various border crossings, then onward to Kathmandu
• Overland from India to Kathmandu typically takes 24-36 hours

By land from Tibet (limited):

• The Kerung border crossing north of Kathmandu opens intermittently for group tours arranged through Chinese-approved operators
• Independent overland travel between Tibet and Nepal is not currently possible for most nationalities

Visa on arrival: Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport for USD 30 (15 days), USD 50 (30 days), or USD 125 (90 days). Indian nationals do not require a visa. 

Quick Geographic Facts About Kathmandu

Some final numbers to complete the picture:

• Founded: Traditionally in 723 AD under the name Kantipur, by Raja Gunakamadeva of the Licchavi dynasty. Renamed after the wooden Kasthamandap temple built around the 12th century — "Kastha" meaning wood, "Mandap" meaning shelter or pavilion. Local legend holds the temple was built from the wood of a single tree.
• Motto: "Cultural City" (सांस्कृतिक सहर)
• Postal code: 44600
• Area code: 01
• City wards: 32 administrative wards
• Ethnic groups: Newars (30% — the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley), Chhetris, Bahuns, Tamangs, Gurungs, and dozens of others
• Dominant religions: Hinduism (~80% of Kathmandu's population), Buddhism (~15%), with small Christian, Muslim and Kirat communities
• Languages: Nepali (dominant); Nepal Bhasa (Newari) — the traditional language of the Kathmandu Valley Newars, still widely spoken; English — widely understood in tourism and business
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Valley: 7 — Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, and Changu Narayan
• Time zone: NPT — UTC +5:45. Nepal is one of only two countries in the world using a 45-minute offset (the other being Chatham Islands in New Zealand at +12:45).

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kathmandu?

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal, in central Nepal, at 1,400 m elevation in the Kathmandu Valley. Coordinates: 27.7172° N, 85.3240° E.

Which country is Kathmandu in?

Kathmandu is in Nepal — a landlocked country between India and Tibet (China). Nepal is fully independent and not part of India, though the two share a long open border.

Where is Kathmandu on a world map?

Kathmandu sits in South Asia, between India (to the south, east, and west) and Tibet/China (to the north). On a South Asia regional map, it's roughly on a line between Delhi and Bhutan, but pushed north into the Himalayan foothills.

Where is Kathmandu located in Nepal?

Kathmandu is in Bagmati Province, in Kathmandu District, in central Nepal.

How high is Kathmandu?

Kathmandu sits at approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 feet) above sea level. Different sources cite between 1,300 m and 1,400 m depending on the reference point.

Is Kathmandu in India?

No. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal — an independent country. India is Nepal's southern neighbour, but they are separate nations with different governments, currencies, and passports.

Where is Kathmandu airport?

Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) sits in the eastern part of Kathmandu city, about 6 km east of Thamel and central Kathmandu. It is Nepal's only international airport.

Where is Thamel in Kathmandu?

Thamel is in central Kathmandu, about 2 km north of Durbar Square. It's the main tourist district — most international trekkers stay here on arrival and departure.

Where is Kathmandu Durbar Square?

Kathmandu Durbar Square is in the old city centre, about 15 minutes on foot south of Thamel. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historic royal square of the Malla-era kings.

How far is Kathmandu from Mount Everest?

Roughly 160 km (100 miles) in a straight line. You cannot see Everest from Kathmandu, but scenic mountain flights from Kathmandu offer one-hour views of Everest and the surrounding peaks.

What is Kathmandu Valley?

The Kathmandu Valley is the bowl-shaped valley in which Kathmandu sits. About 30 km east-to-west and 25 km north-to-south, ringed by four hills, home to three districts (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur) and roughly 4 million people.

Where is Tokha in Kathmandu?

Tokha is a semi-rural neighbourhood in northern Kathmandu, about 8-10 km north of the city centre, at the foot of Shivapuri hill.

Where is the Kumari in Kathmandu?

The Kumari — Nepal's living goddess — resides at the Kumari Ghar, a traditional Newari residence on the south side of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Public viewing is limited to specific times when she appears at her window.

What is the population of Kathmandu?

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has approximately 845,000 residents (2021 census). The wider metropolitan area, including Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and surrounding towns, holds about 4 million people.

Conclusion — Kathmandu, the Gateway to the Himalayas

Kathmandu is not just a location on a map. It is the gateway to everything else Nepal offers — the Everest region, the Annapurna region, the ancient Buddhist heritage of Lumbini, the Terai jungles, the Tibetan plateau.

Almost every trekker who comes to Nepal begins and ends in Kathmandu. Almost every pilgrim, mountaineer, and long-term traveller in the region passes through. The city is small by South Asian megacity standards — you can walk from Thamel to Durbar Square in fifteen minutes — but it packs seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, thousands of temples, and a living cultural depth that most cities its size don't come close to.

That's where Kathmandu is, and that's what being in Kathmandu actually means.
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