Plan a visit

Opening hours, entry fees, time needed, best season and how to get there from Sanothimi — for every place on this site, plus ready-made trip plans.

Trip plans

Half day: Sanothimi and old Thimi

Morning walk from Sanothimi up to the Balkumari temple, then the potters and mask makers of Thimi. Finish with bara at a local eatery.

One day: Thimi + Bhaktapur

Sunrise worship in Thimi, then the bus to Bhaktapur: Siddha Pokhari, Durbar Square, Pottery Square, lunch at Taumadhi, Nyatapola, Dattatreya Square and golden hour back in the squares.

Two days: add Changu Narayan and Nagarkot

Day one as above. Day two: Changu Narayan in the morning, then the ridge walk or a ride to Nagarkot for sunset, staying overnight for sunrise over the Himalaya.

Three days: the eastern rim

From Nagarkot drive to Dhulikhel, hike to Namo Buddha, and on the way back stop at Kailashnath Mahadev in Sanga. Pilgrims can add Doleshwor Mahadev and Suryabinayak.

Every place at a glance

Hours and fees change; figures here were checked in 2025–2026 and are approximate. Confirm at the ticket counter.

Sanothimi: the small Thimi

Opening hours: Always open
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1–2 hours on foot
Best time: Weekday mornings for street life; weekends are quiet
Getting there: Any bus on the Araniko Highway between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur; stop "Sanothimi".

The education hub of Nepal

Opening hours: Offices: Sunday–Friday, about 10 am – 5 pm
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 30 minutes to walk around
Best time: Weekday mornings
Getting there: In Sanothimi, a few minutes north of the highway.

Old Thimi: the town of capable people

Opening hours: Always open
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Best time: Early morning; Nepali New Year for Sindoor Jatra
Getting there: 10–20 minute walk uphill from Sanothimi, or get off at Thimi on the highway.

Balkumari Temple, Thimi

Opening hours: Open all day; shrines busiest at dawn
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 30–60 minutes
Best time: Dawn worship; Baisakh 1 for the jatra
Getting there: In the centre of old Thimi; ask anyone for Balkumari.

Potters and mask makers of Thimi

Opening hours: Workshops roughly 8 am – 5 pm
Entry fee: Free to watch; small fee to try the wheel
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: Sunny dry-season mornings (Oct–May)
Getting there: Potters' lanes around old Thimi, 10–20 minutes' walk from Sanothimi.

Bode and the tongue-piercing festival

Opening hours: Always open
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1 hour; half a day on festival day
Best time: Baisakh 2 for Jibro Chhedne Jatra
Getting there: About 3 km north of Sanothimi via the Sanothimi–Bode road; walk, taxi or ride-share.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Opening hours: Square always open; ticket counters roughly 7 am – 7 pm; National Art Gallery about 10:30 am – 4 pm, closed Tuesdays
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: Half a day; a full day for the whole old city
Best time: Early morning or late afternoon; October–November
Getting there: Bus or microbus from Sanothimi towards Bhaktapur (15–20 min), get off at Siddha Pokhari and walk in.

Palace of Fifty-Five Windows

Opening hours: Viewable any time; gallery about 10:30 am – 4 pm
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: 30 minutes (+1 hour for the gallery)
Best time: Soft morning or evening light
Getting there: Bus or microbus from Sanothimi towards Bhaktapur (15–20 min), get off at Siddha Pokhari and walk in.

The Golden Gate (Sun Dhoka)

Opening hours: Gate viewable any time; inner courtyards open daytime
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: 20–30 minutes
Best time: Morning sun lights the gilding
Getting there: Bus or microbus from Sanothimi towards Bhaktapur (15–20 min), get off at Siddha Pokhari and walk in.

Vatsala Durga Temple and the Taleju Bell

Opening hours: Always viewable
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: 20 minutes
Best time: Any time
Getting there: Bus or microbus from Sanothimi towards Bhaktapur (15–20 min), get off at Siddha Pokhari and walk in.

Nyatapola: the five-storey temple

Opening hours: Steps open daytime; sanctum opens once a year
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: 30–60 minutes
Best time: Day and again after dark when lit; Bisket Jatra in April
Getting there: Bus or microbus from Sanothimi towards Bhaktapur (15–20 min), get off at Siddha Pokhari and walk in.

Bhairavnath Temple

Opening hours: Viewable any time
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: 20 minutes
Best time: Bisket Jatra (April) for the chariot
Getting there: Bus or microbus from Sanothimi towards Bhaktapur (15–20 min), get off at Siddha Pokhari and walk in.

Dattatreya Square and the Peacock Window

Opening hours: Square always open; museums about 10 am – 4 pm, closed Tuesdays (check locally)
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: 1–2 hours with museums
Best time: Mid-morning, before tour groups
Getting there: 15 minutes' walk east of Durbar Square through Taumadhi.

Pottery Square (Talako)

Opening hours: Potters work roughly 8 am – 5 pm
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: 30–60 minutes
Best time: Sunny mornings, Oct–May
Getting there: 5 minutes' walk south of Durbar Square.

Siddha Pokhari

Opening hours: Always open
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 20–30 minutes
Best time: Early morning walks
Getting there: At the western bus stop of Bhaktapur, 15–20 minutes by bus from Sanothimi.

Nava Durga Dyochhen, the house of the goddesses

Opening hours: Exterior viewable any time; inner shrine closed to non-Hindus
Entry fee: Covered by the Bhaktapur city ticket: foreigners NPR 2,000 (about USD 15), SAARC NPR 500, Nepali citizens free. Ticket can be extended for a week at the office (check current rates).
Time needed: 15–20 minutes
Best time: Dance season (Dashain to early summer)
Getting there: Gachhen, 5 minutes east of Dattatreya Square.

Kamal Binayak and the lotus pond

Opening hours: Open all day; shrines busiest at dawn
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 30 minutes
Best time: Tuesdays/Saturdays for worship; monsoon for lotuses
Getting there: 20 minutes' walk north-east of Durbar Square; Kamal Binayak bus stop.

Changu Narayan

Opening hours: About 7 am – 6 pm daily
Entry fee: Foreigners about NPR 300–400; SAARC less; Nepali citizens free (check at gate)
Time needed: 2–3 hours with the village
Best time: Clear mornings, Oct–Apr
Getting there: Bus from Bhaktapur (Kamal Binayak) or taxi from Sanothimi (30–40 min); 2-hour hike from Bhaktapur.

Suryabinayak

Opening hours: Open all day; shrines busiest at dawn
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1–2 hours with the forest walk
Best time: Sunrise; Tuesdays and Saturdays
Getting there: 30 minutes' walk south of Durbar Square, including a stone stairway.

Kailashnath Mahadev, Sanga

Opening hours: About 7:30 am – 6 pm
Entry fee: Small entry fee at the main gate (about NPR 50); resort side charges more
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: Clear days; Shivaratri and Shrawan Mondays are very crowded
Getting there: Bus towards Banepa/Dhulikhel from Sanothimi, get off at Sanga (30–45 min).

Nagarkot: sunrise over the Himalaya

Opening hours: Always open; view tower daytime
Entry fee: Free; small fee at some viewpoints
Time needed: Overnight for sunrise
Best time: October–December; clear winter mornings
Getting there: Bus from Bhaktapur bus park (about 1 hour) or taxi from Sanothimi (1–1.5 hours).

Doleshwor Mahadev

Opening hours: Early morning – evening
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: Mondays; avoid Shivaratri crowds unless on pilgrimage
Getting there: Taxi from Sanothimi (30–45 min) or bus to Sipadol; 2-hour hike from Suryabinayak.

Sankhu and the Vajrayogini temple

Opening hours: Temple daytime
Entry fee: Small fee for foreigners at the temple (check locally)
Time needed: Half a day
Best time: Spring for Vajrayogini Jatra; Magh for Swasthani
Getting there: Taxi from Sanothimi (about 45 min) or bus via Jorpati; 20–30 min climb to the temple.

Dhulikhel: old Newar town with Himalayan views

Opening hours: Always open
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day or overnight
Best time: October–December for mountain views
Getting there: Direct bus from Sanothimi on the Araniko Highway (about 1 hour).

Namo Buddha: the prince and the tigress

Opening hours: Monastery prayers morning and evening; site open daytime
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: Half a day; full day if hiking
Best time: Clear dry season; Buddha Jayanti
Getting there: 3–4 hour hike from Dhulikhel, or taxi/bus via Dhulikhel (about 2 hours from Sanothimi).