Thamel is the most popular tourist area of Kathmandu. It is a 15 minute walk from the Annapurna Hotel in Kathmandu where we stayed and has narrow streets full of mushrooming lodges and hotels for budget travellers. Restaurants, bars and other tourist oriented shops abound, all bustling with activities.
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One of the places where trekkers get permits
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Thamel acts as the pre-base camp for many mountaineers. There is a wide range of mountaineering gear shops, foreign money exchange booths, pubs, clubs and nightlife.
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Kilroy is one of the popular pub/restaurants in Thamel and is owned by an Irish man who settled here years ago.
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Enjoying an ice-cold lassi (made from buffalo yogurt and banana).
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A Tibetan refugee in his wool shop where he sells hand knitted garments made from yak wool.
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I recognized this man’s “McDonalds” shirt. He told us that he used to work for McD in the Phillipines and kept the shirt when he returned to Nepal. Now he wears it while working at this Thamel outdoor tearoom!
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The Funky Buddah Bar
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A ‘holy cow’ roams the streets of Thamel
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RumDoodle is a very popular rooftop restaurant where trekkers from all over the world meet, eat and compare notes. Mervyn had pork chops with mash. It could have been wild boar – we were not too sure.
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There are many interesting arcades such as this one, filled with little shops.
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Scarves and shawls from India are everywhere!
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A slummy side-street in Thamel
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Having filter coffee at the Bakery Coffee Shop with Sirish
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There are many ‘language centres’ all over Kathmandu that offer English lessons!
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Having a lassi for the road
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For the tourist who does not enjoy getting his fingers and feet dirty, Thamel is the place to be. There are lovely shopping arcades, shops, markets and restaurants that could keep one occupied for at least a week.
