On our way to Bhutan, we had a two-night stopover in Kathmandu, Nepal, which meant we needed somewhere to stay. We weren’t looking for just any hotel, though.
There were a few things on our wish list. We wanted to stay in the downtown area so we could walk to some of Kathmandu’s main attractions. We were also hoping to find somewhere that wasn’t too noisy, although we realized that might be asking a lot in such a busy city!
Last but not least, we loved the idea of staying somewhere traditionally Nepalese. At that point, though, we weren’t even completely sure what that meant!
While searching through different accommodation sites, we stumbled across Kantipur Temple House in Kathmandu. From the description and photos, it seemed to check all our boxes: a central location, a peaceful setting and beautiful traditional architecture. As a bonus, they also offered half board.
We booked it immediately.
What we didn’t know at the time was what a special part of our Nepal experience this hotel would become—or that after our first two nights, we would like it enough to book another three nights when we returned to Nepal a few weeks later!
Staying in the Heart of Thamel
Kantipur Temple House is located in Thamel, one of Kathmandu’s main tourist areas.
During our visit, the neighborhood was packed with shops, restaurants, cafés, tour agencies and trekking stores. You could spend hours simply wandering through the narrow streets and seeing what you discovered.
What we loved about the location of Kantipur Temple House was that although we were right in Thamel, the hotel felt surprisingly removed from all the traffic and noise.
Everything we wanted was within walking distance, but once we stepped inside the property, the chaos of Kathmandu seemed to disappear.
You immediately entered a peaceful garden surrounded by beautiful traditional architecture. The kids absolutely loved having this outdoor space. Mass and I could comfortably sit outside sipping tea while they ran around.
For a moment, it was easy to forget that we were staying in the heart of Nepal’s biggest city
About Kantipur Temple House
One of the main reasons we chose Kantipur Temple House was its architecture.
The hotel was designed using elements of traditional Newari architecture (mainly in stupas, monasteries, and temples), with brickwork, beautiful wooden details and intricate carvings that made the building feel completely different from a typical modern hotel.
This was exactly what we had been hoping to find when we said we wanted somewhere that felt connected to Nepal rather than a hotel that could have been anywhere in the world.
At the time of our stay in 2020, the hotel had 48 rooms of different sizes overlooking either the garden or courtyard. Our rooms incorporated traditional handicrafts, wooden floors and locally made furnishings. Even though the rooms shared similar elements, they didn’t all feel exactly the same. There were little differences in the décor that gave them their own character.
Eating and Cooking Nepali Food
There was also an in-house restaurant where we ate several of our meals.
At the time, the restaurant offered a mixture of Nepali, Indian, Chinese, Thai and Continental dishes, but of course, we were especially interested in trying the Nepali food.
And we didn’t just get to eat it!
During our stay, we had the opportunity to take a cooking class at the hotel and learn how to prepare some of the local dishes we had been enjoying.
Here is the first part of our cooking lesson:
Food is such an important part of how we experience a country, so getting into the kitchen and actually learning how some of the dishes were made made the experience even better.
Traditionally, many Nepali dishes are eaten with the hands, something our kids were VERY happy to embrace!
The restaurant had regular tables and chairs as well, but when we had the opportunity to sit on the floor and eat in a more traditional way, we were happy to try it.
Kantipur Temple House’s Green Approach
Another thing that made Kantipur Temple House stand out to us was its focus on sustainability.
When we stayed in 2020, the hotel was making a real effort to reduce its environmental impact, and we noticed those choices throughout the property.
There were no televisions, bathtubs or air conditioning in our rooms, which helped reduce energy consumption. Instead of central heating, we were given hot-water bottles and electric blankets.
The kids LOVED getting into bed at night and finding their covers already warm!
The hotel also had what they described as a “no plastic philosophy.” Instead of providing disposable plastic water bottles, there were water jugs in the rooms and places around the hotel where guests could refill them.
They were also using solar power as part of their approach to energy use.
These might sound like small details, but together they were part of what made the hotel feel different from many of the other places we had stayed.
Why Did We Love Kantipur Temple House So Much?
Probably the best indication of how much we liked Kantipur Temple House is what happened after our first stay.
We originally booked two nights on our way to Bhutan. After those two nights, we booked another three nights for when we would be back in Nepal a few weeks later!
So what made us want to return?
The Location
We loved being able to walk out into the streets of Thamel whenever we wanted while still having somewhere peaceful to return to.
Kathmandu could feel incredibly busy, so stepping back through the doors of the hotel and into that quiet courtyard was always a nice contrast.
And with three kids, having the garden was a HUGE plus. They had somewhere to run around and be wild without us constantly worrying that they were going to break something!
The Environment
We had gone looking for a hotel with traditional character, and Kantipur Temple House definitely gave us that.
We loved the brickwork, wooden carvings, courtyard and little details throughout the building.
Upstairs there was also a common area with a leave-a-book, take-a-book exchange, plus an outside terrace where you could look over the surrounding area.
The kids and I loved going up there to read and draw.
Those are such simple moments, but they are often the ones I remember most when I think back on the places where we have stayed.
The Staff
But what really made us want to return was the staff.
From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with kindness and friendliness. Everyone did what they could to help us, whether it was making sure everything was okay in our rooms, giving us tips about what was happening around Kathmandu or simply interacting with the kids and making them feel welcome.
And our timing made this particular stay even more memorable.
Being in Nepal During Holi and the Beginning of COVID
We were in Nepal in March 2020, which turned out to be a very unusual time to be traveling.
While we were there, the staff told us not to miss the Holi Festival taking place nearby.
We listened to them, and I’m so glad we did!
But at the same time that we were celebrating Holi, the situation with COVID was quickly changing around the world.
Suddenly, something that had seemed very far away was beginning to affect our travels too.
The staff helped us make sure we had everything we needed as Nepal prepared to go into lockdown. What had begun as a simple hotel stay became connected to a much bigger moment in our family’s travels, and in the world.
It’s one of the reasons I still remember the people there so clearly.
What Made Kantipur Temple House Unique for Us?
Something valuable we have learned during our travels is that a hotel can have the best décor, the best amenities and the most beautiful building, but the people are often what you remember most.
That was definitely true at Kantipur Temple House.
We originally booked it because of its location and traditional architecture. We returned because it had become somewhere we felt comfortable.
The kids could run around the garden. We could walk straight into Thamel. We learned how to cook Nepali food, ate together, celebrated Holi nearby and spent quiet moments reading and drawing upstairs.
But most of all, we remember the people who welcomed us.
Looking back now, years later, I think the fact that we booked another three nights before we had even finished our first visit probably says everything. ❤️
Happy travels!
Is Kantipur Temple House Still Open? Our 2026 Update
Since our stay was back in 2020, I was curious to see how much Kantipur Temple House had changed over the years.
The good news is that Kantipur Temple House is still open, and many of the things we loved about it are still very much part of the hotel today!
It continues to describe itself as an eco-friendly boutique hotel and has maintained many of the green practices we experienced during our stay, including its no-plastic approach, free drinking-water refill stations, solar-heated water, locally sourced food and energy-saving philosophy.
The traditional Newari architecture, peaceful courtyard and garden are also still a big part of the experience.
There are a few additional things travelers can take advantage of today, including free morning yoga classes, and they now offer an Executive room designed with families and longer stays in mind, with a queen bed, single bed and small kitchenette.
What made me happiest when looking at recent reviews, though, was seeing how many travelers still mention the staff.
That was one of the main reasons we returned to Kantipur Temple House for a second stay, and all these years later, guests are still talking about their kindness and hospitality.
It’s nice to know that although Kathmandu has certainly changed since our visit in 2020, so much of what made this hotel special to us seems to still be there.
Continue the journey with:
If you are planning a trip to Asia, these unique destinations should definitely be on your radar:
- Brunei: The Family Trip That Became a Girls’ Adventure
- Meeting the Reindeer tribe: Our incredible travels in northern Mongolia
- A Family Journey Through India
- Discovering Cambodia: From Phnom Penh to the Magic of Siem Reap with Kids
- Visiting Bhutan with Kids: Inside the Magical Kingdom of Bhutan
I hope our experience helps you plan an unforgettable Asia adventure of your own!
