Kathesimbhu Stupa, Kathmandu: Mini Swayambhu Near Thamel

Why go

Kathesimbhu is a small stupa in a courtyard off the old lanes between Thamel and Asan, roughly 300-500 m south of the main Thamel streets. It is a scaled-down copy of Swayambhunath, with the same white dome, gilded tower and painted eyes, ringed by smaller stone chaityas, inscriptions and statues, with a statue of Avalokiteshvara in front of the stupa and a cloister on one side that resembles a Tibetan monastery.

Its appeal is that it is an everyday, working shrine rather than a ticketed monument. Local people stop on their way to work to walk around it, children play in the courtyard and pigeons crowd the dome. It is easy to fit into a walk from Thamel to Kathmandu Durbar Square through the bazaars, and it is a calm place to sit for a few minutes away from the traffic.

Tradition holds that elderly or sick people who cannot climb the hill to Swayambhunath can earn the same merit by visiting Kathesimbhu, which is one reason it has always been well used by the neighbourhood.

History and culture

An inscription of 1552 (Nepal Sambat 762) records that a man named Megharaja donated the golden pinnacle in memory of his son and set up a guthi, a community trust, to fund annual rituals; the guthi is linked to the priests of nearby Kwa Bahal. The stupa was repaired under King Pratap Malla in the 17th century, de-consecrated in 1647 and restored by a Vajracharya priest in 1653. Its full name is Kaathe Swayambhu Shree Gha Chaitya.

One legend says the priest Vak-vajra of Kwa Bahal, on pilgrimage to Benares, was asked to consecrate a chaitya built by the king there; when the king doubted his powers, he lifted it by meditation and carried it to Kathmandu. Another story says it was built with materials left over from Swayambhunath. Both are traditional accounts. The Shakya community of nearby Ason holds a festival at the stupa on the full moon of Asoj, in September or October.

Things to do in Kathesimbhu Stupa

Stop on the bazaar walk
Visit on the way from Thamel south to Asan and Indra Chowk, then continue to Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Walk the circuit with locals
Early morning is when neighbourhood residents walk around the stupa and make offerings.
Look at the smaller chaityas
Take a few minutes to look at the carved stone chaityas and inscriptions around the main stupa.

Weather and the best time to visit Kathesimbhu Stupa

Weather in Kathesimbhu Stupa

Forecast for 1,310 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.

Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.

Best time to visit

Oct-Apr

Good month: Jan
Good month: Feb
Good month: Mar
Good month: Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Good month: Oct
Good month: Nov
Good month: Dec

Autumn (Sep-Nov): October and November are dry and comfortable; the Asoj full moon festival falls in September or October.
Winter (Dec-Feb): December to February is dry and cool, pleasant for walking the old city.
Spring (Mar-May): March and April are warm; May can be hot and hazy.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug): June to August brings afternoon rain, but the courtyard is a short dash from shelter.

Where to stay

HotelsGuesthouses

Plenty of guesthouses and hotels in Thamel, a few minutes' walk away.

No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.

Getting there

Kathesimbhu is in the old city just south of Thamel, a few minutes on foot.

Nearest hub: Kathmandu

walkFrom central Thamel, about 300-500 m south towards Thahiti, 5-10 minutes on foot.
walkFrom Kathmandu Durbar Square, about 1 km north via Indra Chowk and Asan, 15-20 minutes.

Getting to Kathesimbhu Stupa, by mode

Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.

By busfrom Kathmanduabout 0.3-0.6 hLocal buses
Microbuses and tempos stop at Ratna Park, Indra Chowk and Asan; from any of them the courtyard is about 10 minutes' walk.
Kathmandu, Wikivoyage
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 0.1-0.3 h
Taxis can reach Thahiti, but the lanes around the courtyard are narrow and often blocked by handcarts, so most people walk the last few minutes.
Road: Sealed roads via the Ring Road; the last lanes into the old quarters are narrow and sometimes brick-paved.
Kaathe Swyambhu, Wikipedia
By motorbikefrom Kathmanduabout 0.1-0.3 hEasy riding
Very short run, though parking in the old lanes is difficult.
Road: Sealed roads via the Ring Road; the last lanes into the old quarters are narrow and sometimes brick-paved.
Kathmandu, Wikivoyage
On footfrom Thamelabout 0.1-0.2 h5-10 minutes from central Thamel, about 300 to 500 m, flat
South towards Thahiti, the shortest heritage walk from Thamel.
Kaathe Swyambhu, Wikipedia

Where people go next

Thamelon foot, about 0.1-0.2 hStraight back north.
Kathmandu Durbar Squareon foot, about 0.2-0.4 hSouth via Asan and Indra Chowk.
Garden of Dreamson foot, about 0.2-0.3 hEast across Thamel to Tridevi Marg.

Boundary: Government of Nepal, Survey Department (2020). Peak data: Wikidata.

Permits and fees

None needed

There is no entry fee; it is a neighbourhood shrine open to visitors.

Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Kaathe Swyambhu, Wikipedia.

Risks and conditions

Seasonal risks around Kathesimbhu Stupa

What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.

Othermoderate in a typical yearDec-Apr
Dry-season dust and haze are a normal feature of the Kathmandu valley, where measured PM2.5 has run several times the WHO guideline level. Visitors prone to asthma usually do better on early mornings and after rain.
Kathmandu, Wikipedia
Floodinglow in a typical yearJun-Sep
The courtyard is on old-city high ground and little affected, though the surrounding Thahiti lanes typically flood briefly during the heaviest June to September downpours.
2024 Nepal floods, Wikipedia
Road blockageslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
About two thirds of the valley's rain falls between June and September, and sustained downpours typically waterlog junctions and slow valley roads, so short cross-city journeys can take much longer than planned.
Kathmandu, Wikipedia
Coldlow in a typical yearDec-Feb
Valley nights from December to February typically fall to around freezing, with morning fog burning off by mid-morning, and few buildings have heating.
Kathmandu, Wikipedia

Check current conditions before you travel

Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.

Practical tips

Walk clockwise around the stupa and do not sit on the small chaityas.
Be discreet with cameras when people are praying.
The lanes around are busy with motorbikes; keep to the side.
Combine it with Asan and Indra Chowk bazaars on the walk to Durbar Square.

Questions about Kathesimbhu Stupa

Where is Kathesimbhu Stupa?

It is in a courtyard in the old city just south of Thamel, about 5-10 minutes on foot from the main Thamel streets.

Is Kathesimbhu the same as Swayambhunath?

No. Kathesimbhu is a smaller replica of Swayambhunath in central Kathmandu; Swayambhunath itself stands on a hill about 2 km to the west.

Is there an entry fee for Kathesimbhu Stupa?

No, it is a neighbourhood shrine with no ticket.

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Nepal's capital, a sprawling valley city wrapped around a medieval Newar core, with major Hindu and Buddhist sites and the country's main airport.

Kathesimbhu Stupa