Nepal
Kathmandu in May
🌷 SpringWarm and some showers. Watch for hazy air.
🎒 Pack: compact umbrella or rain jacket · N95 mask for hazy days
Why May scores 8.1What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort8.8
- ✓Warm (29°C highs / 16°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 12.4°C)
- !Wet: ~129 mm rain, ~3 heavy-rain days
- Air quality5.0
- !Unhealthy for sensitive groups (PM2.5 ~41 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| May | Oct | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.1 Very good | 9.0 Excellent |
| Season | 🌷 Spring | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 29° / 16° | 27° / 14° |
| Rain | 129 mm | 43 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 12° | dew pt 15° |
| PM2.5 | 41 µg/m³ | 24 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Kathmandu weather-station normals. Rainfall: Kathmandu weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: International Labor Day (1 May) · Eid al-Adha (17 May, date estimated) · Buddha Jayanti (20 May) · Republic Day (29 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore KathmanduEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyNepal's capital, in a valley full of temples and royal squares, visited for heritage sites and as the start point for Himalayan treks.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Indra JatraDate variesUsually late August or September
Masked dances and the chariot procession of the Kumari, the living goddess.
Why go: Durbar Square is extremely crowded.
Where: Kathmandu Durbar Square
DashainDate variesHindu calendar, usually late September or October
Nepal's biggest festival, a 15-day celebration with family gatherings and kite flying.
Why go: Many businesses close and transport is busy as people travel home.
Where: Nationwide
TiharDate variesHindu calendar, usually October or November
The festival of lights, honouring crows, dogs, cows and siblings over five days.
Why go: Homes and streets are lit with oil lamps.
Where: Nationwide
Kathmandu Durbar Square
The old royal square with temples and palaces, partly restored after the 2015 earthquake.
Swayambhunath
A hilltop stupa known as the 'Monkey Temple', with views over the city.
Boudhanath
One of the largest stupas in the world, the centre of Tibetan Buddhist life in Kathmandu.
💡 Walk clockwise around the stupa at dusk with the pilgrims.
Pashupatinath
Nepal's most important Hindu temple, beside the Bagmati River with open-air cremation ghats.
💡 Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple; be respectful when watching cremations.
Bhaktapur
A well-preserved medieval Newar city east of Kathmandu.
Patan Durbar Square
Another royal square in Lalitpur, with the Patan Museum.
Momo
Steamed or fried dumplings filled with meat or vegetables.
💡 Everywhere, from street stalls to restaurants
Dal bhat
Lentil soup with rice, vegetables and pickles, Nepal's everyday meal.
💡 Local restaurants
Newari food
Dishes such as bara (lentil patties) and choila (spiced grilled meat).
💡 Newari restaurants in Patan, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur
Juju dhau
Rich, sweet 'king curd' yoghurt.
💡 Bhaktapur
Thukpa
Tibetan noodle soup.
💡 Around Boudhanath
Singing bowls
Metal bowls used in meditation.
💡 Thamel and around Boudhanath
Thangka paintings
Detailed Buddhist scroll paintings.
💡 Workshops in Bhaktapur and Boudhanath
Pashmina
Fine wool shawls (quality varies; buy from reputable shops).
💡 Thamel
Nepali tea
Black and green tea from Ilam and other eastern hills.
💡 Tea shops in Thamel