Nepal
Kathmandu in October
🍂 AutumnPleasant and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: sunglasses & hat
Why October scores 9.0What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.7
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (27°C highs / 14°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 15°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~43 mm rain)
- Air quality7.2
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~24 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| Oct | Nov | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 Excellent | 8.5 Excellent |
| Season | 🍂 Autumn | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 27° / 14° | 24° / 8° |
| Rain | 43 mm | 6 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 15° | dew pt 9° |
| PM2.5 | 24 µg/m³ | 40 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 & crowdsOctober 2027
Holiday weekA long local holiday falls this month. Expect crowds at sights, fuller trains and flights, and higher hotel prices on those dates. Book ahead.
- Fulpati 6–11 Oct · 6 days off in a row
- Gai Tihar 29–31 Oct · 3 days off in a row
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.
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
Coming up later
HoliDate variesHindu calendar, usually March
The festival of colours.
Why go: Wear old clothes and protect electronics.
Where: Across the city, especially Basantapur and Thamel
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
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
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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