Pharping
Pharping is a small Newar town lying above the Bagmati river on the southern edge of the Kathmandu valley, about 23 km from the capital.
It is now part of the Dakshinkali Municipality.
Getting to Pharping
Expect to pay between Nrs1,000 -1,200 for the 45 minute drive from the Kantipath or Thamel areas. Buses depart Kanti Path Road (the last in the line of stops - between the Nepal Telecom building and Kathmandu Mall, just in front of the pedestrian overpass). There are no signs in English either at the bus stop or on the bus itself, and so you’ll need to ask the conductors to find the correct one.
Worth seeing
- 01Asura Cave
Things to do
Generally, pilgrims to Pharping chant mantras and prayers related to Guru Rinpoche, such as the 'Seven Line Prayer' and Guru Rinpoche mantra: "Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum". As at other sacred sites associated with the Vajrayana form of Buddhism, it is common to light butter lamps, offer incense, and hoist prayer flags for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Where to eat
The main bazaar area has a number of local restaurants serving Nepali, Tibetan, and Indian food. Kunzang’s Kitchen. After taking a right off the main highway, the restaurant is on the right, just before the turning to the road leading to the caves. Specializes in Tibetan and Bhutanese dishes. Also serves Western favourites such as pancakes with honey. Lemonade and mint is recommended. Fast and friendly service.
Getting around Pharping the local way
- Go nextVisit Kathmandu, perhaps as a day trip from the relative quiet of Kirtipur.
From Wikivoyage: Kirtipur, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-04.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.