You may as well be one of many searching for things to do in Kathmandu, skimmed through many lists, and ended up here. You also may have seen many similar lists and are currently looking for something unique, something hands-on and something you can talk the ear off to your friend or family, if yes, you have found the right place!
Working with the Community Homestay Network (CHN) for the last 2.5 years has been a literal eye-opening journey for someone like me- #citygirl, #notsoconnectedculture, #whatreallyiscommunity, #internetmylife. As I grew through my role in CHN as a Travel Expert, my role was clear: to assist travelers in making memorable experiences through community tourism and support our team in developing unique local experiences that connect travelers with Nepal's rich culture. Zoom in to 2 years ahead of my work journey; I enjoyed these experiences as a participant and learning the journey of the people behind these enriching activities.
‘I don’t want to travel far.’ Saying that and belonging to a group of people who either go all-out or don’t go out at all, heed my difficulty finding unique activities to do every once in a while within my comfort bubble in Kathmandu Valley. Therefore, I am giving my all in writing this article for similar travellers who have less time or just want to do something different or hands-on, hoping this will help you make your mind. (✪‿✪)ノ
So let’s speedrun on my experiences so far and my to-do lists for 2025.
Make Momo! : With The Hosts of Kirtipur
Momo Cooking experience together with the women of the Kirtipur Community Homestay makes it to number one on my list. Start by receiving the traditional Newari welcome followed by introduction to the ingredients for the dish to the fun laughter that is brought while you start challenging yourself to making various shape and sizes. Honestly momo is not just mine but the best go-to dish for any Nepali people, but the warm feeling you get during this whole process makes it so much more enriching. You can learn how they are successfully operating this session together, making their bond stronger and have found a new avenue right from their home town.
Pro Tip: Their dipping tomato sauce or simply ‘Achar’ is to die for ❤️ (•́ ω •̀๑). GET THE RECIPE! And prepare to get some flour on your sleeves.
Wood Carving: Learn why force is not everything
Lying next to the Pottery Square of Bhaktapur Durbar Square lies the Wood Carving Session led by an experienced artisan. You will be welcomed yet again in a Newari tradition with ‘tika’ and ‘kokha’ with a scroll on the history of woodcarving. You will then be led to your session space filled with the trainer’s creations and a wood shaped in the infinity knot along with the tools you need to use. Perfect for a novice, like me, you will get a gist on how the trainers started their woodcarving journey with rough carvings, nearly breaking the whole knot with blunt force, feeling like you got the hold of it, but the next time (take a deep breath.. ಥ﹏ಥ ) you carved it too deep. But.. BUT the trainers are there to help you out and guide you anytime and you can even choose among the colors they have to paint the wood at the end, and you will have your own souvenir to take back home!
Pro Tip: It is normally done while sitting on the floor but can be arranged with chairs and desks. Look out for wood splinters while carving. The brown wood polish on the final product looks the most sophisticated and coolest (✿◠‿◠).
Mithila Painting: Judge your own colour-combi skills
Get your inner Leonarda da Vinci out with Mithila Painting, guided by trainers who come straight from Janakpur, its origin. Plastered with Mithila paintings all over the wall, you can pick your own character or animal from the varieties that tell stories from mythology and daily life. I did two peacocks hanging out on a tree which grows gold ingots. Yup, you can add that much of your own flair to the painting, and the trainer is more than happy to draw a guiding line to get your art to life. Now comes the hard part, where you paint every section with the colour palette that the trainers make themselves with a few base colours, which you can choose from, and there’s a lot. You will never know how the time will pass by while you get busy with the brushes and converse with the trainer throughout the session and end up with your own masterpiece.
Pro Tip: The colours used are hard to wash off, so cover yourself well with the cloth given to you. A perfect recommendation for family and friends looking to do something different together (or run a competition who am I kidding here because I did 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ)
Pottery: Challenge to the Infamous Two Left-Handed People
This pottery session will take place in Thimi, which is infamous for its pottery crafts and you can see freshly made flower pots lying to dry on the courtyards of local artisans on your way to the workshop. A warm Newari welcome from the trainers before you wear the apron set by the artisan and get familiar with the ceramic clay with which you will try your hand at making small bowls, oil lamps and cups. You will need to hold the pedal to spin the wheel with one of your feet while trying to hold the spinning clay mound to create its shape. Sounds a bit confusing, is confusing but you will get a hold of it practising a few more times. At the end, you can request the trainer to dry and bake it for you to pick it up later if you would like a keepsake of this experience!
Pro-Tip: DO NOT be discouraged by how quickly the artisan can shape up the clay (つ﹏<。). Keep your nails short; they do come in the way just when you are on the verge of creating the perfect piece(∩ ⌣̀_⌣́). Water can splatter sometimes, Beware! Their homemade Newari meal tastes the best!
Bead Bracelets: Looking for Peaceful Options?
If you are looking for a relatively slow and meditative experience, the beads bracelet experience would be the right choice for you. Introducing you to the world of rocks, crystals and beads, you will dive deep into how these bracelets have the belief to attract various good energies and healing purposes. You will start by making a knot for the bracelet after choosing the beads and mind you- this will take time and patience as you need to bind thin thread in various patterns to work as a clasp to make your final two bracelets. The trainer can also recommend beads that would complement you best according to the chakra within your body that you would like to activate! (￣ー￣)ｂ
Pro Tip: You will be overwhelmed by the number of beads according to their quality and their significance. High chance of splurging if you are a bead bracelet enthusiast like me! ⊙﹏⊙
My Feel Good Points while doing these experiences( on a serious note)
These are not just activities curated for travellers; they will also spread awareness and contribute to preserving the arts and crafts of our community
The experience is guided by local artisans who have decades of experience in their field and have moulded their lives around their art.
The activities are curated in a way where any individual can try their hand at these age-old artistic traditions.
It may as well be a one-stop solution to collect tangible souvenirs to reminiscent your artistic memories in Kathmandu.
These workshops inspire self-expression and a fresh perspective on your own creative energy- I guarantee it.
(*TｰT)b
Five Experiences on My Target List
While I’ve participated in these unforgettable experiences in 2024, there are still a few I’m targeting to do within 2025 (⌐▨_▨) :
Silver Jewelry Making: I’m looking forward to learning how traditional silver pieces are handcrafted, from melting to shaping the thin silver wires into a pendant
Stone Carving: This craft fascinates me because of its importance in Nepal’s temples and statues, and I would love to try chiselling my own small piece of stone.
Repoussé Art: The idea of creating something by hammering metal feels very confusing to me, and I am geared up to make a masterpiece that hopefully does not need soft handling.
Paubha Painting: Often confused as a part of Thangka painting, I’d love to dive deeper into this spiritual art form, know the differences and explore the spiritual meanings behind the patterns and symbols.
Mask Painting: Experiencing the vibrant colours and cultural stories behind mask making while creating your own mask of a Hindu god.
So, my blog is finished! It went longer than I planned. I’ll be back with part 2 ᕙ(▀̿̿ ĺ̯̿̿ ▀̿ ̿) ᕗ
