The capital city of Nepal, and the home to more than one million inhabitants, Kathmandu is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas. The gateway to a mystical land of temples, mountains and monasteries, Kathmandu’s reputation as a backpacker hub to the Himalaya\'s, sees legions of travelers head for adventure in the high mountain passes. In between expeditions, spend a few days exploring the medieval city-states that dot the valley floor. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979 , the centre of Kathmandu still feels like a living museum of Hindu and Buddhist art scattered across its narrow streets.