Streets squares and districts to visit Nepal

Indra Chowk Square is dedicated to the god of heaven and rain. Upstairs, the shrine dedicated to Akash Bhairav, another form of Shiva, blue in colour, is forbidden to non-Hindus. On the steps of another temple on the other side of the square, blankets, cotton carpets and shawls are spread out and hung. All around, most of the shops are run by Muslims, descendants of the Kashmiris who settled in the valley three centuries ago. In the background, a small bead market invites to make interlaced necklaces.

Leaving the Narayan temple and turning right, you just have to walk down the alley for a few minutes to reach the picturesque and tiny Potters' Square where Bertolucci shot a poignant scene of Little Buddha. This is one of the most fascinating places in the city, where the clay is still worked on hand-powered wooden wheels. Don't miss the work of the potters, who turn the clay on foot-operated wooden lathes. Their welcome is kind and smiling, it is possible to take pictures, but respect is appreciated and it is better to ask for a sign beforehand. The multitude of ochre-coloured pots drying in the open air is a testimony to the skill of the craftsmen. Several women are usually involved in drying the pottery before firing it. Here you are entering the lower caste quarter. If you look down, you will not fail to see a chvasa stone. These are lotus-shaped stones embedded in the tarmac of the road, at a crossroads or near a temple. They are the abode of deities who accept offerings, known as "impure" among Hindus, in connection with birth and death. Each family has its own. A small shrine dedicated to Vishnu occupies a corner of the square; Ganesh, the patron saint of potters, has his residence in a two-roofed temple, the Jet Ganesh, built by a potter in the 17th century.

Thahity's square is marked in its center by a large white stūpa decorated with prayer banners. In the street that goes from Thahity to Indra Chowk, on the right, a square courtyard opens, housing the stūpa of Katesimbhu, a contraction of Kathmandu-Swayambu. The licchavi sculptures that surround it bear witness to its antiquity. This stūpa offers a substitute for those who cannot make the pilgrimage to the hill every morning. Next to the stupa, a school dedicated to thangkas, Healing Mandala Thangka Painting School, will be happy to introduce you to this art.

The history of the Nag bahal and the nearby Hiranya Varna Mahavihar (also known as the Golden Temple) dates back to the 11th century. It is a central district of Patan in which almost all the inhabitants are Buddhists. The main shrine is located in the centre of the complex, inside an isolated two-storey building with a tiled roof. The neighborhood perpetuates the Newar traditions and atmosphere: take a walk through this historic place to capture unique moments in the daily life of the Newar community.

Opened in 1950 to open up the city centre, New Road is the work of Prime Minister Shamsher Rana, whose statue adorns the main square. New Road starts from Freak Street and ends under a large arch facing Tundikhel, a green space surrounded by jacarandas that serves as a manoeuvring area. This is where the tourist office, Kathmandu's oldest cheese factory and the city's first supermarket with an escalator are located. This is the avenue of jewellers, good ice cream and ready-to-wear shops for the locals.