There was a time when Kathmandu was the place to visit for the long weekend. The shopping was fantastic, the weather great and of course there was gambling for the gambling-starved Indian.
Visiting Kathmandu after a decade is a let down. The city has filth all over. There are beggars at every tourist spot. Children hound you for money at every step.
The shops have nothing which is not available in any Indian metro. All shops accept Indian currency, but only Rs 100 notes - neither Rs500, Rs 1000 or the smaller currency. The change is returned in Nepali currency and candy.
There is just one mall - the Bhat Bhateini. Nothing special here. The only thing one could contemplate shopping is the crockery, of which there is a great variety. But it isn't cheap. Though how you could carry it home is another issue. The mall also has chocolates sold at a bargain.
The other place you could see for shopping is Thamel. Its choc-o-bloc full of shops selling the usual touristy stuff - silver jewelery, tees, shawls, paintings, etc. Bargain at all times - there's no such thing as fixed prices.
The casino at Yak & Yeti was the biggest disappointment. The only reason people seem to have come here is to see the cheapie entertainment. There's a girl, who looks like a guy, surrounded by guys, who look like girls. Everyone is wearing clothes to a minimum. The gyrate ( not dance) to popular Bollywood music. Look like some bar-girls imported from Mumbai. To top it there are groups of Punjabi lalas throwing Rs 100 notes at the dancers. Bad scene.
Travelling in the city is very difficult. The public transport looks scary with small mini-buses filled to capacity. The cabs drive a hard bargain. It it is raining, everything comes to a standstill.
Advice: Carry an umbrella with you at all times.
Patan: The buildings are chipped and are falling apart. The streets have garbage all over. The cash counter selling tickets for entrance to the monuments never have change, so be prepared to forgo the Rs 5 change. Not a pleasant experience.
Kathmandu is a paradise lost.
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