Fun Things to Do in Kathmandu Trivia Quiz

Answer: Asan

The bustling square in Asan is home to the Asan Bazaar (aka Ason Tole), arguably the oldest street market in Nepal. A favourite with locals and tourists alike, the market sells almost anything, from food and spices to electrical goods, clothes and even gold. Situated at the junction of six streets, the Asan square also has cafes, banks, bus stops and taxi ranks. Close by is the Indra Chowk, another market that sells potes, the glass bead necklaces worn by married women.

Phoenix Rising's leith90 loves nothing more than rummaging around street markets, but has never been to the Asan bazaar.

Answer: Spot a tiger

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the 9th Nepalese national park. It is within the Kathmandu Valley, and has a beautiful view of the Himalayas. There are many waterfalls within the park, which sits on a major water catchment area for the region. Several trails traverse the park, and many long-distance trekkers pass through and connect to other national parks. There are several religious sites, including a Tibetan nunnery. The park is about 12km from central Kathmandu, and is 159 square kilometers in area. The flora is predominantly broadleaf forest. Many mammals and birds call the park home, including leopards and jungle cats but not tigers. Nepal has had success in conservation for tigers, with most of their range concentrated in the southern portions of the country. Tigers have been spotted moving northward, so they may eventually reach Shivapuri Nagarjun.

Player pusdoc of Phoenix Rising's Red Crew would like to add Nepalese birds to her life list.

Answer: Cooking class

Momo are meat dumplings, frequently filled with buffalo but also available with other meats such as chicken. Several companies offer cooking classes in Kathmandu, and momo is a popular dish included in the course. You may also learn to prepare sel roti, which are circular sweet rice cakes/donuts that are most commonly prepared for specific Hindu festivals. Dal bhat, lentils with rice, is a staple food that you will likely prepare in a class as well. The cooking classes tend to be located near other tourist sites, so you might plan to spend half of your day cooking and eating and the other half visiting the Garden of Dreams or the Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

Red Crew's player pusdoc has a hankering for momo now, but will likely only find gyoza where she is.

Answer: Cable car

The Chandragiri cable car is 2.4km long and each gondola can accommodate eight passengers. The fee for a round trip is highest for visitors from outside the area ($22 US dollars in 2022). Chandragiri Hill is 2551 meters from sea level. There is a Hindu temple, Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, at the summit as well as a playground. The ride takes 9 minutes, and is capable of transporting 1000 passengers per hour. The view of the Himalayas and the city from the top are spectacular.
Red Crew's player Pusdoc is terrified of heights and will not be riding this if she ever visits Kathmandu.

Answer: Rhododendron

The Rhododendron, specifically the Rhododendron arboreum, is a small evergreen bush with red flowers and is the national flower of Nepal. It is pictured on the Nepalese emblem surrounding images of the Himalayas, the forested hills and the Terai lowlands. The flag of Nepal is coloured red for victory in war, but also is the colour of their rhododendron. The National Botanical Garden is situated at the base of Mount Phulchwki, Kathmandu's highest peak and was opened by King Mahendra in 1962. Featuring over 30 different themed gardens, the centre focuses on plant conservation, education, research, display and just as importantly, recreation.

Phoenix Rising's Red Crew member leith90 thought the red rhododendron was a fitting addition to this quiz.

Answer: Mount Everest

A helicopter ride in Kathmandu is most likely to take you over Base Camp on the slopes of Everest. Some tour operators offer landing and the ability to explore this world renowned site from which so many climbing expeditions have taken place. After the global lockdown of the 2020 pandemic, due to the reduced amount of pollution in the air above Nepal, Mount Everest was visible from Kathmandu, a sight that hasn't been seen in many years.

Phoenix Rising's smpdit would love to see Everest from the comfort of a comfy chair with a fine wine and snacks. Helicopters and exercise are not really her thing.

Answer: King and Queen

King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya were shot by their eldest son, Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, who shot eight other members of the extended royal family, before turning the gun on himself. Under Nepalese law, he was crowned as king, but succumbed three days later without regaining consciousness . The monarchy was abolished in 2006, replaced by a republic. The palace was converted to a museum in 2008, and contains the Crown Jewels, among many other treasures. Much of the massacre site was demolished; however, a wall was retained, clearly showing several bullet holes.

This question written by ozzz2002, who was horrified by the massacre.

Answer: The Himalayas

Nagarkot is in the Bagmati province and is approximately 16 miles from Kathmandu. It is also around 2500 ft higher than Kathmandu. While Kathmandu sits in the heart of the Himalayas, Nagarkot rises above, offering panoramic views from eight of the thirteen Himalayan ranges, one of which includes Mt Everest.

PR's Jaknginger offered this question into the Red Crew's team quiz.

Answer: Mt. Everest

From Nepal, you can begin the trek from the south side of Mt Everest but it is not for the faint of heart. It takes around two weeks hiking to get to Everest's base camp. You are to stay there and become acclimated to the high altitude for two weeks as well, then continue to another site. The cost of the permit and trip in 2022 ranges from $35000-$120000, depending on the guide company and your specific requirements. The price typically includes food and supplies, gear, supplemental oxygen, Sherpa guide, medical care. $11000 is for the permit alone! Most companies want to see certificates of good health, both physical and mental condition, as well as proof of successful climbing major peaks. April, May and June see active hikers, but May looks to be the best month for a climb, with warmer weather and not monsoon season.

Aconcagua is in Argentina. K2 is in Pakistan and Mount Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania.

Phoenix Rising's jaknginger hiked this question into the team quiz.

Answer: A chicken landed there

King Vikramaditya requested a dhunge dhara, an elaborately carved drinking fountain, to be erected, it failed however to produce water. When his astrologers were consulted, they felt that a human sacrifice was required, a human sacrifice with very specific characteristics. The only males to meet these requirements were the king and his two sons. The king bravely volunteered to be beheaded by one of his sons, his head flew off and landed at the nearby temple. The sad prince decided to go to the temple and threw a chicken, vowing to build a stupa where it landed. The site, chosen by chicken, became the site of the Boudhanath Stupa.

Red Crew's smpdit does not approve of random chuck- a- chicken shenanigans