About Thimi
Thimi or Madhyapur is situated between Kathmandu city and Bhaktapur city. In recent years Thimi has changed its name back to its original name of "Madhyapur" which means "middle place".
Often overlooked by tourists who pass by on their way to Bhaktapur, Thimi contains a virtual treasure trove of heritage along its quiet dusty streets. All of which are free to visit.
Virtually forgotten, off the beaten path, yet easy to visit. Thimi is as close to finding a lost city in the Kathmandu valley as you will get these days. Simply put, if you love heritage do not miss out on a quick visit to Thimi!
Thimi's outstanding collection of buildings, shrines, and monuments have little protection due to its ambiguity. In recent years, there are reports of up to one statue being stolen every three months.
Essential Info
Thimi (Madhyapur) at a Glance
Entrance Fee: Free - no entrance fee to Thimi or any buildings |
Location: Between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur; 12km east of Kathmandu, 4km west of Bhaktapur; original name "Madhyapur" means "middle place" |
Main Highlight: "Forgotten gem" of Kathmandu Valley; treasure trove of heritage along quiet streets; off-the-beaten-path with 16th-17th century temples, virtually no tourists; tantric blend of Buddhist-Hindu culture |
Recommended Visit: 1.5-2 hours slow walk covering all main sights; easy heritage trail heading north on foot from highway; combine with Bhaktapur visit |
Key Attractions: Balkumari Temple (16th century, peacock mount), Lokeshwor Temple, Vishnu's courtyard, Bhairab Temple, Potters street (more potters than Bhaktapur!), Siddhikali Temple (17th century, most impressive with patankas), Nil Barahi Temple (3.5km north, separate excursion) |
Best Time: Year-round accessible; April for Balkumari Jatra (Nepali New Year) : 32 decorated palanquins, red dye throwing ceremony; avoid extreme heat/monsoon for comfort |
Cultural Significance: Vast pottery production (dozens of ash kilns), non-tourist bargaining prices available; heritage under threat (statues stolen every 3 months, including gold Bhairab 2015); little protection due to ambiguous status between Kathmandu-Bhaktapur |
Transport: Bus from Kathmandu Ratna Park to Bhaktapur (every 15 min, ask to drop at Thimi) |
Important Notes: No restaurants (a couple of local) or accommodation in Thimi (bring snacks, stay Kathmandu/Bhaktapur); locals may seem unfriendly due to art theft history (smile first, be respectful for typical Nepali warmth); vajra symbols throughout show tantric culture; must-visit for heritage enthusiasts |
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Information verified: January 2026
Did you know?
Tradition dictates that a portion of all the rice sold in Ason Chowk must first be offered to the Goddess Annapurna.
While Saturday mornings are great for most heritage walks in Kathmandu, it's a day off for many vendors. So Ason on a Saturday morning will not have the same vibe as it does during the rest of the week.
Getting to Thimi
There are many transportation methods to Thimi depending on your budget and schedule. Thimi is only 12 km east from Kathmandu and 4km west of Bhaktapur.
Buses run from Ratna bus area every 15 or so minutes to Bhaktapur which will drop you off at Thimi if you tell them too. Likewise from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu. Though if you use the Bhaktapur Bus Stop listing in my guidebook it would be easier.Taxi's tend to rack up the price a bit as they want a full journey. A return trip with a waiting time of one to two hours is likely to cost more than asking them to return at a certain time.
Do read my free online guide on getting to Thimi for full details.
Hidden Insights
Uncovered Corner: Thimi (Madhyapur)
Why is this an Uncovered Corner? Sandwiched between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, this "forgotten gem" holds 16th-17th century temples, dozens of pottery kilns, and tantric Buddhist-Hindu heritage along quiet dusty streets: all free to visit. Tourists rush past to Bhaktapur, leaving you virtually alone to explore Siddhikali Temple's unrivaled patankas, Balkumari Temple's peacock mount, and potter's workshops offering genuine non-tourist prices. This guide was the first dedicated guide to Thimi, and my guidebooks were the first to have dedicated coverage - it won't be long before others follow suit, so now is the time to visit!
Responsible Travel
Travel with Purpose: Go Deeper. I advocate for exploring sites like Thimi to champion sustainable travel. While major heritage hubs are often packed with visitors, choosing to also visit Thimi helps spread tourism's benefits beyond the main thoroughfare. You'll see more, interact with locals more, and ensure your journey supports a wider range of communities.
Things to see & do in Thimi
Thimi's name change is rather ironic. Being sandwiched between the commercial capital of Kathmandu and the preservation-conscious city of Bhaktapur has led to Thimi being stuck - quite literally in the middle. The townsfolk seem rather dour about all this too. Don't let that put you off though. Thimi is easy to get around.
In my guidebook to Kathmandu Valley and Nepal I have detailed maps of Thimi with everything laid out and every temple listed.
Basically Thimi's sights can be visited in a slow 1.5-2 hour walk. It's that easy. The start of the road is right by the highway and the heritage trail heads north on foot.
Balkumari temple:
The very first rare 16th-century temple you will come across in Thimi is protected behind a large metal fence. It used to contain a statue of the Balkumari goddess before it was stolen a few years ago. Nevertheless, this temple still contains rare artifacts around it including the Balkumari goddess' peacock mount. Another Balkumari temple can be found in Patan.
It's also good to note that every April for Nepali new year Thimi celebrates with the Balkumari Jatra. 32 khats or decorated palanquins are carried around the temple as red dye is thrown at them. Most of the people surrounding the area also get covered in red powder too!
Lokeshwor temple:
Just up the main road from the Balkumari temple is another fenced-in temple dedicated to Lokeshwor. Across from it is a vajra (lightening bolt) which is one of many symbols found in Thimi showing its tantric blend of Buddhist and Hindu ways of life.
Vishnu's courtyard:
Further along the main road to the right is a large courtyard area. There's a temple to Vishnu there surrounded by several stone statues worth a closer look. Including a Shiva Lingam that's surrounded by a fence that is also used for butter lamps. Just along the main road is a unique very slim raised temple to Ganesh.
Bhairab temple:
The large Bhairab temple that takes up most of the street at a major junction is quite impressive. Pataka run down from the roof and the building is well preserved. However, in 2015 the solid gold Bhairab statue inside was sadly stolen and never recovered.
Potters street:
Thimi has a vast number of potters. More so than Bhaktapur! Most of the pottery is commercial and the dozens of ash kilns found along Thimi's streets are testament to that. You can buy anything you see here with a little bargaining and could pick up some great non-tourist rates.
Siddhikali Temple:
The most popular and well preserved temple in Thimi is the very impressive Siddhikali temple to the rear of the township. The temple is also known as Chamunda and Inayeko Ganedyo (Ganesh) temple due to the deities inside the main shrine area. Built in the 17th century, the Siddhikali temple is dedicated to Shiva.
The temple itself is adorned with more patankas than just about any other encountered in Nepal. Surrounding the temple is a hiti and several other smaller shrines.
Nil Barahi Temple:
For those wondering about the Nilbarahi (Nil Barahi Temple), which is often cited as being in "Thimi" do note that it is actually about 3.5km north of Thimi's heritage area in a forested / jungle region. It's not a very walkable route. Temple itself is roofless and dedicated to Nil Barahi, one of the mother goddesses in Newar culture. If going there, it is worthy of a nice half day outing for a picnic due to the green surrounds.
Discover more:
The above descriptions of temples, monument, and things to see in Thimi are just a small sample. Do get my Nepal guidebook or Kathmandu Valley Guidebook for full descriptions, heritage walks, maps, and more.
Entrance fees to Thimi
There is no entrance fee to visit Thimi or any of the buildings in the town. There are plans to make Thimi a pay to visit location in Kathmandu, however, this has yet to happen. Although in 2022 these plans were once again raised, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were once again suspended.
Map of Thimi
Full directions to Thimi and maps are available in my guidebook below.
Restaurants in Thimi
Restaurants simply don't exist in Thimi. Even local cafes are rare. Down by the main highway you might get lucky with a local cafe. Otherwise it's a case of bring your own snacks.
Accommodation in Thimi
There is no accommodation available in Thimi. Being only a few minutes from Kathmandu or Bhaktapur means you can stay in either city.
Do be careful when booking online for accommodation near Thimi as some advertise being in Thimi but are actually located on the outskirts of Bhaktapur or Kathmandu.
Questions about Thimi
Culturally there's lots more to see in Thimi. It's all in both my Kathmandu Valley guidebook and Nepal guidebook. I've also written up a how to get to Thimi guide.
Here are some frequently asked questions.
How to visit Thimi?
Just jump on any bus going to Bhaktapur and tell the you want to get off at Thimi. Otherwise a taxi will take you. Likewise any bus coming back from Bhaktapur or Dhulikhel.
How long should I stay in Thimi?
As long as you want! But, realistically unless you are a cultural heritage fanatic you can walk through Thimi with ease in an hour or two at the most.
Are the people in Thimi really unfriendly?
They certainly aren't as smiling and welcoming as others. This is mainly due to the fact that many people have come to Thimi and stolen it's great works of art leaving the township suspicious of newcomers.
If you smile first and are respectful of the cultural heritage you'll nearly always get a typical Nepali smile back!
Frequently Asked Questions about Thimi (Madhyapur)
Thimi, also known as Madhyapur, is a heritage town between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. It's renowned for its 'hidden' temples and monuments, often overlooked by tourists.
Take a bus from Ratna Park in Kathmandu to Bhaktapur (25 rupees) and ask to be dropped at Thimi. Taxis cost 600–1000 rupees one way from Kathmandu.
Key sites include Balkumari Temple, Lokeshwor Temple, Vishnu's courtyard, Bhairab Temple, and Siddhikali Temple. All are free to visit and can be explored in 1.5–2 hours.
The Balkumari Jatra in April features 32 palanquins and red powder throwing. It's a colorful event marking the Nepali New Year, best experienced early morning.
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