Go for a stroll among the elegant pavilions, pergolas, ornamental fountains and lush green lawns of this beautiful historical garden.
Step inside the Garden of Dreams to discover a place of serenity and architectural beauty. This historical neo-classical garden with its flowers, ponds, lawns and fountains provides a respite from the busy streets of Kathmandu city centre.
Founded as the Garden of Six Seasons in 1920, this peaceful enclave was originally the private garden of Kaiser Sumsher, a Nepalese field marshal. Today, it is open to the public who come to stroll, relax and dine in picturesque surroundings.
Walk along paths lined by exotic plants and stop by courtyards and pavilions. Admire the formal arrangement of the trees and shrubs. Gaze into the lotus pond and then step down into the semi-circular Greek-style amphitheatre. Sit on one of the benches or on the wide steps that are covered with a carpet of grass. Note some of the European influences in the garden, including balustrades, pergolas and verandas.
Enjoy afternoon tea and Nepali cuisine on the terrace of the Basanta Pavilion. Here you will find the Kaiser Café, a café and restaurant. Visit the Kaiser Library to see photos of how the garden originally looked and the changes it has gone through during subsequent years. After decades of neglect, the garden was restored between 2000 and 2007.
Situated in the vibrant Thamel district, the Garden of Dreams is just a 20-minute walk from Kathmandu Durbar Square. Get here on foot, via cycle rickshaw or by taxi. Combine your visit with a tour of the Narayanhiti Palace Museum, which is a short walk away.
The garden is open daily, from morning until late in the evening, and there is a small admission fee. The price includes the use of mats for sitting on the lawns. Occasionally, the gardens will be closed to the public because of private functions. Garden of Dreams is also a venue for folk and classical music concerts and other public events, details of which can be found on its official website.
