Although an old city when it comes to historic monuments, Kathmandu is only just beginning to develop recreational activities. Perhaps one reason for this is that the country’s many festivals also serve as entertainment, with their exhilarating dramas, dances and pantomimes. The festivals of Gai Jatra and Indra Jatra, for examples, feature exciting mask dances, while festivals such as Ghanta karna act out ancient myths in drama form. Family ceremonies such as marriage and pasni, feeding an infant his first rice meal, are also a source of merriment and entertainment.

Theater:

Nepal’s theater tradition dates back to the Malla period, when plays used to be enacted in palace courtyards and within temple precincts. It seems that the most popular forms of theater at this time were skits, comedies and adaptations from Sanskrit dramas. Theater entertainment was then neglected for several centuries and only became popular again in the 1930s with Balakrishna Sama’s famous play Mukunda Indira. Since this time, it has flourished so that there are now three venues in Kathmandu where plays are shown regularly. These are:

1. The Rastriya Naachghar near Rani Pokhari
2. The Royal Nepal Academy at Kamaladi
3. The City Hall, opposite the Exhibition Ground

Music:

Since the beginning of Nepal’s history the Himalayas have been a rich treasure house of folk songs representing the country’s varied topographical and ethnic characteristics. As one could perhaps expect, Nepalese music has strong religious: many religious processions are accompanied by instrumental music (mainly percussion instruments) while bhajans, or hymns, are often part of temple ceremonies. The latter are usually accompanied by the harmonium.
Apart from religious music, folk songs have long been a source of entertainment both in towns and villages. These are either sung by local residents or by travelling musicians who make their way. Over the past few years, Ratna Recording Corporation has assembled and categorised many varieties and examples of Nepalese folk music, and has made them available on cassettes and records.
Over the last two decades, Western music has lent its influence to what could be termed ‘modern Nepalese music.’ This can be heard live in most of Katmandu’s four-or five-star hotel restaurants and in recorded form on Radio Nepal, the country’s main radio station, and other private Radio stations.

Folk dances:

The masked dances of the Kathmandu Valley, such as the Lakhe, Devi and Mahakali dances, which have earned the status of classical dances, are all strongly tied to the ritualistic worship of divinities. There are also various traditional dances performed in the Hill and Terai regions of the country. Nepalese folk dances are characterised by a strong, rugged individuality, and show joy and sorrow fear and aspiration. Geographical and ethnic factors have enriched this folk tradition with a variety of expression.
Folk dances can be seen regularly around town. Cultural dances can also be seen at higher standard hotels and lodges in Royal Chitwan National Park and, on arrangement, in Bhaktapur and Pokhara. A Kathmandu travel agency should be consulted for exact details of programme locations and other arrangements.

Cinemas:

There are hundreds of movie house in Nepal, Western films are also shown these days. Nepal’s main supplier of feature films is neighboring India. The Royal Nepal Film Corporation, a government undertaking set up in 1971, has been entrusted with the promotion of
Nepal’s film industry.

Discotheques and Nightclubs:

Nepal has several Discotheques and Nightclubs. Most of Kathmandu’s Five-star hotels have discotheques. Most of the nightclubs are in Thamel area. These nightclubs are open from evening up to late night.

Casino:

At present Nepal has 7 Casino in Five-star hotels. These casinos are open 24 hours a day and features games such as roulette, pontoon, flush, blackjack, baccarat paplu and many more. These casinos provide free transportation to and from any major hotel in Kathmandu.