Kathmandu

Kathmandu needs 3 days: Durbar Square and the temples of Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath on one, and the rest for preparing or resting if it's part of a Himalayan trek. March-May avoids winter cold and summer monsoon rains. It's inexpensive, among Asia's cheapest capitals. It's the mandatory gateway to the Himalayas and Everest, and its Kathmandu Valley holds seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a relatively small area, an exceptional density of Hindu and Buddhist religious architecture.