Richa Adhikari
Newar courtyards, festival calendars and the story behind the carving
A heritage guide who will get you into Patan before the coaches and explain what you are actually looking at.
- Based in Lalitpur, Kathmandu Valley
- Trips led 400
- Seasons All year
- Licensed Government licensed guide
- Languages Newari, Nepali, English, Hindi
- Regions Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur, Lumbini
Specialities
- Heritage and architecture
- Newar culture
- Museum and craft visits
About Richa Adhikari
Richa studied art history in Kathmandu and guides the valley the way somebody who lives in it would - early mornings in Patan while the metalworkers are opening up, the back lanes of Bhaktapur rather than the pottery square at noon, and a long lunch somewhere with a courtyard.
She is the guide our travellers ask for again. Families like her because she talks to the children directly and gives them something to look for. Photographers like her because she knows which courtyard has light at which hour. Everyone else likes her because she answers the awkward questions about caste, offerings and the earthquake honestly.
She also runs our Lumbini circuit when groups want the Buddhist sites explained properly rather than pointed at.
Anyone can show you a temple. I would rather tell you why it is still standing.
Strengths
- Real heritage depth Art history training, and nine years of walking people through the same squares.
- Beats the crowds Early starts by design, so you see Patan and Bhaktapur as residents do.
- Good with children Gives them something to hunt for in every courtyard instead of a lecture.
Routes led
- Kathmandu heritage walk
- Patan and Bhaktapur
- Lumbini and Kapilvastu
- Changu Narayan
Training and certification
- Nepal Tourism Board city guide licence
- MA in art history, Tribhuvan University
- First aid certified
- UNESCO site interpretation workshop, Bhaktapur
What travellers say
My eight year old asked to go back to Bhaktapur. That is entirely down to Richa. Anita S., Delhi
We had done Kathmandu before. This was the first time we understood any of it. Peter and Ann, Bristol