Nepal in September: Weather, Festivals & Where to Go
What Nepal is like in September (Bhadra–Ashwin): the weather in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, festivals, crowds and the places at their best.
- Weather
- The monsoon fades during the month: showers early on, then fresh, clear and very green by the end.
- Good for
- Late-month treks before the crowds, Indra Jatra in Kathmandu, rafting as rivers settle, and the first clear mountain views.
- Watch out for
- The first half can still be wet, and some roads are damaged from the monsoon.
- Crowds
- Autumn · Medium
- Festivals
- Indra Jatra and the Kumari chariot in Kathmandu (September)
- Teej
- Constitution Day (19 September)
- Ghatasthapana, the start of Dashain (some years)
Average climate
| High | Low | Rain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu | 28°C | 18°C | 190 mm |
| Pokhara | 28°C | 19°C | 500 mm |
| Chitwan | 32°C | 23°C | 270 mm |
Best places to visit in September
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Muktinath
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceA temple at 3,710 m sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, with 108 water spouts and an eternal natural gas flame.
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Lo Manthang and Upper Mustang
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceThe walled capital of the old Kingdom of Lo, in a desert of red cliffs and cave dwellings north of the Himalaya.
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Rara Lake
Mugu, Karnali ProvinceNepal's largest lake, a deep blue sheet of water at 2,990 m ringed by pine, spruce and juniper forest.
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Shey Phoksundo Lake
Dolpa, Karnali ProvinceNepal's deepest lake, an unreal turquoise, with a 167 m waterfall and the Bon village of Ringmo on its shore.
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Khaptad National Park
Doti, Sudurpashchim ProvinceA high, rolling plateau of meadows and forest in the heart of the far west, known for wildflowers and the ashram of Khaptad Baba.
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Hidden gemNamaste Waterfall
Dhankuta, Koshi ProvinceA waterfall whose two streams seem to join like hands pressed together in greeting.
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Davis Falls, Gupteshwor and Pokhara's caves
Kaski, Gandaki ProvinceA waterfall that vanishes underground, a Shiva cave beneath it, and the limestone caves north of the city.
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Hidden gemNar–Phu valley
Manang, Gandaki ProvinceA hidden valley off the Annapurna Circuit, with medieval stone villages, gorges and monasteries; opened to trekkers only in 2003.
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Jomsom and Marpha
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceMustang's windy headquarters and, nearby, the whitewashed Thakali village famous for apples and apple brandy.
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Hidden gemKagbeni
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceA fortress-like medieval village at the gateway to Upper Mustang, with a red monastery and a sacred river confluence.
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Hidden gemTukuche
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceThe old salt-trade capital of the Thakali, with grand merchant houses, a distillery and Dhaulagiri towering above.
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Kali Gandaki Gorge
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceBy some measures the deepest gorge on earth, where the river runs between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I, both over 8,000 m.
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Quick answers
- Is September a good time to visit Nepal?
- It is a good month for most of the country. Late-month treks before the crowds, Indra Jatra in Kathmandu, rafting as rivers settle, and the first clear mountain views.
- What is the weather like in Nepal in September?
- The monsoon fades during the month: showers early on, then fresh, clear and very green by the end. Kathmandu averages 28°C by day and 18°C at night, Pokhara 28/19°C and Chitwan 32/23°C.
- What festivals are in Nepal in September?
- Indra Jatra and the Kumari chariot in Kathmandu (September); Teej; Constitution Day (19 September); Ghatasthapana, the start of Dashain (some years).
- Where should I go in Nepal in September?
- Muktinath, Lo Manthang and Upper Mustang, Rara Lake, Shey Phoksundo Lake, Khaptad National Park, Namaste Waterfall.
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and move by a few weeks each year. Temperatures are long-term averages.