Aviation Museum | Kathmandu

Information

Landmark: Aviation Museum
City: Kathmandu
Country: Nepal
Continent: Asia

Aviation Museum, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

The Aviation Museum, located in Sinamangal, Kathmandu, is a unique aerospace sanctuary housed primarily within a decommissioned Airbus A330-300. Established as a joint initiative between the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the Bed Upreti Trust, it serves as an educational hub to inspire interest in the aviation sector.

Visual Characteristics

The landmark is defined by the massive, grounded frame of a former Turkish Airlines aircraft. Its exterior remains largely intact, including the engines and landing gear. Inside, the cabin has been gutted and retrofitted into distinct galleries, featuring rows of miniature models, historical photographs, and multimedia displays. An Ecureuil helicopter is also prominently displayed on the museum grounds.

Location & Access Logistics

The museum is situated at 27.6940° N, 85.3536° E in Sinamangal, directly across the road from the western boundary of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). It is highly accessible via public transport (buses and micro-buses) traveling the Ring Road or the airport route. A 10-minute walk from the Sinamangal bus stop, it is approximately 5 kilometers east of central Kathmandu.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The museum’s centerpiece, the Airbus A330, suffered a runway excursion at TIA in March 2015 after flying for only eight months. Because the aircraft was non-flyable, it was dismantled into smaller sections over four months and reassembled at the current site. The museum officially opened in November 2017. The site occupies a 9,000-square-meter plot of land, providing a rare open-air technical space in the city's dense eastern corridor.

Key Highlights & Activities

Cockpit Experience: Visitors can view the original cockpit configuration and, for a nominal fee, pose for photographs wearing pilot or cabin crew uniforms.

Documentary Theater: The welcome hall features a short documentary detailing the history of the museum and the 2015 aircraft recovery.

Model Galleries: Over 350 miniature aircraft are displayed, ranging from the Wright Brothers’ glider to modern fighter jets and Nepal Airlines’ fleet.

Photography: The site offers unique perspectives for aviation enthusiasts to photograph wide-body aircraft components from ground level.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The museum complex includes a cafeteria (located near the tail section), a children’s fun park, and public restrooms. The interior is climate-controlled, and 4G/5G cellular coverage is excellent. Bilingual signage (English/Nepali) is provided throughout the exhibits.

Best Time to Visit

Opening hours vary by season:

Summer (March–September): 09:30–18:30

Winter (October–February): 10:00–17:00 Early morning visits are recommended for students and those seeking a quieter experience. As of early 2026, adult entry fees are approximately 500 NPR for foreigners and 250 NPR for Nepali citizens, with 50% discounts for students with valid IDs.

Facts & Legends

The project cost approximately 70 million NPR and was funded largely by Captain Bed Upreti, who previously established a smaller aviation museum in a Fokker 100 in Dhangadhi. A logistical feat: transporting the dismantled A330 pieces across the airport perimeter required the use of heavy cranes and specialized trucks during the early morning hours to navigate narrow city bends.