Sightseeing · Kakani
Thai Airways Memorial Park at Kakani
A quiet remembrance garden on the Kakani ridge marking the 1992 Thai Airways TG311 crash.
The Thai Airways memorial park at Kakani is a quiet remembrance garden marking one of Nepal's worst aviation tragedies. On 31 July 1992, flight TG311 struck the hills near Kakani on its approach to Kathmandu, and all aboard were lost. The landscaped park was created in their memory, and today it is a calm, reflective stop that gives a day on the ridge a deeper, more thoughtful note.
What to expect
The grounds are simple and peaceful, planted and tended as a place of remembrance rather than a tourist attraction. Many visitors pair it with the equally reflective British Gurkha war memorial and cemetery nearby, making the two memorials a natural counterweight to the ridge's lighter draws of strawberries and trout.
A little history
The crash of TG311 remains one of the worst air disasters in Nepal's history, and it came during a period when the difficult mountain approaches into Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport were tragically tested more than once. The aircraft, an Airbus on a scheduled flight, came down in the steep terrain near the Kakani ridge as it manoeuvred toward the valley. The memorial park was later created on the hillside as a lasting tribute, and over the years it has been visited by families, aviation memorials groups and travellers paying their respects. Set against the same Himalayan backdrop that draws picnickers, the park carries a quiet weight that lingers long after you leave.
What you'll find
The site is laid out as a landscaped garden with paths, planting and memorial markers rather than a built museum. It is the kind of place to walk slowly and reflect rather than tick off, and the ridge setting — pine, terraces and, on clear days, the distant peaks — gives it a contemplative atmosphere. Because it is tended rather than commercialised, facilities are minimal, so come prepared and treat the grounds gently.
Visiting respectfully
- Treat it as a memorial, not a viewpoint — keep noise down and the grounds clean.
- It is a short distance from the main Kakani Himalaya viewpoint, so it slots easily into a ridge tour.
- There is usually no charge to enter, but facilities are minimal.
Fold the park into a full ridge day with the picnic spots and plan your journey with how to get to Kakani. Many travellers visit both ridge memorials in the morning and finish with a trout lunch before driving back. For more ways to combine the ridge's sights on foot, see our guide to the best day hikes near Kathmandu, and browse the full top things to do in Kakani to round out your day.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Thai Airways memorial park at Kakani?+
It is a quiet remembrance garden on the Kakani ridge marking the crash of Thai Airways flight TG311 on 31 July 1992, which struck the hills on approach to Kathmandu. The park honours the passengers and crew who died and is a reflective place to visit.
Can you visit the Thai Airways memorial at Kakani?+
Yes — the memorial park is generally open to respectful visitors during daylight hours. It is a place of remembrance, so visit quietly, keep the grounds tidy and treat it with the same respect you would any memorial site.
Where is the Thai Airways memorial in Kakani?+
It sits on the Kakani ridge near the other ridge attractions, a short distance from the viewpoint and the Gurkha memorial, so it is easy to include on a single ridge tour from Kathmandu.
