A two minute walk away from Thamel is the beautiful garden known as Swapna Bagaicha. Also known as the Garden of Dreams, the Swapna Bagaicha has recently been restored to help it become a popular tourist attraction. This garden is one of the most beautiful and serene places inside Kathmandu.

The Garden of Dreams was originally built by Kaiser Shamser, a field marshal stationed in Nepal. The garden was created in the 1920s following a visit to several Edwardian styled estates in England. During his visit, he came up with an idea to use gardens to complement the palace in Nepal. The funds for the game were won from his father in a legendary game of cowrie shells. The money amounted to 100,000 Rs, which was more than enough to begin the garden construction.

These gardens graced the palace surroundings for many years, but they began to get neglect along with the nearby pavilions. They almost collapsed into oblivion until they were brought back to life years later. The team who created the Patan Museum worked on these gardens for a six year period until the entire area was returned to perfection.

The garden holds dozens of gorgeous plants and details, including a marble inscription from the rubaiyat of Omar Khayam. New ponds and fountains were installed when the area was remodeled, along with a “hidden garden” towards the southern section. Originally there six pavilions named for the six Nepali seasons over a stretch of four acres. Now, only three pavilions remain over a 1.2 acre stretch. However, this place is still a popular tourist destination for people visiting the palace. The area is a popular sight for cultural exhibitions and events. A café is also scheduled to open soon in the Spring Pavilion to cater to visitors to the palace and garden premises.