Is Kathmandu airport loud, and why does the noise spread so far?

Yes. Tribhuvan International (KTM/VNKT) sits in a bowl-shaped Himalayan valley at 1,338 m, and the high terrain rules out a normal ILS approach. Jets instead fly steep VOR/DME and RNP-AR procedures with dramatic spiralling, descending turns — the runway 20 approach famously curls through roughly 270 degrees onto final. Because the valley acts as a natural acoustic bowl that traps and reflects engine noise, aircraft are audible over a much wider arc than at a typical single-runway airport. A peer-reviewed Nepali study measured up to 101.5 dBA on the ground around the field.

Which Kathmandu neighborhoods are worst for aircraft noise?

Sinamangal (on the western perimeter), Gothatar (north-east, off the runway 20 end), and the south-west corridor of Koteshwor, Tinkune and Jadibuti are the most exposed. Gothatar was the loudest site in the cited noise study at 101.5 dBA. Areas farther from the runway axis — Thamel, Patan and the far south-east of the valley — are much quieter. Drop a pin on the map above to see the exposure at your exact address.

Which direction do planes land and take off at Kathmandu?

Operations are driven by terrain, not wind. Because the Himalayan foothills rise steeply to the north, jets overwhelmingly LAND on runway 02 — approaching from the south/south-west up the valley over Koteshwor, Jadibuti and Imadol, touching down headed north-north-east — and DEPART on runway 20, rolling toward the south and climbing out over the southern valley. That makes the south/south-west extended centreline the busiest, lowest, loudest band of traffic.

Why are planes flying so low over Koteshwor and Jadibuti?

Both sit on or near the extended southern centreline of the single runway. Koteshwor and Jadibuti are directly under the runway 02 final approach and the runway 20 departure climb-out, so aircraft pass low here on almost every movement. With no ILS, approaches are steep and the descent profile keeps jets relatively low across this corridor. The pin-drop map above shows how the density concentrates along this south-west axis.

Is Bhaktapur under the Kathmandu flight path?

Partly. Bhaktapur is east of the valley and off the close-in north-south centreline, so it sees moderate exposure rather than the heavy, low overflight of Koteshwor or Sinamangal. It is reached mainly by the wider curved RNP tracks and turning arrivals and departures, so aircraft are generally higher and less frequent. Check your specific street with the map above.

How do I report aircraft noise at Tribhuvan airport?

Tribhuvan and its airspace are run by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), which is the body to contact about noise or flight-path concerns. You can reach CAAN via caanepal.gov.np or by phone on +977-1-4262326. There is no dedicated independent noise-complaint service of the kind seen at some Western airports.

Does this map cover all aircraft over Kathmandu?

It reflects ADS-B-tracked traffic, which covers the airliners and most modern jets that make up the bulk of Tribhuvan's movements and noise. A small amount of older general-aviation, military or helicopter traffic may not be ADS-B-equipped and can be under-represented, but the commercial fleet that drives the valley's noise is captured well.

Kathmandu Flight Path Noise Map – Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)

Name: Aircraft noise observations near Tribhuvan International Airport
Creator: Flight Path Noise
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aircraft noise around Kathmandu in October 2026

Loudest neighborhoods near Kathmandu: Sinamangal, Gothatar, Koteshwor, Jadibuti, Tinkune. Quietest: Patan (Lalitpur), Thamel, Bhaktapur Suryabinayak. Busiest around 2 PM local time averaging 294 flights/day. Source: Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 30 days to 2026-10-19.

Flights by hour · last 30 days

12a6a12p6p

Average daily traffic

294

flights / day · 8,816 total

Busiest hour

2 PM

peak 94 dB

Loudest hour

11 AM

peak 95 dB

Loudest residential area

Gothatar

65 dB avg · ~267 flights/day · Office noise

Off the runway 20 (north) end under climb-out and curved RNP tracks; the peer-reviewed Nepali noise study recorded its loudest level here (101.5 dBA)

Does Kathmandu Airport have a curfew?

Partial — no permanent noise curfew, but temporary overnight construction closures apply.

Not a permanent noise-abatement curfew. The overnight closures at Tribhuvan are mandatory construction measures under the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project, and the hours have changed repeatedly. The airport ran 06:00–24:00 from April 2025, but operating hours were then cut — to roughly 08:00–22:00 when works resumed in November 2025, then about 07:00–23:00 from February 2026 — and a near-7-hour overnight shutdown (around 23:45–06:30) was reimposed for pavement work in spring 2026. Always check the current NOTAM or AIP Supplement before relying on any specific hours.

Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM/VNKT) sits in a bowl-shaped valley at 1,338 m elevation, ringed by Himalayan foothills, and that geography dictates almost everything about how aircraft come and go. There is a single runway (02/20), and because high terrain rises steeply to the north, jets overwhelmingly land toward the north on runway 02 — approaching up the valley from the south — and take off toward the south on runway 20. With no ILS possible, airliners fly steep VOR/DME and RNP-AR approaches with dramatic spiralling, descending turns, so aircraft are audible across a wide arc of the valley rather than a thin corridor. A peer-reviewed Nepali noise study found the north-east side around Gothatar the loudest, with Koteshwor and Sinamangal on the south-west and west also heavily exposed. The valley acts as a natural acoustic bowl that traps and reflects engine noise, making the affected footprint unusually broad for a single-runway airport.

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

Tribhuvan has just one runway, 02/20 (3,350 m × 45 m, asphalt, with a ~1.2% slope). Runway 02’s threshold is at the south end and runway 20’s at the north end. Because of the terrain, the strongly preferential pattern is to land on 02 (final from the south over Koteshwor, Jadibuti and Imadol) and depart on 20 (climbing out to the south). That puts the heaviest, lowest traffic on the south/south-west extended centreline, while the curved RNP tracks and missed-approach spirals spread noise over a broad arc that also catches the north-east (Gothatar) and west/north-west (Sinamangal, Chabahil) sides of the field.

Area	Aircraft noise	Why
Sinamangal	✈︎✈︎✈︎	West perimeter, directly under low arrivals and departures
Gothatar	✈︎✈︎✈︎	North-east of runway 20 end; loudest site in the noise study (101.5 dBA)
Koteshwor	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Under 02 final approach and 20 departure corridor
Jadibuti	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Almost on the extended southern centreline
Tinkune	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Close to the field under the main south-west corridor
Imadol	✈︎✈︎	Further down the southern approach; aircraft higher
Madhyapur Thimi	✈︎✈︎	East of field; reached by curved RNP tracks
Boudha	✈︎✈︎	Near runway 20 climb-out and turning traffic
Baneshwor	✈︎✈︎	West, lateral to the main approach line
Chabahil	✈︎✈︎	North-west under climb-out and curved tracks
Bhaktapur	✈︎✈︎	East valley; wider arrival and turning tracks
Patan (Lalitpur)	✈︎	South-west and offset from the corridor
Thamel	✈︎	Central Kathmandu, well west of the runway axis
Bhaktapur Suryabinayak	✈︎	Far south-east edge of the valley

If aircraft noise is a primary concern, the practical move in Kathmandu is west of the runway axis (Thamel, central Kathmandu) or the far south-east of the valley, where aircraft are higher and offset from the corridor. The neighborhoods to avoid are the close-in perimeter and the southern approach line — Sinamangal, Koteshwor, Tinkune, Jadibuti and Gothatar. Note that only Gothatar, Koteshwor and Sinamangal were directly measured in the cited study; the other high/medium/low labels are reasoned estimates from flight-path geometry, so if you’re weighing a specific place, drop a pin on the map above.

Flight patterns and runway use

Tribhuvan’s operations are terrain-driven, not wind-driven. The foothills rise steeply to the north and the valley opens more gently to the south, so the preferential flow is fixed: arrivals on runway 02 come up the valley from the south/south-west, crossing Koteshwor, Jadibuti and Imadol before touching down headed north-north-east; departures on runway 20 roll the other way and climb out over the southern valley before turning on course toward India and beyond.

The lack of an ILS shapes the noise pattern more than anything. Airliners fly non-precision VOR/DME approaches and modern RNP-AR procedures, and the runway 20 RNP approach famously includes a continuous descending turn of roughly 270 degrees onto final. Missed approaches climb in tight spirals to stay clear of terrain, and in poor weather aircraft hold to the south of the field where the ground is lower. The combined effect is that the south/south-west centreline sees the most low, loud traffic, while the curved RNP tracks and spiralling go-arounds scatter noise across the north-east (Gothatar) and west/north-west (Sinamangal, Chabahil) sides as well.

The route-density layer on the map above makes this visible: a bright, intense band along the southern centreline through the south-west suburbs, plus a broader halo of curved tracks wrapping around the field that you would not see at a flat, ILS-equipped, straight-in airport. The acoustic bowl of the valley means the far-field noise drops off more slowly than the geometry alone would suggest.

When is it quietest?

Tribhuvan does not have a permanent voluntary noise-abatement curfew. Its overnight closures are mandatory construction measures imposed by CAAN under the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project, and the hours have changed repeatedly — so the quiet window depends entirely on the current phase of works:

The airport ran roughly 06:00–24:00 (about 18 hours) from April 2025.
When construction resumed in November 2025, hours were cut to roughly 08:00–22:00 (about 14 hours).
From February 2026 they were extended again to about 07:00–23:00 (around 16 hours).
A near-7-hour overnight shutdown (around 23:45–06:30) was reimposed for pavement work in spring 2026.

The practical takeaway: there is usually a multi-hour overnight closure, but its exact timing shifts with the construction schedule, and historically the field could operate as late as ~01:00. Always check the current NOTAM or AIP Supplement before assuming any particular quiet hours.

Within the operating day, the pattern follows the usual airline banks: a busy morning departure push, a sustained midday level, and an afternoon/evening arrival peak as long-haul and regional flights stack into the valley. Because the preferential flow rarely flips, residents under the southern centreline do not get the periodic relief that a wind-driven, runway-swapping airport provides — the corridor stays roughly where it is all day.

How to check noise at your specific address

The map above is the answer to “is this spot loud?” Three steps:

Search your address or postcode in the bar at the bottom of the map.
Drop a pin — click the location marker that appears.
Read the noise report in the sidebar: average daily noise (Leq), peak observed dB, flights per day passing within 2 km, and an hourly breakdown.

The Noise Heatmap layer (orange/red = louder) and the Route Density layer (purple/magenta = busier corridors) make Tribhuvan’s pattern obvious: an intense southern centreline through Koteshwor, Tinkune and Jadibuti, plus the broad curved-track halo around the field that the valley’s acoustic bowl spreads farther than usual. Addresses well west of the runway axis or out toward the far south-east of the valley generally land in the quieter zone, while anything on the perimeter or the southern approach line will show heavy exposure. For noise or flight-path concerns, the responsible authority is the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) — caanepal.gov.np, or +977-1-4262326.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kathmandu airport loud, and why does the noise spread so far?: Yes. Tribhuvan International (KTM/VNKT) sits in a bowl-shaped Himalayan valley at 1,338 m, and the high terrain rules out a normal ILS approach. Jets instead fly steep VOR/DME and RNP-AR procedures with dramatic spiralling, descending turns — the runway 20 approach famously curls through roughly 270 degrees onto final. Because the valley acts as a natural acoustic bowl that traps and reflects engine noise, aircraft are audible over a much wider arc than at a typical single-runway airport. A peer-reviewed Nepali study measured up to 101.5 dBA on the ground around the field.
Which Kathmandu neighborhoods are worst for aircraft noise?: Sinamangal (on the western perimeter), Gothatar (north-east, off the runway 20 end), and the south-west corridor of Koteshwor, Tinkune and Jadibuti are the most exposed. Gothatar was the loudest site in the cited noise study at 101.5 dBA. Areas farther from the runway axis — Thamel, Patan and the far south-east of the valley — are much quieter. Drop a pin on the map above to see the exposure at your exact address.
Which direction do planes land and take off at Kathmandu?: Operations are driven by terrain, not wind. Because the Himalayan foothills rise steeply to the north, jets overwhelmingly LAND on runway 02 — approaching from the south/south-west up the valley over Koteshwor, Jadibuti and Imadol, touching down headed north-north-east — and DEPART on runway 20, rolling toward the south and climbing out over the southern valley. That makes the south/south-west extended centreline the busiest, lowest, loudest band of traffic.
Why are planes flying so low over Koteshwor and Jadibuti?: Both sit on or near the extended southern centreline of the single runway. Koteshwor and Jadibuti are directly under the runway 02 final approach and the runway 20 departure climb-out, so aircraft pass low here on almost every movement. With no ILS, approaches are steep and the descent profile keeps jets relatively low across this corridor. The pin-drop map above shows how the density concentrates along this south-west axis.
Is Bhaktapur under the Kathmandu flight path?: Partly. Bhaktapur is east of the valley and off the close-in north-south centreline, so it sees moderate exposure rather than the heavy, low overflight of Koteshwor or Sinamangal. It is reached mainly by the wider curved RNP tracks and turning arrivals and departures, so aircraft are generally higher and less frequent. Check your specific street with the map above.
How do I report aircraft noise at Tribhuvan airport?: Tribhuvan and its airspace are run by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), which is the body to contact about noise or flight-path concerns. You can reach CAAN via caanepal.gov.np or by phone on +977-1-4262326. There is no dedicated independent noise-complaint service of the kind seen at some Western airports.
Does this map cover all aircraft over Kathmandu?: It reflects ADS-B-tracked traffic, which covers the airliners and most modern jets that make up the bulk of Tribhuvan's movements and noise. A small amount of older general-aviation, military or helicopter traffic may not be ADS-B-equipped and can be under-represented, but the commercial fleet that drives the valley's noise is captured well.

Sources and further reading

Tribhuvan International Airport — Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Why is landing at Kathmandu Airport so difficult? — Flightradar24
Study on Aircraft Noise Around Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal — Nepal Journal of Science and Technology (NepJOL)
VNKT aerodrome and approach charts (e-AIP) — Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (e-AIP)
Tribhuvan International Airport open 18 hours daily — New Spotlight Magazine
Tribhuvan International Airport — official site — Tribhuvan International Airport / CAAN

Data updated 2026-10-19 — live ADS-B monitoring, rolling 30-day statistics (methodology). Article text revised 2026-05-30.

30 dB	Whisper
45 dB	Quiet residential
55 dB	Normal conversation
65 dB	Busy road
75 dB	Vacuum cleaner
85 dB	Heavy traffic
95 dB	Motorcycle nearby

Flight Noise

Layers

Live Tracking

Filters

Saved Pins

Flight Noise — User Manual

What is this?

Live Tracking

Heatmap

Flight Paths

Point Analysis

Noise Level Reference

Filters

Tips

Share this map

Pins shared with you

Kathmandu Flight Path Noise Map – Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)

Aircraft noise around Kathmandu in October 2026

Does Kathmandu Airport have a curfew?

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

Flight patterns and runway use

When is it quietest?

How to check noise at your specific address

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

Other airports we track

🇦🇺 Adelaide, Australia

🇪🇸 Alicante, Spain

🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands

🇦🇺 Archerfield, Australia

🇬🇷 Athens, Greece

🇺🇸 Atlanta, USA

🇳🇿 Auckland, New Zealand

🇺🇸 Austin, USA

🇮🇩 Bali, Indonesia

🇦🇺 Ballina, Australia

🇺🇸 Baltimore, USA

🇮🇳 Bangalore, India

🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand

🇦🇺 Bankstown, Australia

🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain

🇫🇷 Basel, France

🇱🇧 Beirut, Lebanon

🇬🇧 Belfast City, UK

🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany

🇪🇸 Bilbao, Spain

🇨🇦 Billy Bishop, Canada

🇬🇧 Birmingham, UK

🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

🇺🇸 Boston, USA

🇦🇺 Brisbane, Australia

🇬🇧 Bristol, UK

🇧🇪 Brussels, Belgium

🇧🇪 Brussels Charleroi, Belgium

🇭🇺 Budapest, Hungary

🇦🇷 Buenos Aires, Argentina

🇦🇺 Canberra, Australia

🇿🇦 Cape Town, South Africa

🇨🇴 Cartagena, Colombia

🇺🇸 Charlotte, USA

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai, Thailand

🇺🇸 Chicago, USA

🇺🇸 Chicago O'Hare, USA

🇳🇿 Christchurch, New Zealand

🇩🇪 Cologne, Germany

🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark

🇵🇪 Cusco, Peru

🇻🇳 Da Nang, Vietnam

🇺🇸 Dallas, USA

🇮🇳 Delhi, India

🇺🇸 Denver, USA

🇺🇸 Detroit, USA

🇺🇸 DFW, USA

🇶🇦 Doha, Qatar

🇹🇭 Don Mueang, Thailand

🇦🇪 Dubai, UAE

🇮🇪 Dublin, Ireland

🇩🇪 Düsseldorf, Germany

🇬🇧 Edinburgh, UK

🇳🇱 Eindhoven, Netherlands

Adelaide, Australia

Alicante, Spain

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Archerfield, Australia

Athens, Greece

Atlanta, USA

Auckland, New Zealand

Austin, USA

Bali, Indonesia

Ballina, Australia

Baltimore, USA

Bangalore, India

Bangkok, Thailand

Bankstown, Australia

Barcelona, Spain

Basel, France

Beirut, Lebanon

Belfast City, UK

Berlin, Germany

Bilbao, Spain

Billy Bishop, Canada

Birmingham, UK

Bogotá, Colombia

Boston, USA

Brisbane, Australia

Bristol, UK

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels Charleroi, Belgium

Budapest, Hungary

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Canberra, Australia

Cape Town, South Africa

Cartagena, Colombia

Charlotte, USA

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chicago, USA

Chicago O'Hare, USA

Christchurch, New Zealand

Cologne, Germany

Copenhagen, Denmark

Cusco, Peru

Da Nang, Vietnam

Dallas, USA

Delhi, India

Denver, USA

Detroit, USA

DFW, USA

Doha, Qatar

Don Mueang, Thailand

Dubai, UAE

Dublin, Ireland

Düsseldorf, Germany

Edinburgh, UK

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Faro, Portugal

Florence, Italy

Fort Lauderdale, USA

Frankfurt, Germany

Funchal, Portugal

Gatwick, UK

Geneva, Switzerland

Glasgow, UK

Gold Coast, Australia

Hamburg, Germany

Hanoi, Vietnam

Heathrow, UK

Helsinki, Finland

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hobart, Australia

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Honolulu, USA

Houston, USA

Houston IAH, USA

Ibiza, Spain

Jandakot, Australia

John Wayne, USA

Keflavík, Iceland

Kraków, Poland

Las Vegas, USA

LAX, USA