Best Massage in Kathmandu: Seeing Hands Clinic ( by Blind Therapists)
I hate click baits just like the next person but Seeing Hands will most definitely provide you with one of the best massages of your life. After days or weeks of hiking the beautiful mountain hills of Nepal, this will definitely be the only address you should fire up on your GPS the second you get back to Kathmandu or Phokhara. Let me tell you more about it.
So it all started with me looking for a massage spot in Thamel. As usual I went on to tripadvisor ( perfect score over at Tripadvisor by enthusiasts like myself ) to hear from my fellow travelers and Seeing Hands was number one. Usually I am a little skeptic about recommendations but I still went ahead and gave it a try. Well, I was definitely not disappointed.
The concept caught my attention. Seeing hands is a massage clinic that strive to provide employment and training for blind and visually impaired people. In theory in makes perfect sense, as most people believe and more or less agree that blind people tend to have their other senses heightened in order for them to adapt as much as possible to this world and go on about their lives.
So I gave them a call and was pleasantly surprised by my interlocutor’s english and professionalism. Then I was able to get an appointment for the next day. At first I was unsure which massage therapist to ask for but I was reassured that it did not matter and that everyone has gotten the same training. So I only made one request and that was to be massaged by another female. Usually I don’t really care and having been now and knowing what to expect, I am pretty sure I would not mind a male massage therapist next time but I still appreciated having that option and that initial comfort.
Fast forward to my actual appointment and everything went very smooth. I was asked if I wanted to use the restroom or take a shower which I did not need as I was just coming from my apartment. But it was nice to know that this was an option, especially for other people that might be coming straight from a hike. This is Nepal, the land of mountains and hiking after all!
My massage therapist’s name was Bhima, a very sweet lady. After getting a few minutes to set up, she came back and the massage begun. They have three options over at Seeing Hands. You can choose between a Swedish Relaxation massage, a foot massage or the remedial Sports Therapy. They all cost the same price so I went with the lather. It’s exactly what I needed after walking so much with a heavy backpack on. The massage was in a normal size room and the atmosphere was great. At first, I was worried about being right in the middle of busy Thamel at 4 pm but even with construction going on right across the street, I still found it easier than I thought to relax and be present. This was definitely made possible with the room temperature. In Nepal, I really struggled with being cold indoors so I was thrilled when I saw they had a massive heater in the massage room.
I won’t lie, the massage was a very strong one. For such a tiny girl, I was really fascinated by how she even managed. The pressure was quite strong and I think to be expected during a sport massage session. If you’re in Kathmandu and looking for a massage, please don’t hesitate to go there. The atmosphere, the service and the quality are all impeccable. Moreover , it felt really good to contribute to such a great cause. In case you’re wondering, it costs 2000 NPR for 60 min. Also since it is run by blind massage therapists, during the massage there is a gadget that they click whenever they need to know the time . I was wondering the whole time how she’d known how much time is left but I am glad to say that I did not find it at all intrusive.
I was not paid or coerced in any shape or form to write a review. The reality is simply that it was hands down the best massage I’ve ever had in my life period. The second I got out, I wanted to tell everyone about that. Bhima is truly amazing but after reading comments on TripAdvisor, I don’t really think you can go wrong with anyone. Next time I am in Nepal, I will definitely drop by again.
Let me know if you get the chance to try it on your trip 🙂