About The Khoji
Nepal, reviewed by Nepalis.
The Khoji is a community-driven discovery and booking platform for Nepal. We help people find, review, and book real local businesses (restaurants, cafes, salons, clinics, dentists, electricians, plumbers, gyms, and more) across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Banepa, with more cities on the way.
Why we exist
Global platforms miss how Nepalis actually pick a place. Khalti and eSewa payments, ward-level addresses, bilingual menus, shutdowns during festivals: none of it shows up on Google Maps or Yelp. The Khoji is rebuilt for that context by people who live here.
What we believe
- Reviews are only useful if they're trustworthy. Specificity beats stars.
- Owners deserve a self-serve way to claim, edit, and accept bookings.
- Free until volume justifies otherwise, for owners and customers.
- Bilingual from day one. The internet has been English-first for too long.
- Heritage as structure, not decoration. The product is fast and modern; the voice is local.
Who's behind this
Built by Ujjwol in Banepa. Independent, self-funded, not part of a larger conglomerate. Decisions favor the customer when customer trust and owner workflow conflict.
Get in touch
Email etherealfounderhq@gmail.com or use the contact page. We reply within one to two working days.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What is The Khoji?
- The Khoji is Nepal's community-driven discovery and booking platform. We help people find, review, and book real local businesses: restaurants, cafes, salons, clinics, dentists, electricians, plumbers, gyms, repair shops, and more. Built in Kathmandu, by people who live here.
- Is The Khoji free to use?
- Yes. Free for customers. Free for owners to list, claim, accept bookings, and reply to reviews. Paid features will arrive only once the platform has the volume to justify them. The core listing experience will always stay free.
- Which cities does The Khoji cover?
- At launch, the four cities of Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Banepa. After launch, we expand outward through the Valley first, then to Pokhara, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Janakpur, Butwal, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, and Itahari. We list a city only when we can do it properly, not just to inflate a map.
- Are the reviews on The Khoji real?
- Yes. Reviews are written by real people who visited the business. Verified-visit reviews carry a clear seal so you can tell them apart from anonymous ones. We do not buy, sell, or generate reviews. Owners can reply on their own listing but cannot edit or remove a customer's review.
- How do I list my business on The Khoji?
- Sign up at the For Business page and add your listing in about five minutes. Most listings are reviewed and go live within 24 hours. After that, you can claim ownership, edit details, upload photos, set up bookings or service requests, and reply to reviews from your dashboard.
- Can I book directly through The Khoji?
- Yes. Many listings accept direct bookings in one of three modes: reservations for restaurants and cafes, appointments for salons, spas, clinics, and dentists, and service requests for electricians, plumbers, and similar trades. Reservations and appointments confirm on the spot; service requests confirm within four hours.
- How does payment work?
- Khalti and eSewa are the supported digital options. Deposits for appointments are paid in-app at booking time; cancellation within the free window auto-refunds. For service requests, payment usually happens after the visit, in cash or directly via the provider. We never store your card or wallet PIN.
- Is The Khoji available in Nepali?
- Yes. The Khoji is bilingual from day one. Every page, button, and email is available in English and Nepali. Switch languages with the EN/ने toggle in the top right.