Bhaktapur Durbar Square | Places To See | Things To Do in Bhaktapur | Attractions
Bhaktapur Durbar Square: – Bhaktapur – a very ancient city of Nepal, included in the top three royal cities in the valley of Kathmandu. The richest cultural and historical heritage and a large number of shrines truly justify its name, which translates as “City of Devotees” or “City of Saints.”
Bhaktapur is located 16 km east of the capital of Nepal and is the center of the district of the same name in the area of Bagmati. The territory of the city is located at an altitude of 1300-1400 m, from the north and west is limited by the river Manohara, surrounded by mountains from other sides. Tourists from around the world come here to see the unusual structures of red bricks in our own, in which wooden roofs are a carved decoration of the whole city.
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| BHAKTAPUR DURBAR SQUARE |
The founding date of Bhaktapur is considered to be the 889th year. At this time, the first settlement appeared at the crossroads of trade routes. There were routes between three countries: Tibet, China, and India. This location favored economic growth. In addition, it contributed to the development of architecture. However, the city as a whole began to flourish during the Malla dynasty.
The convenient location of Bhaktapur in Nepal at the intersection of caravan routes from Tibet, China, and India accelerated the accumulation of wealth by the city. In the 14th century, it became the capital of the Nepalese kingdom and actively flourished. Craftsmanship (woodcarving, stone and metal carving, pottery and weaving, jewelry) was developing rapidly in the XVII century.
This period is considered the golden age of Bhaktapur. At this time, the Nepalese city begins to expand its influence on the villages that were located next door in the valley of Kathmandu.
Craft art is gaining momentum. However, to replace good successful days, the times of despondency and recession are coming. In the middle of the eighteenth century, the city begins to lose its former power and authority among other settlements.
This is due to the fact that many regions of Nepal are united in a single state. But despite this, this settlement is a city with a developed art and rich architecture. Bhaktapur loses but remains the cultural capital of Nepal, in which you can plunge into its ancient traditions and customs.
At the end of 2015, a terrible earthquake occurred in the city, which claimed thousands of lives of citizens and destroyed many architectural monuments. However, it could not destroy either the charming atmosphere of antiquity or the optimism of the locals!
In fact, the inhabitants of this poor, in terms of material wealth, countries manage to radiate happiness and joy no matter what. The ability to be happy is one of the features of the national character. Nevertheless, Bhaktapur is still an amazing place where you can stroll through the busy streets, see the works of street masters and plunge into the atmosphere of an ancient Newari town.
Bhaktapur has a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of +18.4 ° C. The warmest months are June and when the thermometers show + 25 … + 27 ° C. The coldest in December and January at this time the temperature is kept at + 10 ° C. Precipitation in Bhaktapur is quite abundant, 1249 mm falls in a year.
Especially a lot of rain is observed from mid-July to the end of September. Bhaktapur is located at an altitude of 1,341 meters above sea level and is classified as temperate rather than tropical. Temperatures never rise above 30 degrees Celsius in the summer, and below zero are not expected in winter.
Since rainfall during the monsoon season is stronger but not as extreme as in other regions from mid-June to mid-September, Bhaktapur is suitable as a tourist destination all year round.
Due to the relative unpredictability of the monsoon season and the heavy rainfall in other parts of the country, the best time to travel to Nepal, and therefore to Bhaktapur, is between October and April. In these months, it is a bit cooler in the old royal city of Bhaktapur, but it is almost never expected to rain.
The atmosphere of Bhaktapur is fundamentally different from the stunning cacophony of street sounds in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, 14 kilometers to the west.
Here, as if you find yourself in a village with an evenly flowing life, where the locals spend most of the day on the street. They communicate, work, cook and eat, make, trade. And in the evening the city is filled with peasants with hoes, coming from the rice fields that surround the city from all sides.
Most of the population of the Kathmandu valley, where Bhaktapur is located, are Newari (Nevars). This is an ancient ethnos, whose culture and skill are admired, probably, in all branches of art.
The skills of these people have been improved for many hundreds of years, thanks to which their architecture, sculpture, wood and metal carvings amaze with their elegance and magnificence. The Nepalese pagodas, designed by New York architects, were taken over by other Asian countries and became symbols of China and Japan.
Here you can slowly walk through the busy streets and enjoy the temples, monuments, street craftsmen who create their masterpieces right on the and just watch the life of the local population.
Inside the city, you can only walk on foot. Rickshaws, tuk-tuks, taxis in the old city are not allowed. Compensation for this will be clean air and calm. Bhaktapur is the center of pottery crafts. You will see them everywhere – dried in the sun, exhibited on tables and regiments in front of shops and houses.
The city is also known for making masks of black clay with painting. Masks depicting various deities and are used at festivals. Tourist restaurants can be found in almost any building surrounding Durbar. In small restaurants for local menu, most likely gave Bhat Tarkari – a vegetarian dish of rice, beans, and vegetables.
And non-vegetarian items like – Samay Baji (from rice, pickled meat buffalo, lentils, vegetables, potatoes, bamboo sprouts), tea and momo (Tibetan dumplings). In terms of residence, Bhaktapur is an excellent alternative to Kathmandu.
In order to preserve these unique monuments, the movement of vehicles in the central part of Bhaktapur is dramatically limited, which makes walking on it unusually pleasant and calm. Narrow streets with old houses, temples, and pagodas have kept their view from deep antiquity.
Modern Bhaktapur masters do not give up under the onslaught of “civilization”, and their golden hands continue to preserve their unique skills. According to the old methods, they continue to process wood, make jewelry, jewelry made of gold and silver, wool, stone, metals, paint pictures, make carpets and a special kind of yogurt.
But the most famous craft of Bhaktapur is undoubtedly pottery. The whole district of the city is occupied by the workshops of local potters who, from morning to evening, make jugs, pots, vases, candlesticks, piggy banks and other clay products.
One of the important holiday and festival celebrated in Bhaktapur is the Bisket Jatra or New Year’s party. Here the new year is celebrated for a whole week according to the Nepalese calendar (mid-April) in which a cart dedicated to the god Bhairava is paraded, one of the manifestations of Shiva.
Bhaktapur is a teletransport machine in itself that throws you fully into the Middle Ages. But not to that Middle Age to which you are more than accustomed with feudal lords and castles. To a time and place unknown, in which the eyes are like dishes to contemplate temples you’ve never imagined, smells you’ve never smelled and sounded you’ve never heard. Enter this city, heritage of humanity, is to immerse yourself in the past as an old browser.
Because of its more than 150 music and 100 cultural groups Bhaktapur is called the capital of the performing arts of Nepal. The inhabitants of Bhaktapur belong ethnically to the Newar and are characterized by a high portion of 60 percent at farmers of the Jyapu caste.
The inhabitants are almost 90 percent Hindus and ten percent Buddhists. Many of the 172 temples, the 32 artificial ponds and the residential buildings decorated with wooden reliefs date back to this period.
Without a doubt, Bhaktapur is one of the most amazing cities in the world, a real fairy tale, a real oasis of poetry and antiquities in the soulless world of “high technology”. Welcome to Bhaktapur – the city of poor, but happy and free people.
Sights of Bhaktapur
The city is very rich in interesting places and monuments of architecture. Bhaktapur is in itself a rich city in architecture, culture, music, literature. While in Bhaktapur, be sure to visit:
1. Temple of Dattatreya.
Built in the 15th century by decree of King Yaksha Malla, the three-story square temple is dedicated to the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. This is one of the most important places of worship of Vishnuites and Buddhists. Guard him 2 wrestler Malla.
2. Garden of the Shiva.
A modest in size of the garden on the mountain in Southern Nepal. The garden of rooms of certain acts of indianists is located, including the highest in the world of the statue of God Shiva. Height of 44 m, called Kailashnath Mahadev. He was made of copper, cement, zinc, and steel and takes 32 lines among the largest statues of the planet. The garden receives the daily visits of about 5 thousand people, and at the days of national holidays and festivals, a number of guests are even more.
3. The Royal Water Overwheel of Naga Pokhari.
The Royal Water Overwheel of Naga Pokhari was built in the XVII century to conduct ritual baths to the goddess. The tank is a pool with brick walls and stone laying, the perimeter has sculptures of snakes from the stone. And in the center – a column with the head of the cobra. From here the name of the tank of Naga Pokhari came, in the translation means “Cobra”, which is very revered in the Hindu religion.
4. The bell
Amongst the people, it is called “Large Bell”. It is located in the temple of Watsala Durga at the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The bell has been installed in 1737 with a view to scaling evil spirits. Now the bells are routed to be heard in the morning.
5. Known Durbar Square
This is a real city treasure man with Nepali architecture and sculptures located on it. The squares are palaces and temples made to the Nature-General Observer Lands, the Royal Palace of Yaksha Malla, the churches of Char Dham. And Chisalin Mandap, the Golden Gate, leading to the palace of 55 windows, etc. The Durbar Square is especially revered in place in Bhaktapur, the entry on any transport on it is prohibited.
6. Palace of 55 windows
It was built in the XV century during the Board of King Yaksha Mall. On the balcony of the building, there are 55 windows with amazing wood carving, which were given the palace. Up to 1769, it was the official residence of the King of
7. The golden gate
They were built in the Royal Gallery and are the entrance to the palace of 55 windows. The gate is amazingly beautiful and richly decorated with a fine mouth of supernatural serpents. In the center of the Golden Gate – the sculpture with a 4 headed and 10-handed goddess Kali and Garuda, surrounded by snakes.
8. church
This is the highest church of Bhaktapur, in the translation of its name means “five-storey”. Devotes the pagoda of the tantric goddess of the prosperity of Sidhi Lakshmi. During the earthquake, the temple did not suffer. On the top, you can climb the stairs, and from the height 30 m to see the Taumadhi Tole.
9. Pot The Pole Pacific
A very famous place in Nepal, as it is here you can look, how are the pots in the traditional way are made. Get acquainted with masters and see their creations. The production of clay products is a very honorary craft in the sense such dishes often are used both in everyday and religious purposes and festive celebrations.
10. Monastery of Namo Buddha
The monastery along with the steps of Swaymbhunath and Bodhnath enters the number of three most important places of worship of Buddhists in Nepal. In the vicinity of Namo Buddha created a whole monastery complex, including temples, monastery school, college, Tibetan art, and even the clinic.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Durbar Square or Dubar Square in Bhaktapur is a historic square with a large number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. A must-see site in the Kathmandu Valley, this large square, actually made up of four small squares (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square, and Pottery Square). It is an open-air museum.
This is truly a treasure trove of Bhaktapur. Here you can see a large number of masterpieces of Nepalese architecture, as well as get acquainted with the traditional sculptures of the region. During the period when this settlement was the capital center of the Nepalese kingdom, this place was the beginning of the construction of palaces and temples.
Durbar Square in Bhaktapur is more similar in the but less crowded with temples. And not at all loaded with residents and tourists from all three royal cities of the Kathmandu valley. But it was not planned at all that way. In the old days, it was filled with temples and historic buildings, but the devastating earthquake of 1934 destroyed many of them.
And today only bare bases indicate the place where famous monuments once stood. Most of the buildings on Bhaktapur Durbar Square were built between the 15th and 17th when it became the residence of the royal dynasty. Bhaktapur Durbar Square has largely regained its former glory thanks to a large-scale restoration project funded by a German charitable foundation in the 1970s.
In 1979, the area was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Surrounded by magnificent architecture, it vividly demonstrates the high skill of artists and artisans of the Newari for several centuries.
The preserved complex of Buddhist pagodas and Hindu temples is concentrated around the Palace 55 windows. Wooden sculptures are found everywhere in this square – racks, timpanas, gate, door and window openings, everything looks beautiful and organic.
Among the buildings on Bhaktapur Durbar Square, we find the 55-window Palace which was built by King Jitamitra Malla and was the royal residence until 1769. Now it is a national gallery. Nearby is the golden portal, which leads into the Mulchok court which houses the Temple of Taleju.
This temple, like the other one in the capital of the Kathmandu valley, is dedicated to the goddess Taleju Bhawani and includes the shrines of Taleju Bhawani and Kumari. Entrance to the temple is restricted to Hindus and the living goddess cannot be photographed strictly.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square to this day is the most revered among the local population, as well as among the guests of the so you can not enter the square on any vehicle. Local authorities have banned visiting the sights, as they carefully treat it and do not allow destroying its surface.
History of Bhaktapur Durbar square
For the period from the 7th century BC to the 2nd century AD, Bhaktapur adopted a city culture of Kirati originating from northern India. The village is said to have worn the name Khopo. In the epoch of Licchavi (3rd to 9th century AD) the city was called Khopring Drang.
The Licchavi kings succeeded in building up a state that could almost be called imperial, the extent of which was to be restored only in the eighteenth century. Kophring was expanded at that time to a trading post and received the necessary administrative tasks.
About the history of the city from the 9th to the 12th Century is next to nothing known. But the introduction of a new era in 879 indicates a new dynasty, probably the Thakuris. In a manuscript from 1038, a village called Khrimprimbrumayam in the place of today’s Bhaktapur is called.
The chronicle Gopal Raj Vamsavali and other chronicles designate Anand Deva as the founder of the city Bhaktapur in 1197. He is said to have built the old royal palace, which has had the name Tripura. At the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century, Nepal was the victim of several invasions by its southern and western neighbors. There are five plunderings by the Khasa tribes and the Tirhutiyas.
However, the major history of the city emerged from the ruling of Malla dynasty around the mid of 14th century. The Malla rulers of the 17th century attempted to portray themselves as direct descendants of the Ksatrya dynasty of Harasimha Deva by manipulating their lineage.
Capital of the Kingdom of Greater Malla until the 15th century AD, Bhaktapur was founded in the 12th century by King Ananda Malla. But it was not until the beginning of the 18th century that the city took its present form. It was at this time that many of its most prestigious monuments were built by the Malla rulers.
The city would be built in the form of a triangle formed by the three temples of the god Ganesha on the outskirts of the city that protect it. Until the sixteenth century, the city dominated politically and economically throughout Nepal.
After the Gorkha conquest in 1769, the city closed in on itself maintaining an autarky and independence both economic and political. Many of its inhabitants, especially the elderly, do not speak Nepali, but Newari. The organization of the city corresponds to Newari planning art. The city is divided into different neighborhoods (toles) articulated around a Bhaktapur durbar square with a well or a public fountain and a permanent religious altar.
In the past, the city acquired its harmony because of its privileged location on the India-Tibet route. The taxes and tolls charged to the merchants gave him great wealth. Each autumn, merchants brought sheep from Tibet to coincide with the Nepalese holiday of Dasain (Hindi Dussehra) in which male animals are sacrificed to the goddess Durga. On their return trip, merchants carried grain, sugar or Buddhist inscriptions.
This prosperity encouraged cultural life. The temple builders developed their own style of the pagoda that was later extended from Tibet to Japan. Just as the meaning of its name says (‘city of the devotees’) Bhaktapur has not lost at any time its importance as a religious center.
At the end of the 20th century and thanks to a German project, the city was largely renovated and restored, becoming one of the main tourist attractions in Nepal.
Bhaktapur Square and all its remains were strongly affected during the massive earthquake of 1934. The recent earthquake of 2015 has finally weakened the last monuments still standing and unfortunately it is important historical remains that we discover today in ruins.
Temples and medieval-style palaces create a unique atmosphere in the royal city of Bhaktapur, making the city seem like an open-air museum. The historically and culturally interesting UNESCO World Heritage Site transports you through many interesting buildings, such as the Royal Palace, into completely different times.
Explore the oldest of the royal cities of Nepal and discover the former heart of the Malla Empire, which left its mark on the city from the 14th to the 18th century. Although the traces of the earthquakes are clearly visible in various historic buildings, there are many interesting buildings in Bhaktapur and an atmosphere that enchants guests directly.
Why visit Bhaktapur and Bhaktapur Durbar square?
Bhaktapur is a city-museum replete with monuments, mostly terracotta with carved wooden columns. In it, you will find temples and palaces with elaborate sculptures, golden roofs, and open patios. Walking around Bhaktapur you feel as if you were in another era.
It is worth the visit to get lost in its streets and enjoy observing the life of its inhabitants. Potters drying their pottery in the sun, children playing soccer in any corner, women raking wheat grains, etc.
During its history, Bhaktapur has been repeatedly damaged by earthquakes. The 2015 earthquake, whose epicenter was 90km from the city, affected many of its historic buildings, including some in Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Due to the importance of tourism in Nepal, the authorities were very involved in restoring the damage but there are still some temples to be rebuilt.
Not only the touristic destination, but it is also famous as the culinary destination. For the various festivals, the Newar prepare special dishes, and drinks. The best known is the Dahi (दही), a special yogurt dish. The beer-like thwon, which is red and white, is an indispensable part of the Newar ceremonies.
The Chatanmari is a kind of rice crepe. Chwela and Kachila, on the other hand, are specially prepared water buffalo meat dishes. The most widely used dessert is probably Lakhamari, made from flour, sugar, and butter.
Bhaktapur and Bhaktapur Durbar square has everything for everybody. Now if you are a music lover, bhaktapur can be the perfect spot for you. With more than 150 music groups, Bhaktapur has a rich reservoir of musicians, especially drummers of the dhimay, a widespread in the Kathmandu valley zweelligen cylinder drum.
But players of the bamboo flute bansuri and vocal groups are also numerous. As a special feature, the singing of nine (nava) different drums (dapha) is accompanied by the few Navadapha groups. Each of these drums has its own repertoire and its own style.
Some of them are played by only one player in turn. In Bhaktapur also live the members of the Mahakali pyakhan dance troupes that perform each year in Kathmandu at the Indra Jatra, a festival at the end of the rainy season in September. Regular festivals of traditional music are organized, such as 1990, the “Festival of Traditional Music Dhin Dha Tum Tak”.
Nepal’s traditional musical instruments are on display in a permanent exhibition at the Department of Music of the University of Kathmandu in Bhaktapur. This field office, which is unique in Asia, was established in 1996.
The cultural enrichment of Bhaktapur will hold you with magical trance. Cultural and religious festivals take place throughout the year in Bhaktapur to honor gods and remember history. Some of the major festivals are Dashain, Tihar and Bisket Jatra.
Dashain is the longest festival every year that lasts for 15 days in September / October in honor of Goddess Durga. Residents who celebrated giving offerings during the festival took place, including slaughtering thousands of animals. Tihar is a light festival in honor of Laksmi, the Goddess of Prosperity in October.
Local residents will light their homes with oil lamps, candles, and other light to invite Dewi Laksmi into their place. Bisket Jatra is a Nepalese New Year celebration held in April. This celebration is usually filled with picnics and private events with family and closest relatives.
Bisket Jatra or biska jatra is the identity of Bhaktapur as this jatra is only celebrated in Bhaktapur. In the spring, when the trees in the Himalayan valleys bloom and the air temperature becomes very comfortable.
The Nepalese people celebrate the New Year festival Bisket for nine days. It usually begins on April 10 and lasts until April 19. Bisket is celebrated not by the lunar, but by the solar calendar, so the dates of the holiday do not change.
Residents of cities take to the streets, sing and dance, praising the beginning of the new year. The festivities begin with the fact that the huge chariot, on which the figure of the god Bhairava (the awesome form of Shiva) and the goddess Bhadrakali stand, creaks in the center of the city.
Interesting events are unfolding here – rope pulling between residents of the eastern and western districts of the city of Bhaktapur. The ropes are tied to chariots. Each group tries to pull the ancient chariot to its side.
A real battle is unfolding between the teams, after which the chariots follow to the river bank. where the men try their best to raise the ceremonial lingam 25 meters high, made of bamboo. The lingam has a transverse beam with two strips of fabric hanging from it.
This is the symbol of two dead snakes. The ceremonial lingam rises to the next day. When the lingam is installed, there is a thunder of applause and triumphs of victory.
After dawn, on the first day of the new year, a huge pillar is toppled to the ground. And every inhabitant tries to get a piece of cloth that supposedly brings good luck in the new year. New Year’s Day is celebrated. And again, the inhabitants of the city are involved in the tug of war.
The chariots again come to the place where there is a huge lingam. In the evening it must be turned down by the participants of the processions. At this time, many Nepalese perform ablutions, sacrifices and other rites to appease the gods and goddesses. As soon as the lingam is on the ground, the Nepali New Year begins. The holiday continues after that for three more days.
The holiday got its name thanks to the legend of a princess whose lovers did not live up to the morning. Because of snakes who lived in the body of a girl and killed men willing to share a bed with her. One of the princes was able to kill the snakes, which are now reminded of pieces of cloth tied to a pole.
You can witness this amazing never seen before culture only in Bhaktapur. At the crossroads of the tol are Chwasa stones, called the ajima (‘grandmother’). On which the inhabitants of the tol deposit impure food, the placenta and the umbilical cord of newborns, clothes of the deceased and once a year unusable pottery. The Tols play a central role in the rituals of the city, especially during the Bisket Jatra festival and during the city tours of the Nava Durga dancers.
The place is the resting point for the trekkers and mountain climbers. Bhaktapur is located in the low mountain region, on the southern edge of the Himalayas in Kathmandu valley.
This valley with a north-south extension of 25 kilometers and an east-west extension of 19 kilometers is surrounded by a towering up to 2900 meters mountain range, with the valley floor at 1340 meters. The river system of the valley is independent of the high mountains and is drained by the Bagmati.
In addition to the Vishnumati, Manohara, Dhobi and Nakhu Kolar, the tributary rivers include the Hanumante, the river where Bhaktapur lies. The fertile, alluvial soil of the Kathmandu valley is composed of sand and loam. The exact cause of the deposition is not yet but could be based in a former lake here.
Hotels, guest houses, cafe, restaurants, boutiques all are opened in this place. This is the perfect place for the tiring tourists who can enjoy the calm serene environment of the city. Away from the noise and pollution, this place is small heaven.
Visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur durbar square is a cluster of at least four squares in front of the royal palace of the ancient kingdom of Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the current city of Bhaktapur, which is 13 km east of Kathmandu.
While the complex is composed of at least four distinct square (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square, and Pottery Square), the whole is informally known as Durbar Square, is a very visited place in the Kathmandu valley. The entire Bhaktapur Durbar Square complex is a fabulous association of ancient arts, cultural traditions, religious values , and prestigious architectural works.
The square reveals all the identity of the city and marks the spirits by the profusion of historical remains. For the most part, inscribed on the list of World Heritage of Unesco. Unsurprisingly, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is at the top of the ranking of the main sights in the Kathmandu Valley.
Here we find the typical Nepalese pagoda-shaped but compared to those of the capital they seem much more refined and valued, also thanks to the pedestrianization of the center. In any case, there is something to see on every corner, places of worship, squares, courtyards, but also scenes of everyday life. The entire square is surrounded by centuries-old buildings. At a glance, we will feel ourselves going back in time.
The best plan you can make in this World Heritage city is to walk around. Do not be afraid, browse everything you want and more. Get lost in the back streets and watch the life of the Nepalis. Surely hallucinated with many things, for example, the sadhus. These monks are a typical picture of India, where Hinduism is the majority religion, but in Nepal, you can also see them kicking.
Darbar Square in Bhaktapur was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1934 and therefore appears more spacious than the others located in Kathmandu and Patan. Originally, there were 99 courtyards attached to this place, but now only six remain. Before the earthquake, there were three distinct groups of temples. But today, the place itself is surrounded only by buildings that survived the earthquake.
To better understand the attraction of this open-air museum, we must look at the different palaces and temples that surround it.
Places To See / Things To Do / Attractions of Bhaktapur Durbar Square Area
1. The palace with 55 windows:
The palace with 55 windows (55 Windows Palace) is perhaps the most emblematic palace of the place. Built in the 15th century, and renovated in the 17th century, the palace stands out with its balcony and its 55 perfectly carved windows in the wood.
A palace of 55 windows was built by Yaksha Malla in the 15th century. The building received its name thanks to 55 windows placed on the balcony, which is considered to be a real masterpiece of woodcarving art. One of the window openings was closed by a window glass brought from India, which at the time was considered almost a miracle.
After the earthquake of 1934, this majestic building was severely destroyed, the last restoration was carried out 10 years ago. The palace until 1769 was the official royal residence. It is located at the highest point of the plateau of the square similar to a fortress.
The oldest part of the palace is considered to be a mul Chouk, built in the XIV century as a home of the goddess to the Taleju. According to the legend of the century, the goddess was brought to Bhaktapur from the simragana. Its main door, known as the Golden Gate is also not foreign to the notoriety of the palace.
Considered one of the most beautiful gates of its kind in the world. The Golden Gate, called Sun Dhoka, is one of the most beautiful manifestations of architecture in the whole valley. The ten-armed goddess Taleju is depicted in the center of the gilded toran (arch).
The gate leads to the Palace of the Fifty Five Windows, built in the XVII century by King Bhupatindra Malla. The Golden Gate, surmounted by a statue of Hindu goddesses Kali and Garuda, unveils other mythical creatures Hindu, all made in great complexity. The gates are decorated with demons and deities of extraordinarily fine work.
On the gate are depicted the golden figures of Hanuman, Narasingh Narayan, and Bhairava. Now the palace houses the National Art Gallery with ancient samples of Buddhist and Hindu art (portraits of kings, stone sculptures, mandalas and tanks, ancient manuscripts, paintings). The gallery is open every day except Tuesday.
2. Golden gate: Places To See on Bhaktapur Durbar Square Area
Golden Gate is recognized not only one of the greatest phenomena of Nepalese architecture, but also one of the finest works of architecture in the world. They are located on Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is listed as a UNESCO heritage site. The Golden Gate, also known as Sun Dhoka, was built by King Ranjit Malla.
They are a gilded arch, richly decorated with carvings of mythical creatures. In the central part of the gate, you can see the figure of the goddess Taleju with ten hands, surrounded, like a halo, by snakes. And at her feet are located the bird-person Garuda and the goddess Kali, accompanied by two nymphs
Percy Brown, an eminent English and historical art critic, described the Golden Gate as the most beautiful work of art in the whole Kingdom. And stands as a jewel, flashing with innumerable facets in the beautiful environment and in its surroundings.
3. Nyatapola Temple: Temples on Bhaktapur Durbar Square Area
A very imposing and robust temple, the Nyatapola has been able to withstand the many known earthquakes in Nepal. You can not miss it because it is the highest temple in Nepal. Located on Taumadhi Square, it overlooks all other buildings. You can climb the steps to its base to take the height and appreciate the overview of the complex.
But the entrance of the temple itself is reserved for the faithful. The pagoda is dedicated to the tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, whose image is mysteriously hidden inside the temple. Lakshmi is a manifestation of the goddess Durga.
No one except the priests can see the image of the goddess. The stone staircase that leads to the temple is decorated with various stone sculptures: wrestlers, elephants, lions, griffins, Baghini goddesses in the image of a tiger and Singhini in the image of a lion. Rajput wrestlers Jayamel and Phattu sit on the lower tier.
The temple was erected by the Nepalese Malla King Bhupatindra in 1702. The five-storey temple with a five-level roof, which stands on Taumadhi Tole Square, reaches a height of more than 30 meters. Climbing the stairs, you can go to the top of the temple. Thanks to its height and beauty, the temple became a true symbol of these places, depicted on many souvenirs.
Five floors of the pagoda symbolize the five basic elements of nature – water, earth, fire, wind, and sky. The name of the temple is impersonal, i.e. does not bear the name of any god. Remarkably, the roof of the pagoda is supported by brackets in the amount of 108 pieces, which is a sacred number for believers.
The staircase to the temple is guarded by stone mythical creatures: the goddess tigress and the goddess lioness, pairs of griffins, lions (although there are no lions on those lands, therefore they are sometimes called dogs), elephants. At the very beginning of the staircase, there are two figures of a local wrestler, the strongest in the city at the time of the temple construction.
Next to the door of the temple are eight well-wishing symbols of Buddhism, an example of the close mix of the two main religions of Nepal. Upload the high of the Nayatapola temple and sit down to contemplate the panorama for a long time, if it is the sunset better than better. At that time you will be a witness how the light of day gives way to the light of the candles, the only night illumination of Bhaktapur
4. Batsala Temple: Places To See on Bhaktapur Durbar Square Area
Near the statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, right in front of the Royal Palace. There is a stone temple of Vatsala (Devi) Durga, richly decorated with fine wood carvings, built in 1672. This Shikhara-style temple is completely built of sandstone and is erected on a three-stage pedestal, and has similarities to the Krishna temple of Patan.
It is dedicated to Vatsala Devi, another form of the goddess Durgā. The structure that can be seen today, however, is rebuilt by King Bhupatindra Malla and dates from the late 17th or early 18th century. Behind the temple there is a hiti (fountain) called Dhunge Dhara and next to it is the Chayslin Mandap.
In front of the temple, there is a large Taleju bell dedicated to the goddess Taleju, installed by King Jaya Ranjit Malla in 1737. This temple made of stones displays a plethora of fine carvings perfectly worked. The temple is especially famous for its silver bell called by the locals “the bell of the barking of dogs”. Which is explained by the reaction of the dogs of the neighborhood who began to scream and bark as soon as the reasoning of the bell.
5. Chyasilin Mandap:
Next to the temple of Vatsala Durga there is an attractive water reservoir, then Chyasilin Mandap rises. It is an excellent copy of the result of the project for the development of Bhaktapur. This octagonal temple was one of the most beautiful buildings on the square before the 1934 earthquake. The temple was rebuilt in 1990 in the same form using its original components (fragments, details).
Some of the fragments of the old pagoda were saved and were subsequently used in the reconstruction. The temple was reinforced with steel supports to prevent possible damage during an earthquake. The ground floor of the building has retained its function; in the distant past, the city nobility observed the progress of festivals and ceremonies.
And to this day it attracts tourists and visitors to the city with its extraordinary beauty and grace.
6. Royal Palace: Major Attraction of Bhaktapur Durbar Square
The Royal Palace, founded during the reign of King Yaksha Malla (1428-1482), was subsequently rebuilt by subsequent kings, especially Bhupatindra Malla. As in the ancient palaces of Kathmandu and Patan, entry is allowed only in parts of the Royal Palace.
Earlier, the palace was famous for ninety-nine magnificent courtyards, of which only half a dozen remained. The rest were destroyed by the earthquake of 1934. The western part of the palace, formerly known as Malati Chowk, was remade into an art gallery.
The entrance to the gallery is guarded by figures of Hanuman – the god of monkeys and Narasingha (Narasimha- the incarnation of the god Vishnu in the form of a lion-man especially revered by adherents of Vaishnavism). The gallery contains a beautiful collection of Hindu and Buddhist art paintings, manuscripts on palm leaves, thangok, metal, stone and wood products.
7. Shiva Parvati Temple:
At 70 meters from the western entrance to Bhaktapur Durbar Square there is a very small Shiva Parvati temple, famous for its carvings depicting erotic scenes. It is also known as the Temple of Erotic Elephants. On the left just before the entrance to the square, there is a hiti (a water tank) and a few steps away from this but on the opposite side of the road.
There is a small double-roofed temple dedicated to Shiva-Parvati with some erotic sculptures. One of these shows a pair of elephants copulating in the missionary position.
8. Statue of Ugrachandi and Bhairava:
Next to Sundari Chowk on the wall of the building you can see the statues of the fearsome Bhairava (right) and Ugrachandi (Durga’s terrible embodiment). God and goddess are decorated with garlands of human heads. This status is one of the major attraction on Bhaktapur Durbar Square area.
They are located near the main gate on the west side. The statues date back to 1701, and it is said that the unfortunate sculptor had his hands cut off as soon as the work was finished to prevent him from duplicating his masterpieces. Ugrachandi has eighteen arms in possession of weapons, and she is in the position to kill a (Buffalo) demon.
Bhairava has twelve arms and both god and goddess are garlanded with necklaces of human heads. The palace wings, located to the west of the national gallery, have long collapsed. Of the entire complex, once the former summer residence of the queen, only two stone gatekeepers Durga and Bhairab are preserved.
Both were installed in 1701, but they look no less impressive today. Hung with all sorts of weapons, needs only one of her eighteen hands to kill a demon. The Lion Gate (the Door of the Lions). This door, dating from the year 1696, is guarded on both sides by two huge lion statues.
9. Char Dham: Places to Visit on the Bhaktapur Durbar Square
These are four temples located on the west side of the square. And were built for pilgrims who could not afford a trip to the Indian state of Uttaranchal, where there are homonymous temples. Temple of Kedarnath – The temple built in terracotta follows the style of the Shikara temple and is dedicated to Shiva.
Destroyed by the 1934 earthquake, it was restored by a German group in 1990. Badrinath Temple – A small temple west of the Gopi Nath Temple known locally as Badri Narayan and is dedicated to Vishnu and Narayan. Temple of Gopi Nath (also called of Jagannath) – With a double roof shows the various incarnations of Vishnu carved in the beams, a statue of Garuda at the entrance.
The temple is in the Gum Baja style. Rameshwar Temple which houses the three deities: Balarāma, Subhadra and Krishna. The name derives from the Rameshwar which comes from Ram as the incarnation of Vishnu. It is difficult to see the gods because the door remains mostly closed. Dwarika, also known as the Temple of Krishna, the houses of the three deities, from left to right: Satyabhama, Krishna, and Rādhā.
Their images are carved in stone. In the month of Mangsir (November / December), the deities are placed in a fercolo and taken to the city. Together, the four temples are called Char Dham, like four Himalayan shrines.
10. The column of King Bhupatindra Malla
Of the kings of the Malla dynasty ruling in Bhaktapur, King Bhupatindra Malla was the most prominent. He had a great influence on the development of art and architecture of the city. Opposite Taleju Chok stands a column with a kneeling king on its top, turned his gaze to the magnificent gate of his palace.
Established in 1699, it is rightly considered the most beautiful column among those similar to it (installed in Patan and Kathmandu). Both the golden gate and the column are connected with the Taleju Mandir temple, built under Bhupatindra. The column is crowned by a sculpture of the founder of the temple, and the gate serves as the main entrance to the temple.
If we compare this column with similar structures in Kathmandu and Patan, we can conclude that the column of Bhupatindra is much shorter. Legend explains this phenomenon. King Jaya Ranjit Malla wanted to erect a column similar to those in Kathmandu and Patan, but due to the lack of skilled and experienced artisans, this task proved impossible.
He, therefore, addressed King of Kathmandu Jay Prakash Malla. Artisans were immediately sent to Bhaktapur, but before leaving, they were all instructed to sabotage the construction of the column. The first column overturned and broke into pieces to the great wrath of King Bhaktapur. However, the column was assembled again and this time successfully.
11. Naga Pokhari or Royal Water Tank:
In the north-eastern part of the royal palace is Naga Pokhari, the royal water reservoir, built in the XVII century. And used for daily ritual bathing of the goddess Taleju. Stone naga (snakes) surround it along the perimeter, and a column with a naga head rises in the middle of the reservoir.
Water enters the tank from a drain pipe in the form of a Makara (a mythical sea monster), from the mouth of which a goat’s head peeps which is being devoured. And on the back of the former creeps the third creature with scales body and webbed feet. Naga Pokhari, which means cobra in translation, plays an important role in the Hindu religion.
According to tradition, on the fifth day after the new moon in the month of Shraavana the Nag Panchami festival is celebrated. Residents of the city place images of a cobra above the doors of their houses, ask him to protect the house from evil spirits and leave dishes with treats in certain places.
12. Pashupatinath Temple:
The Pashupatinath Temple, or Jaksheshwar Mahadev Temple, is dedicated to Shiva and is an exact replica of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. The holy temple of the god Shiva is located behind the temple of Vatsala Devi. It is believed to have been built right in front of the palace after King of Bhadgoan dreamed it.
It was built by Yaksha Malla in 1475 (or 1482) and is the oldest temple in the square. According to legend, King Yaksha Malla, whose name the temple was named, in the dream appeared Shiva and ordered to build a copy of the Pashupatinath temple next to the palace. The earthquake of 1934 partially destroyed the structure. Later the building was restored, having received a second birth.
13. Siddhi Lakshmi Temple:
At the southeastern corner of the Royal Palace is, dating from the 17th century, the temple of Siddhi Lakshmi, also known as Lohan Degas, or the Stone Temple. On both sides of the temple staircase, there are statues of men and women pulling on their hands reluctantly walking children and holding onto dogs. They are followed by horses, rhinos, Kimpurushs (semi-divine nature creatures with a human head and the body of a lion) and camels.
14. Temple of Fasidega:
In the center of the second part of Bhaktapur Durbar Square there is a large white temple Fasidega dedicated to Shiva with statues of elephants, lions, and cows. The temple rises on a six-level platform, offering a magnificent view of the entire valley. The structure is white and stands out easily as it is visible from different points of view.
The White Temple of the Fasi Durga Mandir could hardly be called since it looks absolutely disproportionate. The temple was rebuilt on a massive stepped base after the building was destroyed in 1934. The massive five-level base and staircase are guarded by three pairs of different animals.
15. Tadhuchen bahal:
Tadhuchen Bahal or Chatur Varna Mahavihara is a renovated monastery dating back to 1491. This is where the cult of worship of the goddess Kumari originated. In the courtyard, on the east side of the roof supports, you can see an unusual thread depicting the flour of sinners. It is a Buddhist temple on the east side of the square, linked to the cult of kumari.
16. Dattatreya: Major Attraction of Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Another most popular destination among tourists and visitors to the city is Dattatraya Square. This place got its name in honor of the Holy Place of the same name. This sanctuary has been renovated several times since it was built. In 1427, in honor of the three gods Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu.
They created a sacred structure from a tree trunk, by visiting which you can see the symbols of divine idols. The temple is dedicated to Dattatreya – the mixed incarnations of the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, although the Garuda on the top column and the traditional weapons of Vishnu on the pillars indicate the strong influence of Vishnu.
The temple is the most important place of worship for Vishnuites and Buddhists. The temple is a three-story building, built on a special basis above the ground. On this basis, cut some erotic scenes. The front of the temple, which was added later, is guarded by two wrestlers Malla.
In addition to it, in the square, you can see another shrine, which is a place of worship for Bhimsen. According to local lore, it originated in honor of one of the heroes of Indian folklore and was built on the site of an old monastery. Currently, local authorities set up a carving museum here, which eventually acquired national importance.
The Dattatreya Square dominates the Upper Town, in the east . This square with a length of 80 meters and a width of 25 meters runs in an east-west direction and should have had a central function already at the beginning of the city’s history. You should definitely visit this cultural institution to see with your own eyes what gorgeous creations made of wood, brass, and bronze came out of the hands of local craftsmen.
17. Pottery area or Bolachhen square:
To keep a pot of Bhaktapur as a souvenir, visit the square where potters parade their clay masterpieces. In addition, you can participate in the process, and create a personal pot with your own hands. And if you’re lucky, then watch the firing, which is carried out here in the open furnaces. On the square is the temple of Ganesh, the patron saint of potters, built with funds donated by the potters themselves.
And the priest who serves in this temple is elected exclusively from the pottery caste. All the dishes that pottery craftsmen create are used in the daily life of the local population. As soon as you enter the square, you will immediately see a huge amount of manufactured products, which are dried in the sun. The area is characterized by the fact that here they make pots in the traditional way, like 500 years ago.
Tourists here cannot just watch how they mold and burn clay pots, but they themselves can try to make any clay product. Today, making pottery is an extraordinary craft of Bhaktapur, and plays the role of the living cultural heritage of Nepal.
The clay artifacts created on the potter’s wheel are main dishes used for religious, cultural, and daily purposes. To make pots, potters use black clay, a special type of clay dug near Bhaktapur. Clay mixed with sand and water is placed in the center of the potter’s wooden wheel.
The potter uses a stick to rotate the wheel to ideal speed so that he can use both hands to form products that are later dried in the sun. And ultimately put in a traditional oven to bake them. In the pottery square, you can see hundreds of pots drying in the sun.
18. Taleju Bell: Things to Do on Bhaktapur Durbar Square Area
The Taleju bell, created in 1737, was popularly called the “barking bell”, thanks to which it became known throughout the world. It is located on the terrace of the Temple of Vatsala-Durga. The colossal bell was hung by King Ranjit Malla in 1737 and was used to announce the daily curfew. It was played every morning when the goddess Taleju was worshiped.
It was completely demolished in 2015 by the earthquake in Nepal. The bell got its nickname for a reason. The tone of it’s ringing in a certain way affects the dogs, so that all the dogs in the area begin to bark. The bell when it was there could be heard every morning. Another bell, also dedicated to the goddess Taleju, but of much larger size, is located in front of the temple itself.
19. Bansi Narayan Mandir:
Among the temples located on the western part of the square, dedicated to the four main Hindu pilgrimage sites, Bansi Narayan Mandir Temple stands out more than others. The two-story pagoda is distinguished by massive carved wooden doors, windows, and multi-level roofs. Here you can see multiple images of the god Vishnu.
Behind the temple of Bansi Narayan is a small temple Durga Mandir, built in the style of Shikhara. The temple is an interesting unusual combination of bricks, terracotta, stone, and wood in the finish. Graceful carved stone columns adorn each of the 4 entrances to the temple.
20. Katur Varna Makha vihara:
Katur Varna Makha vihara or Tadhunchen Bahal is located near the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and is separated from it only by a number of ancient Dharam halls (today there are souvenir shops). This ancient monastery is one of the oldest monuments of Bhaktapur.
The monastery was built under the ruler Raye Malle (1482-1505), but the modern appearance of the monastery was attached to the rule of King Yagat Prakash Malla (1644-1973). The cult of Kumari has been represented here since the days of King Ranjit Malla.
21. Mulchowk:
Once a palace complex, included 99 yards. Of these, only six have survived, but almost all of them are closed to the public for religious and security reasons. From Sundhoka, the path leads around Bhairava Chowk and goes to the carved wooden gate, the only entrance to Mul Chowk.
This is the oldest central part of the palace, this palace courtyard was dedicated to the goddess Taleju. However, by prior arrangement, tourists can get inside and look at the courtyard interior. From here you can see the main temple, and to its left are huge statues of the Ganges and Yamuna, decorated even richer than their “brothers in Patan”.
Then you can see a triple marble portal leading to Kumari Chowk. Both Mul Chowk and Kumari Chowk are considered pearls of Nepalese architecture. During the period of decline, this used to be the abode of kings. However, the temples located on the territory of the former palace complex were maintained in good condition, as people still believed with the strength and power of the gods.
22. National Gallery:
To the left of the golden gate, there was once a building characterized by massive carved frames. This building was demolished in the middle of the XIX century and in its place a real hall was built. Since the time of Jitamitra, the Mullah has survived the only decorative portal, it was guarded by a pair of stone lions. In 1697 they have added the statues of the guardian gods Hanuman and Narashima.
Today it houses the national gallery, which exhibits more than 200 works of the XIV-XX centuries. Among the exhibits of the gallery, the illustrations of Yogi Purusha, depicting the chakras of the human body, deserve special attention. Here works of high cultural value are kept, belonging to the Hindu and Buddhist religions, and related to the history of Bhaktapur and Nepal.
23. Statue of Hanuman:
The entrance to the National Art Gallery is flanked by Two Lions and by the figures of Hanuman, the monkey god, who appears in tantric form as Hanuman Bhairab with four arms. Hanuman is worshiped for strength and devotion. Next to it is Vishnu in the form of Narsingha. Both representations are from the seventeenth century.
24. Taleju Temple:
This temple is located inside the royal palace on Mul Chowk and was built in 1553. It is accessible only to Hindus.The temple is dedicated to the Hindu cult, that is why only those who practice this creed are allowed inside. Taleju Bhawani, is a form of the Hindu goddess Durga, she comes from southern India (Tulajapur Karnataka), she was the tutelary deity of the Malla kings.
The entrance to the temple of Taleju Bhawani is in the main courtyard and the oldest of the Palace: the Mul Chowk. Its tympanum is finely carved with the deity in its center.
25. Temple of Bhairavnath:
The temple of Bhairava Nath is dedicated to Bhairava the terrible incarnation of Shiva. The temple dates back to the 17th century with a first enlargement of 1717 commissioned by Bhupatindra Malla. And the addition of a floor after the post-earthquake restoration of 1934.
Between the walls of the temple are visible wheels and parts of the wagon normally used for the party of Bisket Jatra dedicated to Bhairava. In the facade there are two brass lions that support the Nepalese flag.
26. Temple of Mahadev Narayan:
The temple of Mahadev Narayan is two-storey and dedicated to Mahadev. It is topped with sacred symbols of Vishnu but also of Shiva. There is also a plaque depicting the Buddhist deity Vajrayogini.
27. Bhimsen Temple:
17th century temple dedicated to the god of commerce Bhimsen. The temple has two floors and behind it is a hiti called Bhimsen Pokhar.
28. Pujari Math:
It is a building originally used as a math (home for Hindu) and was built in the 15th century during the reign of Yaksha Malla, then rebuilt in 1763. In 1979 German architects restored the building as a gift to the sovereign Birendra.
The most famous element of the building is undoubtedly the 15th century peacock window, finely carved in wood. The interior of the building houses the Wood Carving Museum. The peculiarity of this place that many tourists immediately notice is the window with the peacock just above one of the entrances.
The attention is in fact captured by the well-known animal, who in a regal position observes the crowd approaching with its finely decorated tail.Inside you can buy a ticket for three of the Bhaktapur museums and start visiting the first, right here in the Pujari Math, or the Museum of Woodworking.
Discovering the techniques used since the past by the artisans of Bhaktapur is an essential step, given the considerable use of this material in the religious and cultural structures of the city. The second museum to which you are entitled with the same ticket is the nearby Museum of brass and bronze. It will allow you to admire some very important religious artefacts for Nepalese culture.
29. Salan Ganesh Temple:
This temple is located on the northern side of the square and dates back to 1654. Behind it is a pool: Ganesh Pokhari.
30. The pictorial Museum
This museum is of great value, which contains ancient paintings belonging to Hindu and Buddhist Tantrism of various periods with different descriptions. The museum is open every day except Tuesdays.
Effects of the Nepal Earthquake (1934 and 2015)
The Durbar Square in Bhaktapur was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1934 and, therefore, appears larger than those of Kathmandu and Patan. Originally, there were 99 courts connected to this place, but now only 6 remain. Before the earthquake of 1934, there were 3 distinct groups of temples. Currently, the square is surrounded by buildings that survived the earthquake.
The earthquake of 25 April 2015 damaged as many as 116 historic sites in the city. 67 were heavily damaged, 49 only partially. The earthquake struck Durbar square, perhaps the most significant place in the city. The main temple in Bhaktapur square has lost its roof. While the Vatsala Devi temple, famous for its sandstone walls and topped by a golden pagoda roof, was demolished by the earthquake.
About municipal buildings: Rameshwor temple, Batsala, Narayan, Siddilaxmi, Biswaroopa, Siddiganesh, bhairav, Siva Mahadev, Degaina, Sattal, Pati and Pujari Mathas were also damaged. It is estimated that over 293 million Nepalese Rupees are needed for reconstruction and restoration of damage. Due to the earthquake on April 25, 2015, around 200 people died in the collapse of many smaller buildings and two large temples on the central Thaumadi Tole in the Old City.
After earthquake
Most of the support is directed to important cultural sites such as the Pujari Math Museum, the National Art Gallery and the prized temples. This is not just about culture. Not only for the preservation of buildings. This is really about human lives in the here and now.
Individual fates in Bhaktapur, representative of a whole country. Fascination and fright go hand in hand. In addition to the unmistakable architecture of the ancient buildings with their inconceivably detailed, colorful wood carvings, powerful cracks in the walls stand out.
The walls of the temples and the roofs, skilfully adorned with clay tiles, are supported by meter-long and underarm-thick wooden supports. There is a danger of collapse. Between the rubble mountains, old men sit and knock on limestone remains of stones to build the collapsed temple buildings. The catastrophe is also a new beginning in Nepal. There are jobs for the locals in reconstruction and restoration.
The coarsest debris has long been removed from the streets of the city center. The shopping experience of the tourists in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is nothing in the way. But if you venture out of the city center and drift through the narrow and branched streets of Bhaktapur, you see the destruction of the neighborhoods.
Much is destroyed and the money is missing to rebuild. The construction of the temples will take decades, and the construction of the dwellings can not and must not wait so long. Anyone who now thinks Bhaktapur’s inhabitants are walking through the streets with disillusioned faces and affectionately bent backs, is wrong. Optimism instead of pessimism. Bhaktapur is getting closer and families have taken in their homeless relatives.
1934 and 2015. It is not the first devastating earthquake that struck Nepal and it will not be the last. But as in the past, this time the Nepalese people will be able to cope with this great challenge.
Although ordinary people can not count on much support from their government. And much of the money donated has gone into corruption and inability to organize, the belief in a better future and joy in the faces of those affected is the country’s greatest asset.
The great temples will be rebuilt just like in 1934. A magnetizing piece of culture (especially for paid tourism) will be returned to humanity. It is only to be hoped that Bhaktapur will be worth living again for all its inhabitants.
Have you ever visited Bhaktapur Durbar Square comment below.
Have you ever visited Bhaktapur Durbar Square comment below.
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