Also called Nepal’s Best Preserved Medieval City, Bhaktapur is one of three medieval cities in Kathmandu Valley, the other two being Kathmandu and Patan. It is often referred to as Bhadgaon and Khwopa and has a mix of Hindu and Buddhist populations. This city is located around 12 kilometers from the capital city of Kathmandu and is divided into three squares, each of them filled with temples and other religious structures. Entry to this town, however, is not free and visitors need to pay a town entry fee of NPR 1500.
Tourist can walk around the stunning darbar square like an open museum. This goes into the maintenance of the temples in Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is known as the City of Culture, Living Heritage, Nepal’s Cultural Gem, An open museum, and a City of Devotees. Bhaktapur is an ancient city and is renowned for its elegant art, fabulous culture, colorful festivals, traditional dances, and indigenous lifestyle of the Newari community. A place for devotees, this city is located in the Eastern part of Kathmandu valley.
This city is placed on the trade route between India and Tibet and gives a clear view of the Himalayas. This position on the main caravan route made the town rich and prosperous. Being the third-largest city in Nepal suggests that Bhaktapur is one of the popular tourist destinations with Bhaktapur Durbar Square being the most common attraction. Bhaktapur known locally as Khwopa is located in and serves as the headquarters of Bhaktapur District in Bagmati Province of Nepal.
Bhaktapur is also the smallest city in Nepal. Bhaktapur was a well-organized settlement since the time of the Kirata Dynasty. During the Lichhavi Dynasty, the settlement started to expand Westwards. Bhaktapur only gained political and social importance in the Himalayas after the Licchavi King Ananda Deva(1146AD-1167AD) established Bhaktapur as the capital city in the 12th century. Bhaktapur is notable for its traditional art and architecture, historical monuments and craftwork, pottery and weaving industries, and cultural facets such as music and customs.
Bhaktapur is a well-preserved ancient city, with some sites dating back to around 1200 AD. Another name of Bhaktpur was Bhatgaon. Khwopa served as the capital of Nepal during the first half of the Malla Dynasty until the 15th century when the Malla Kingdom was divided into various smaller kingdoms. Historically more isolated than the other two kingdoms, Kathmandu and Patan, Bhaktapur has a distinctly different form of Nepal Bhasa language. Bhaktapur has the best-preserved palace courtyards and old city center in Nepal and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal, and stone artworks.
This is supported by the restoration and preservation efforts of the German-funded Bhaktapur Development Project (BDP). The city is also famous for a special type of dahi/dhau (yogurt) called “Ju Ju Dhau”(lit. dhau/yogurt of the Kings ). Bhaktapur, “the city of culture” was unfortunately destroyed during the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in April 2015, causing loss of life and terrible devastation of some of the historically important temples. The city has been getting back on its feet steadily over the past 4 years and as a result, is one of the most valuable historical cities in Nepal.
There are numerous places worth visiting in and around the city namely Nyatapola Temple, Changu Narayan, Kailashnath Mahadev Statue, 55 Window Palace, Nyatapola Temple, Siddha Pokhari, Pujari Math, Bhairavnath Temple, Taumadhi Square, Pottery Square, and Taleju Temple, Portions of the Hollywood film ‘Little Buddha’ starring Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda were filmed in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Also, portions of Bollywood films Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Baby were also shot in Bhaktapur. The pagoda-style temples rise above the Bhaktapur skyline.
The Pottery Square, the Palace (Durbar) Square which dates back to the 12th century, where devotees still celebrate their centuries-old festivals, and the temple squares that still remain vibrant, is Bhaktapur’s major attractions. But the city’s archaic look itself draws tourists besides the elaborate festivals that remain unchanged for centuries. The city has maintained its festivals in their original elaborate forms, many of which last over a week. After the restoration program in the 1970s, the city’s municipality has controlled the construction of new buildings in order to maintain the brick façade in spite of promoting tourism.
One of the most popular festivals of Bhaktapur is the Bisket Jatra which attracts a large number of tourists around the Nepali New Year. There are several guesthouses and hotels that offer mid-range and budget accommodation. Restaurants serve a variety of Nepali cuisine. Bhaktapur is a prime spot for the start of various trekking routes in the Kathmandu valley as well as other areas. Tourists visiting Bhaktapur can do the shopping for a variety of handicrafts.
