Situated at an altitude of 1,401 m, Bhaktapur covers an area of four square miles. Bhaktapur or “the Cityof Devotees” still retains the medieval charm and visitors to this ancient town are treated with myriad wonders of cultural and artistic achievements. The past glory of the Malla rulers continue to be reflected at the Durbar Square. Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries. The city lies about 14 km east of Kathmandu. The ancient city of Patan, lying 5 km southeast of Kathmandu, is known as the city of fine arts. The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments. The diversity of the medieval culture that allowed both Hinduism and Buddhism to flourish has left a rich legacy of impressive sightseeing in this city for today’s visitors.
Bhaktapur, also Bhadgaon or Khwopa is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Bhaktapur was the largest of the three Newar kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley, and was the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom until the second half of the 15th century. Today it is the third largest city in the Kathmandu Valley, with a population of about 300,000, of which the vast majorities are still Newars.
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 artwork.
Watch allnepal in youtube.comThe town is famous for special type of curd called “Ju Ju Dhau “.It is the home of traditional art and architecture, historical monuments and craft works, magnificent windows, pottery and weaving industries, excellent temples, beautiful ponds, rich local customs, culture, religion, festivals, musical mystic and so on. Bhaktapur is still an untouched as well as preserved ancient city that is itself a world to explore for tourists.
From time immemorial it lay on the trade route between Tibet and India. This position on the main caravan route made the town rich and prosperous.The male inhabitants of this city wear a special type of cap called the Bhadgaule Topi.
Places of Interest In Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon)
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the plaza in front of the royal palace of the old Bhaktapur Kingdom, 1400m. above sea level. It is one of three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the current town of Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgoan, which lies 14 km. east of Kathmandu. While the complex consists of at least four distinct squares (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square and Pottery Square), the whole area is informally known as the Bhakapur Durbar Square and is a highly visited site in the Kathmandu valley.
Close by is the Golden Gate which leads into Mulchok Court which is home to the Taleju Temple. This temple, like others in the main towns of the Kathmandu Valley, is dedicated to the goddess Taleju Bhawani and includes shrines to both the Taleju Bhawani and Kumari. Entrance to the temple is restricted to Hindus and the living goddess strictly cannot be photographed.The Durbar square is surrounded by spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newari artists and craftsmen over several centuries. The royal palace was originally situated at Dattaraya square and was only later moved to the Durbar square location.
The Golden Gate is the entrance to the main courtyard of the Palace of 55 Windows. Built by King Ranjit Malla, the Gate is one of the most beautiful and richly carved specimens of its kind in the entire world. This gate is embellished with deities and monsters with marvelous intricacy. The le Palace of 55 Windows was built in the 17th century.Among the brick walls in their gracious setting and sculptural design, is a balcony of 55 Windows.
This balcony is a masterpiece of wood carving. The stone temple of Batsala Devi which is also located in the Durbar Square is full of intricate carvings. This temple also sets a beautlful example of Shikhara style architecture in Nepal. There is a bronze bell on the , terrace of the temple which is also known as the “Bell of Barking Dogs”. This colossal bell, placed in 1737 AD, was rung to signal curfew during those days. Superior artistry of the Golden Gate at Bhaktapur The main square of the city contains innumerable temples and other architectural showpieces like the Lion Gate, the Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, the Picture Gallery, the Batsala temple, etc. A magnificent statue of King Bhupatindra Malla in the act of worship is placed on a column facing the palace of the many windows.
Nyatapola Temple
Nyatapola Temple is a 5-story pagoda located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The temple was erected by Nepali King Bhupatindra Malla during a 5-month period from late 1701 into 1702. It is the temple of Siddha Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity.
You will be able to see the sky-high rooftop of the Nyatapola Temple long before you reach the square. With five storeys towering 30m above Taumadhi Tole, this is the tallest temple in all of Nepal and one of the tallest buildings in the Kathmandu Valley.The construction was so sturdy that the 1934 earthquake caused only minor damage (the upper storey was rebuilt).
The temple is reached by a stairway flanked by stone figures of the temple guardians. At the bottom are the legendary Rajput wrestlers Jayamel and Phattu, depicted kneeling with hefty maces. Subsequent levels are guarded by elephants with floral saddles, lions adorned with bells, beaked griffons with rams’ horns and finally two goddesses – Baghini and Singhini. Each figure is said to be 10 times as strong as the figure on the level below.
The temple is dedicated to Siddhi Lakshmi, a bloodthirsty incarnation of the goddess Durga (Parvati). The idol of the goddess is so fearsome that only the temple’s priests are allowed to enter the inner sanctum, but less brutal incarnations of the goddess appear on the torana above the door, beneath a canopy of braided snakes, and also on the temple’s 180 carved roof struts. In a classic piece of religious crossover, the Buddhist eight lucky signs are carved beside the temple doorways.It stands on a five-terraced platform. On each of the terraces squat a pair of figures. This is famous for its massive structure and subtle workmanship.
The National Art Gallery
The western end of the palace contains the best of the three museums in Bhaktapur. The entrance to the gallery is flanked by two huge guardian lions, one male and one female. Beside the lions are some imposing 17th-century statues of Hanuman the monkey god, in his four-armed Tantric form, and Vishnu, as the gut-ripping Narsingha.
Inside the gallery you can view an extensive collection of Tantric cloth paintings – the Hindu version of Buddhist thangkas – as well as palm-leaf manuscripts and metal, stone and wooden votive objects, some of which date to the 12th century. Look out for depictions of the nightmarish Maha Sambhara, with 21 faces and an unbelievable number of arms, as well as scenes from the Karma Sutra. Also here are portraits of all the Shah kings, except Gyanendra (the last of the Nepali kings), who has been neatly excised from the gallery. This also covers the Woodcarving Museum and Brass &
Bronze Museum in Tachupal Tole.
Also contains ancient and medieval paintings belonging to Hindu and Buddhist schools depicting Tantrism of various periods and descriptions.
Bhairavnath Temple
This is another pagoda temple of lord Bhairab, the dreadful aspect of Shiva. It stands a short distance away from the temple of Nyatapola and was originally constructed by King Jagat Jyoti Malla on a modest scale. It was later remodelled by King Bhupatindra Malla, a zealous lover of the arts, into what it is now a three-storeyed temple.
Bhairavnath Temple Located inside, Kwabadehal, this three storey golden pagoda of Lokeshwor (Lord Buddha) was built in the twelfth century by King Bhaskar Verma. Inside the upper storey of the pagoda, are the gold- en image of Lord Buddha and a large prayer wheel.
Dattatraya Temple
The temple of Dattatraya is as old as the Palace of Fifty-five Windows. Consecrated by King Yakshya Malla in 1427 AD, this temple, according to popular belief, was built out of the trunk of a single tree. It was subsequently repaired and renovated by King Vishwa Malla in 1458 AD.
Just beside temple is a monastery (Math) with exquisitely carved peacock windows. These famous windows were carved during the reign of King Vishwa Malla. The monastery is full of artistic facades of latticed windows and engraved columns. Near this temple is a monastery with exquisitely carved peacock window.
The temple is dedicated to Dattatreya, who is a mix of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, although there are several item and inscriptions with closer links to Vishnu. The temple is guarded by statues of the Rajput wrestlers Jayamel and Phattu who also guard the Nyatapola temple in Bhaktapur.
Surya Vinayak Temple
Suryavinayak Temple is a Hindu Temples in Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh. The temple is an historical and cultural monument and tourist centre. The Suryavinayak Temple is among four notable Ganesh shrines in the Kathmandu Valley. The temple is also known as the temple of the rising sun. The temple is located about two kilometres from the city. It is situated in a forest and can only be reached on foot. The temple is believed to be have been originally built over 1500 years ago. The temple was built in the time of the Lichhavi King Vishnu Dev Barma.
The devotees coming here mostly consist of parents with their ill children as this form of Ganesh in the temple is seen as a curing god, especially for deaf and dumb.Ganesh is one of the most popular Hindu gods who is worshiped at the beginning of any auspicious events and occasions. He is also considered as the god of literature, wisdom and worldly success and his head symbolizes the soul while his body symbolizes the earthly existence. The idol of Lord Ganesh in the temple is red in color, as of most of the temples around Nepal.
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