Bhaktapur Places to See

Bhaktapur is a home of medieval art and architecture. Shaped like a conch shell, Bhaktapur means the 'city of devotees'. Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries. The City is about 19 km from Kathmandu.

The city Bhaktapur known as Bhadgaon "City of devotees" is 13 km east of Kathmandu. This is most beautiful medieval town is the most preserved of the three medieval cities. exquisitely carved 55 windows palace. The Golden Gate an old palace, 5-stored Nyatapole temple and Bhairav Temple near by and Dattatreya square etc. can be observed.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara style temples grouped around a fifty-five window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal. The golden effigies of kings perched on the top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood carvings in every place struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, gateways and windows all seem to form a well orchestrated symphony.

Datta-Traya Temple

The temple of Dattatraya is as old as the Palace of Fifty five Windows. Consecrated by King Yakshya Malla in A. D. 1427, this temple, according to popular belief, was built out of the trunk of a single. The Datta-Traya Temple also built by late King Vupatindra Malla in the 17th century is a famous pagoda carrying an amusing history. This is a wooden temple facing west; it is believed that the timber used for its relevant construction was sawed out of a single tree. So you can imagine how big the tree must have been. The square has been nomenclatured from the name of the Deity itself. The three-storied temple is dedicated to the three-headed Deity of the orthodox Hindus. It symbolizes the divine triad, a mere combination of Brahma (the Creator), Bishnu (the Preserver) and Maheshwor (the Destroyer). The square as a whole can be regarded as a marvelous gallery of intricate wood carvings. One can smell environments of medieval period around the square. In the periphery of the temple, you can also see monasteries, Vimsen Temple and a platform. There are a couple of handicraft quarters around where watching the skills of the carvers is a sheer joy. The Pujari-Math Temple has the renowned Peacock Window in the landside facing the cardinal direction of east. It is a pure wooden structure, a master-piece indeed. Apart from these, there exist two special museums-the Metal Craft Museum and the Wood Craft Museum.

Changunarayan

This is the most ancient temple of Kathmandu valley. The temple built third century is decorated by some of the best samples of stones, wood and metal crafts in the valley.A fifth century stone inscription, the oldest to be discovered in Nepal, is located in the temple compound and it tells of the victorious King Mandev.