Bhaktapur Nepal
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur भक्तपुर also known as Bhadgaon or Khwopa. Which is an ancient Newar
town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It is located in
Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone. It is the third largest city in
Kathmandu valley and was once the capital of Nepal during the great Malla
Kingdom until the second half of the 15th century.
Bhaktapur has more temples per square foot than Patan or Kathmandu and is far
enough out of town to keep the crowds away. As a World Heritage site listed by
the UNESCO, Bhaktapur has been heavily restored since a 1934 earthquake severely
damaged the city. To further restoration and preservation there is an entrance
fee for visitors. In October 2009 this was either 750 NRS or USD $10 for
foreigners. If you planned to visit several days, you can ask the counter to add
a note to have access to the city with the same ticket (at most one week).
Visitors from SAARC member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) pay 50 NRS.
Get into
Bhaktapur
If you are not arriving as part
of a tour group, you may take mini bus (bound for Kamal Binayak stop in
Bhaktapur) or big bus (bound for Chyamasingha stop in Bhaktapur) from Bus Stop
near Bhadrakali. You can save time by taking Express Bus (this does not stop in
between except in Maitighar and Sallaghari) from Bagbazar in Kathmandu.
Recently, micro buses also started service of suttling between Kathmandu and
Bhaktapur, which are pretty fast.
For those who haven't experienced a public bus in South Asia, it will be a way
to (literally!) rub shoulders with locals. In either case the ride takes about
40-60 minutes and drops you off just outside of town. The cost of the fare from
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur is approximately 50 NRS by bus for local people.
Average taxi fee from Thamel to Bhaktapur (one way) costs about 800-1000 NRS for
the 16 km drive. Always negotiate the price before get into Taxi.
Get around, sightseeing and
place to see in Bhaktapur
Once in Bhaktapur, walking is
really the only way to experience the quiet, dusty lanes squares. There are no
rickshaws, tuk-tuks, or taxis allowed inside the city-- an inconvenience more
than made up for by the quiet and clean air.
Siddha Pokhari: For a small city, Bhaktapur has the largest number of public
water tanks built within the city limits. Siddha Pokhu (Pokhari) is one of the
largest tanks meant to supply drinking water to the people of Bhaktapur. Built
in the 15th Century by King Yakshya Malla, this large rectangular tank is
teeming with fish and is occasionally open to the public for fishing and
boating.
Nyatapola: The unique temple of Bhaktapur, the Nyatapola literally means ‘Five
storied’ and rises above the city as a remarkable landmark. It also has the
distinction of having withstood the devastating earthquake of 1933. Dedicated to
a tantric goddess, the steps leading up to the temple, is flanked by stone
sculptures. At the base are two statues of Malla era wrestlers representing
humans and in ascending order of power and strength, there are creatures each
ten times more powerful than the preceding statue.
Batsala Temple: One of temples built out of stone is the Batsala Devi of
Bhaktapur which has many intricate carvings. Beside it is the famous bronze
bell, locally known as 'the bell of barking dogs' as its ringing was invariably
accompanied by the howling of dogs in the vicinity. This large bell was put up
by King Ranjit Malla in A. D. 1737 and its sounding announced the beginning and
end of a daily curfew. Today, it is rung every morning when the priests worship
Goddess Taleju.
Bhairavnath Temple: Dedicated to Kasi Bhairav, the three storied temple of
Bhairavnath has only the head of Bhairav in the inner sanctum. Legend has it
that Kasi Bhairav’s head was cut off by a tantric expert in order to keep him in
Bhaktapur. Built in the pagoda style, it stands adjacent to the more famous five
storied Nyatapola temple. Bhairav is the dangerous aspect of Shiva. Originally
built by King Jagat Jyoti Malla, the temple was improved by King Bhupatindra
Malla, a zealous lover of the arts.
Thimi: 10 km east of Kathmandu close to Bhaktapur, is the potter’s town of Thimi.
Besides farming, most households here are engaged in pottery. This laid back
town not only supplies Kathmandu its pottery but also its vegetables. The most
important deity here is Goddess Balkumari. The charming medieval lifestyle of
these farmers is a major tourist attraction.
What to buy
Bhaktapur is all about pottery.
You will see it everywhere, drying in the sun, displayed on tables and shelves
in front of shops and homes alike. The town is equally famous for artistic mask
made up of black clay and colorful painting on it. The masks portray various
gods and deities and carry special significance in festivals.
Thanka, a traditional painting is also found in the town. Metalwork and jewelry
can also be found, but there's more selection on Patan's backstreets.
Going out from Bhaktapur
* Changu Narayan, Changu
(4 Km to the north of Bhaktapur and 22 Km east of Kathmandu.), ☎ 6614788. It is
the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley. Listed in the World Cultural
Heritage, it is also a scenic spot situated at the altitude of about 1700m. The
most authentic inscription located in the precinct of Changu Narayan is dated
464 AD and is accredited to the Lichhavi King Mandeva. Changu Narayan Temple ,
located high in the hill just to the north of Bhaktapur, is the oldest existing
pagoda temple in Nepal . The temple was dedicated to lord Vishnu by the Lichhavi
King in the Fifth Century. It is said to be the oldest temple in the Valley. It
was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Monument List in 1979. edit
* Surya Vinayak is situated at the walking distance fo about 2 KM to the south
of the city and is the holy shrine of god Ganesh (God of well beginning and
successful completion of work). The temple of Ganesh is placed in a sylvan
setting to catch the first rays of the rising sun. It is a good picnic spot
flanked by many attractive landscapes.
* Thimi town is well known for its pottery work. In addition to pottery, Thimi
has made a name for itself in the age-old art of making colorful masks of
various deities, demons and animals. Thimi also produces much of the fresh
vegetables for the Kathmandu valley.
* Nagarkot is nestled on hill at altitude of 2195 meter to the north east corner
of Bhaktapur at distance of 18 kilometers. It is famous for its panoramic view
of mountains, sun rise and sun set. Nagarkot has availability of different types
of accommodations of Five star hotels to small cottage lodges. Its one of the
most scenic spots in Bhaktapur district and is renowned for its spectacular
sunrise view of the Himalaya when the sky is clear. It also offers an excellent
view of the Indrawati river valley to the east.
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