Bhaktapur Tourism (2023) - Nepal > Top Places, Travel Guide

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"Nepal's Best Preserved Medieval City"

Bhaktapur Tourism

Bhaktapur is one of three medieval cities in the 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 population. This city is located around 12 kilometres 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. This goes into the maintenance of the temples in Bhaktapur.

A place for devotees, this city is located in the Eastern part of Kathmandu valley. 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. Nevertheless, 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.

This city is placed on the trade route between India and Tibet and gives a clear view of the Himalayas. 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.

55 Windows Palace

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Nyatapola Temple

Taumadhi Square

Changu Narayan

Doleshwar Mahadev Temple

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Top Hotels In Bhaktapur

Hotel Timila

9.5 (63 reviews)

$ 60 onwards

The Inn Patan

9.1 (44 reviews)

HOTEL LAYAKU DURBAR

8.9 (259 reviews)

$ 14 onwards

Cafe Beyond and Guest House

9.7 (49 reviews)

$ 35 onwards

Tulaja Boutique Hotel

8.7 (128 reviews)

$ 17 onwards

Yamba Traditional Home

9.6 (111 reviews)

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History

Bhaktapur is considered to be of immense historical value. Founded in the 12th century by King Ananda Malla, it was once the capital of the Malla Kingdom around the 15th century and was occupied by the Newari ethnicity, which reflects in the architecture as well the pagodas throughout this city. After the 15th century, Bhaktapur was taken over by the Shas from Gorkha and it was renowned for its Mall Yoddha (combat between wrestlers). The history of this place is evident in the temples placed all over Bhaktapur.

Culture & Festivals in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur is predominantly populated with Hindus and Buddhists. Although there are around 19 Buddhist monasteries, shrines, pagodas and monuments, both religions are equally seen in this city. The festivals here are celebrated to mark seasons, pay tribute to gods or remember historical events.

Festivals celebrated in Bhaktapur:

Tihar: Festival of lights which are celebrated to remember the goddess of wealth, Laxmi.
Bisket Jatra: Nepali New Year
Gai Yatra: Cow Festival.
Dashain: This is the longest festival in Bhaktapur that lasts for 15 days and is celebrated to worship Lord Durga, something that is similar to Durga Puja during Ashtami in India.

Shopping

Visitors will mostly find Terracotta and Handicrafts to shop for in Bhaktapur. Flower pots, candlesticks, ashtrays, locally made incense sticks, colourful masks and dolls are often found on temple alleys and streets. A great souvenir that visitors often take from here is a clay mask made in different colours which signifies god and this mask can be found anywhere in Bhaktapur.

Best Time to Visit Bhaktapur

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Bhaktapur (Khwopa) - Ancient Newar City Filled with Temples

Taumadi Square - Situated Next to Darbar Square

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FAQs on Bhaktapur

What is the best time to visit Bhaktapur?

The best time to visit Bhaktapur is during the spring (March to April) and Autumn (October to November). During these seasons, the weather here is pleasant as the sky is clear and the Himalayas are visible. The other months especially June, July and August are either too hot or humid for travel and temperatures can range anywhere between 28 to 37 Degrees Celsius.

The weather at Bhaktapur varies greatly. The average temperature is 17.9°C. Humidity is quite common in this city and the highest humidity is experienced during August. However, due to the heat and cold during summers and winters, there is low precipitation. The hottest months in Bhaktapur are May, June and July when the temperature is around 30°C and the coldest months are November, December and January when the temperature drops to around 7 or 8°C at max. Due to this, Snowfall is not often seen in this city. However, this year (2019), Snowfall was seen after around 12 years.

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What is the local food in Bhaktapur?

Dal-Bhat Tarkari and Wo (lentils) are a few common dishes in Bhaktapur. Apart from that, Wai-wai and Chowmein can also be easily found here.

Here is a list of places to eat in Bhaktapur:

Royal curd
New Chhen Restaurant that offers Newari food and snacks
Temple View Restaurant that is right opposite the Malla King Palace.
Namaste Restaurant, a cafe that has a view of Taumadhi Tole
New Cafe Te Peacock, an authentic Nepalese cafe.
New Watshala Garden Restaurant that offers a fusion between Nepali and Belgian food
No-Name Restaurant that offers good Wo.

What are the things to do in Bhaktapur?

The top things to do in Bhaktapur are 55 Windows Palace, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nyatapola Temple, Taumadhi Square , Changu Narayan, Doleshwar Mahadev Temple. You can see all the places to visit in Bhaktapur here

What are the places near Bhaktapur?

The top places near to Bhaktapur are Kathmandu which is 11 km from Bhaktapur, Nagarkot which is located 8 km from Bhaktapur, Pokhara which is located 154 km from Bhaktapur, Janakpur which is located 116 km from Bhaktapur, Lumbini which is located 189 km from Bhaktapur

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"Nepal's Best Preserved Medieval City"

Bhaktapur Tourism

Places To Visit In Bhaktapur

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