Top Things to Do in the Bhaktapur | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Bhaktapur

Places To Visit In Bhaktapur

55 Windows Palace

The Palace of Fifty-five Windows was built by King Jitamitra Malla for his 55 wives, with one window for each of them. The palace of 55 Windows dates back to the 18th Century. Apart from this iconic monument of love, the said king also laid down the foundation stone for another iconic structure in the vicinity - the Nyatapola Temple. The inside of the palace has been closed for visitors for many years now. The Golden Gate also called as Sun Dhoka, is the entrance to several inner courtyards around the palace. The Golden Gate one of the most lavish and important artefacts in Nepal. There is also a holy pool near the palace called Naga Pokari which is believed to be used by goddess Taleju for daily ritual baths. It was built like a water tank and it is encircled by a cobra. Read More

Bhairavnath Temple, Bhaktapur

Bhairavnath temple is one of the temples in Bhaktapur Durbar Square and is built in the pagoda style. The entry ticket to Bhaktapur also guarantees a visit to this temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Bhairav, which is supposed to be the most ferocious form of Lord Shiva. Originally, the temple had just one storey which was built by King Jagat Jyoti Malla. However, in 1717, two more storeys were added to this temple by King Bhupatindra Malla. The statue of Lord Bhairav is about 12 feet long and is one of the largest statues in Kathmandu Valley. Thousands of people visit Bhairavnath temple during Bhairav Ashtami or Bhairav Jayanthi as it is celebrated religiously. Even though the temple was slightly damaged during the earthquake in November 2015, it still has retained most of its structure. Read More

The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once home to the royal family of Bhaktapur. Locally known as Khwopa or the ancient Newa City, visitors can explore the entire complex that consists of four different squares – Taumadhi Square, Durbar Square, Pottery Square and Dattatreya Square. Typical findings here are the Bhaktapur royal palaces along with several temples and other ancient structures dating back to the 17th and the 18th century. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located about 13 kilometres to the east of the Kathmandu Valley. The entire square is a massive display of traditional Newari architecture. Every building is a work of art in itself and visitors are sure to enjoy exploring. The square was severely damaged in the 1934 and 2015 earthquakes that hit Nepal. Most of the ancient architecture suffered, and several buildings, statues and structures were destroyed. Other buildings underwent some restoration, but visitors can still see the signs of the damage. Read More

The Doleshwar Mahadev Temple is located in Bhaktapur, 20 kilometres away from Kathmandu. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is believed to be 4000 years old. It is believed that visiting Doleshwar Mahadev, Pashupatinath and Kedarnath will wash off one’s sins by receiving blessings from Lord Shiva.

Nyatapola Temple is an 18th-century temple located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. It is the tallest building in the valley and the tallest temple in the country. The temple was built in 1702 and is dedicated to Goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The idol of the Goddess, which is installed in the sanctum sanctorum, is believed to be extremely fearsome. Although only the temple priests enter the sanctum sanctorum, visitors can explore the rest of the temple. The monument has survived two major earthquakes in the region and has suffered minor damages. It is also, therefore, known for its structural strength. Nyatapola Temple was built during the reign of King Bhupatindra Malla. He belonged to the Malla Dynasty and ruled Bhaktapur between 1692 and 1722. The temple has traditional pagoda-style architecture with a five-storey roof that makes it a strikingly tall building in the region. It took about seventeen months to build the temple during the time. The Goddess it is dedicated to is believed to be Tantric and hence, is also called Tantric Lakshmi. Read More

Siddha Pokhari is an artificial rectangular pond located near the main gate of Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It is one of the old and traditional ponds in Nepal. It was built in the 15th century during the rule of King Yakshya Malla. Siddha Pokhari is also called by the name Ta-Pukhu. The pond is surrounded by buildings, however, one can also spot snowy mountain peaks on a clear day. Ta Pukhu is a popular place for locals as well as tourists and they can often be seen feeding the fish with food bought from stalls nearby. Siddha Pokhari is also called as Indra Daha. A large fair takes place every year on the day of Ashwin Krishna Dwithiya. The devotees come here to dip into the holy water and worship goddess Indrayani. By doing so, they believe that they will be blessed with health and happiness. The entire pond will be decorated with lamps during this day. There will be idols of Shaiva, Shakti, Baishanv and Buddha near the pond. Read More

Located right next to the famous Durbar Square, Taumadhi square is often left unnoticed while travelling to Bhaktapur but one has to explore it in order to know about ancient legends and adore ancient architecture. The square is very popular among tourists because of the beautifully structured stones and carvings on the wood. The stone sculptures are a major attraction in this square. It represents the ancient life in Bhaktapur. Also known as Taumadi Tole, it owes much of its reputation to be the site for Nyatapola Temple, the tallest temple in Nepal towering to a height of 30 metres. Read More

The Lion Gate, Bhaktapur

The Lion Gate is a 17th-century structure, created with the belief that it will protect the ancient city. The gate has two large and majestic lion statues placed on either side. The Lion Gate is located inside the Bhaktapur Durbar Square along with several other ancient buildings and artefacts, which is accessible through many well-maintained pathways. Popular belief holds the King to have chopped off the hands of the artisans who built the Lion Gate, an attempt to ensure that to Lion Gate would never be replicated. Sculptures of Lord Bhairava and his consort Goddess Ugrachandi are also installed beside the lion statues (one on each side). This legend emphasises on how significant the structure is for the locals. It thus has immense cultural significance too. A visit to check out its stunning ancient artisanship is highly recommended. Read More

Thimi is the fourth largest town in Kathmandu Valley and is situated in between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The Kings of Bhaktapur often called this city as ‘Chhemi’ which means ‘capable people’, thus praising the people of Thimi for their constant and loyal support towards Bhaktapur. The town is a large producer of pottery and masks. With a population of nearly 84,000 people, the city is filled with Newari culture and traditions. Thimi is elevated and one must climb up the valley in order to reach the city. The city was originally known as Madhyapur which translates it to ‘middle place’ which is now more often used than Thimi. Read More