Bhaktapur

The best-preserved Newar old city in the Kathmandu Valley, with the five-tiered Nyatapola Temple, Pottery Square, and the Kingdom of Yogurt; on the eastern edge, you can even watch the sunrise over the Himalayas.

Bhaktapur (known in Newari as Khwopa) lies about 13 km east of Kathmandu. It is the best-preserved of the three Malla-era royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley, and its historic core is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Kathmandu Valley'. The city is home mainly to the Newar people, with red-brick houses, carved wooden windows, and temples everywhere. Motor vehicles are largely banned, making it quieter than Kathmandu and Patan.

The old town has four main sights: Durbar Square (with the 55-Window Palace, the Golden Gate, and the National Art Gallery); Taumadhi Square (with the five-tiered Nyatapola Temple and the Bhairavnath Temple); Pottery Square; and, in the east, Dattatreya Square and the Peacock Window. To the west of town is Siddha Pokhari, and on the hillside to the south is the Surya Binayak Temple. Heading east along the Arniko Highway, you reach the Kailashnath Mahadev Statue (one of the world's tallest Shiva statues) and the hill town of Dulikhel. From there, you can continue on foot or by car to the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Namo Buddha and the Newar town of Panauti.

Seasons: October–November brings clear skies and views of the Himalayas. March–April is mild, and in April, during the Nepali New Year, the Bisket festival takes place. June–September is the monsoon, with frequent rain. December–February brings cold mornings and evenings.

Transport and tickets: from Kathmandu, a taxi takes about 40–60 minutes, or you can take a bus from near Ratna Park. Foreign visitors must buy a ticket to enter the old town, about 1,800 rupees (South Asian visitors pay less). With your passport, the ticket can be extended by one week. Staying one night is recommended, so you can experience the morning prayers and the old town at night, and don't miss the 'king's yogurt', Juju Dhau. Some buildings are still being restored after the 2015 earthquake, and there are many stone-paved paths, so wear non-slip shoes.

Top sights

• Bhaktapur Durbar Square – The best-preserved medieval Newar old town in the valley, with the five-tiered Nyatapola Temple, the 55-Window Palace, the Golden Gate and…
• Nyatapola Temple – A five-tiered pagoda about 30 m high on Taumadhi Square, built in 1702. It is Nepal's tallest pagoda temple and has survived several major…
• Pottery Square – A pottery quarter on the south side of the old town. Pots drying in the sun and potters throwing clay at the wheel make Bhaktapur's most li…
• Dhulikhel – A hill town about 30 km east of Kathmandu where old Newar streets survive. From the ridge you can see a Himalayan panorama, from the Langta…
• Kailashnath Mahadev Statue – A bronze statue of Shiva about 44 meters tall on Sanga Hill east of Bhaktapur, claimed to be one of the tallest standing Shiva statues in t…
• Panauti – A Newar old town at the confluence of two rivers. The Indreshwar Mahadev Temple is one of Nepal's oldest pagoda-style temples, and visitors…
• Namo Buddha – Said to be the place where Shakyamuni in a past life sacrificed himself to feed a starving tigress. The hilltop has a stupa and the grand T…
• Bhairavnath Temple – A three-tiered rectangular temple on the east side of Taumadhi Square, dedicated to Bhairav, the wrathful form of Shiva. It is the centerpi…
• Dattatreya Square & Peacock Window – The oldest square in the eastern part of the old city. The three-tiered Dattatreya Temple and the Peacock Window wood carving at Pujari Mat…
• Siddha Pokhari – A large rectangular pond just outside the old city's west gate, said to date from the 15th-century Malla dynasty. Locals come here to strol…
• Suryabinayak Temple – An elephant-headed Ganesh temple on a forested hillside south of the old city. It is named for the first rays of morning sun that reach the…

Where to eat

• Newa Lahana (Bhaktapur Branch) – A branch of the long-established Newari chain, tucked into a lane near Taumadhi Square; the samay baji set and choila a…
• Ravi Dai Newa Chhen – A Newari snack shop on Dattatraya Square that has been run for over thirty years. The samay baji set costs under 500 ru…

Itineraries

• Classic Nepal: Ancient Cities, Snow Mountains & Jungle – From Kathmandu Valley, Bandipur, and Pokhara to Chitwan, connecting ancient cities, snow-capped mountains, and jungles.
• Kathmandu Valley Ancient Cities & Sunrise – Explore the main World Heritage sites in the valley over four days, stay in Nagarkot for a snow-capped mountain sunrise…
• Kathmandu Tibetan Buddhist Pilgrimage – Stay in Boudha and join the pilgrims circling the stupa. Visit Kopan Monastery, Swayambhunath, Padmasambhava's cave at…
• Based in Patan: Newar Towns of the Southern Valley – Use Patan's old town as a base for slow trips to the southern valley towns of Bungamati, Kirtipur and Pharping.
• Kathmandu & Western Bhutan – Explore the ancient cities of the Kathmandu Valley first, then fly to Paro to visit Thimphu and Punakha, and hike up to…
• Kathmandu Valley Rim Hikes – Based in Thamel, hike Shivapuri and Chandragiri, then stay at Nagarkot for sunrise and walk to Changu Narayan.
• Kathmandu Valley Highlights and Dhulikhel – Five days touring the valley's World Heritage sites and southern towns, then east to Dhulikhel, Namobuddha and Panauti.
• Nepal Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour – Connect Boudhanath, Namo Buddha, Lumbini, and Pharping to visit the birthplace of the Buddha and sacred Tibetan sites.