Bhaktapur

Durbar Square

As you walk in, you will be overcome by a feeling of inner harmony. Such is the art and architecture and the special layout here. The 15th-century Palace of 55 Windows is situated to the left as you enter through the city gate, inspires admiration. The National Art Gallery is also housed inside. The palace entrance, the Golden Gate, is a masterpiece. In front of the palace building is a medley of temples of various designs.

Taumadhi Square

Taumadhi Square lies to the east of Durbar Square reached by a narrow brick-paved lane. The towering five-roofed Nyatapol temple presides over the square. The monument gracefully soars into the sky atop a five-story plinth. The stairway leading up to the temple is flanked by stone figures of deities and mythical beasts, each 10 times more powerful than the one immediately below.

Dattatreya Square

Dattatreya Square takes its name from the Dattatreya temple dedicated to a three-headed combination of the Hindu deities Brahma, Bishnu and Maheshwor. If you want to experience the feel of the traditional urban layout of Bhaktapur, Dattatreya Square is the perfect place for it. Set in a maze of streets lined with richly ornamented houses, the square is popular for its many ornate Hindu monasteries known as Math. The National Woodworking Museum is also housed here and the Brass and Bronze Museum is across the street.

Potter's Square

A two-minute walk towards the south of Durbar Square brings you to Bolachhen, also known as Potter's Square because of the many potters seen here moulding wet clay into different kinds of earthenware. It has a display of fresh pottery left out to dry in the open square. This place can be approached from Taumadhi Square also. The elephant-headed Lord Ganesh is the patron of potters, thus the Jeth Ganesh temple is in the square.

Siddha Pukhu

Siddha Pukhu, a pond dating back to the Lichhavi period, is better known as Ta-Pukhu, meaning big pond. Though situated right at the bus stop, it provides a serene atmosphere with its wonderful stone images of different Hindu and Buddhist gods.

Surya Binayak

Surya Binayak is one of Kathmandu's most popular pilgrimage spots.It is situated in a thick forest to the south of Bhaktapur, it is a 20-minute walk from the trolley bus terminal. The temple, dedicated to the Hindu deity Ganesh, is crowded with devotees especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Batsala Temple

The stone temple of Batsala Devi has many intricate carvings. It is most famous for its bronze bell, known to local residents as 'the bell of barking dogs' as when it is rung, all dogs in the vicinity begin barking and howling! The colossal bell was hung by King Ranjit Malla in A. D. 1737 and was used to sound the daily curfew. Now days it is rang every morning when the goddess Taleju is worshipped.

Nyatapola Temple

King Bhupatindra Malla in A. D. 1702 built this five-story pagoda. It stands on five terraces on each of which squat a pair of figures: two famous wrestlers, two elephants, two lions, two griffins and Baghini and Singhini the tiger and the lion goddesses. Each pair of figures is considered ten times stronger than the ones immediately below, while the lowest pair, the two strong men Jaya Malla and Phatta Malla, was reputedly ten times stronger than any other men. This is one of the tallest pagoda temples in Kathmandu Valley and is famous for its massive structure and subtle workmanship.

The Lion Gate

Dating as far back as A.D. 1696, this gate is guarded on either side by two huge statues of lions. Alongside, there are two stone images of Bhairav (the dreadful aspect of Shiva) and Ugrachandi (the consort of Shiva in her fearful manifestation).

The Golden Gate

The Golden Gate is said to be the most beautiful and richly moulded specimen of its kind in the entire world. The door is surrounded by a figure of the goddess Kali and Garuda (the mythical man? bird) and attended by two heavenly nymphs. It is also embellished with mythical creatures of marvelous intricacy, In the words of Percy Brown, an eminent English art critic and historian, the Golden Gate is the most lovely piece of art in the whole Kingdom: it is placed like a jewel, flashing innumerable facets in the handsome setting of its surroundings. The gate was erected by King Ranjit Malla and is the entrance of the main courtyard of the Palace of Fifty five Windows.

The Palace of Fifty five Windows

This magnificent palace was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427 and was subsequently remodeled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century. Among the brick walls with their gracious setting and sculptural design, is a balcony with Fifty-five Windows, considered to be a unique masterpiece of woodcarving.

The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla

This statue showing King Bhupatindra Malla in the act of worship is set on a column facing the palace? Of the square's many statues, this is considered to be the most magnificent.