Bhaktapur (भक्तपुर), Nepal

Bhaktapur, Nepal


Bhaktapur (भक्तपुर) is the third largest city in the Kathmandu Valley, after Kathmandu and Patan. It was once the capital of the great Malla Kingdom in the mid 15th century. Bhaktapur, whose name means "town of devotees", is also known as Khwopa and Bhadgaon.

The city of Bhaktapur is located 13 km to the east of Kathmandu. It is situated some 1,401 meters above sea level. Many tourists make day trips there from Kathmandu.

Traditional architecture, Bhaktapur


In present-day Nepal, Bhaktapur is well known as a centre for traditional handicrafts, such as the making of pottery and tapestry. It also draws many tourist to admire the beautiful architecture of its medieval houses in the inner city, and the ornately carved temples in its Durbar Square.

The heritage sites in Bhaktapur were restored between 1974 and 1986 with the assistance of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. It stands today as a showcase of medieval Nepali architecture.

Naga Pokhari, a snake water tank, which is the Royal Bath, in Bhaktapur

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

The heritage buildings in Bhaktapur, along with those in Kathmandu and Patan, were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1979. The details are as shown below: Location: N 27 42 14.22 E 85 18 30.888 covering a core zone of 188.95 hectares and a buffer zone of 239.34 hectares of the Kathmandu Valley
Inscription Year: 1979
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: III, IV, VI Pashupati Temple, Bhaktapur

Travel to Bhaktapur

Many budget travelers catch a bus from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur. There are mini buses from the Kamal Binayak bus stop and regular buses from the Chyamasingha bus stop that go to Bhaktapur. The journey takes about an hour, and the fare is around 35 Nepali rupees. Alternatively, you can negotiate with a taxi to drive you to Bhaktapur, either per journey, or for the whole day. A one-way taxi fare to Bhaktapur will set you back around 800 to 1000 Nepali rupees.

Travel within Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur is best appreciated on foot. The central area of Bhaktapur is a pedestrian zone, so your taxi will drop you somewhere outside the inner city, and you can walk in to explore.

Dattatreya Square, Bhaktapur

Places of Interest in Bhaktapur

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