Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Overview

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the best-preserved of the three medieval Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley. Located 13 km east of Kathmandu, the car-free old city feels like stepping back in time with red-brick alleys and intricately carved wooden buildings.

Highlights

• 55-Window Palace: The masterpiece of Newari woodcarving, with rows of ornate windows and a golden gate adorned with deities.
• Vatsala Temple: A stone shikhara temple paired with a large bell that allegedly makes dogs bark when rung.
• Taumadhi Square: Home to the five-story Nyatapola Temple, the tallest pagoda in Nepal.

History

Bhaktapur was the most powerful of the three Malla kingdoms from the 14th to early 18th century. After the Gorkha conquest in 1769, it declined but preserved much of its medieval character.

Visitor Tips

• Tip 1: Buy the citywide ticket at the gate — it covers all squares and is valid for a week.
• Tip 2: Stay until sunset to see the temples bathed in golden light.
• Duration: 2.5–4 hours.