Bhaktapur is situated in the Kathmandu Valley, just half an hour's drive from the capital Kathmandu. It is a UN Heritage Site owing to its temples, palaces, pagodas and stupas. The people of Bhaktapur speak Newari.
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square, in the heart of the city, consists of two massive gates and stone carvings of the rulers of the ancient Bhaktapur kingdom. The red and golden façade of the entire structure points towards Chinese influence. The Golden Gate and lion Gate were built as entrances to the magnificent Fifty-Five Windowed Palace in the 15th century. A large gallery inside the Palace has frescoed walls depicting Hindu and Buddhist deities and beliefs.
The Changu Narayan temple is a UN Heritage site, like the Bhaktapur Durbar Chowk. It is famous for its stone inscriptions. Dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu, the temple depicts incidents from the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The statues of the Bodhisattva, an earlier incarnation of the Buddha, points to the religious harmony that existed in the ancient kingdom of Bhaktapur.
As you walk through the meandering streets of Bhaktapur, you will come across small shops straggling in the shelter of the large temples dominating the city. The shops sell anything from woolen caps, scarves, and shawls to chunky jewelry and leather goods.
If you are a culture aficionado, a student of history, or a nature lover, Bhaktapur will have something for you. A trip to this city is like stepping back in time, and you will feel yourself taken back through the centuries to the times of kings and warriors.
