Top 15 Best Places to Visit in Bhaktapur, Nepal
Do you want to know top 15 best places to visit in Bhaktapur?
Bhaktapur is one of the most visited places in Nepal. It is the smallest district among the 77 districts of Nepal. There are many temples, monuments, courtyards, and traditional houses constructed during different periods of history. It is rich in ancient arts and cultural heritage. The main inhabitant of this district is Newari. People also know it for ‘Juju Dhau’ (Royal Sweet Yoghurt).
In this article, we will share the 15 best places to visit in Bhaktapur in 2019.
The list of 15 best places that you can visit in Bhaktapur:-
1. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
It is one of the famous temples of Bhaktapur. It lies 13 km east of Kathmandu. Newari artists established the temples, palace buildings, statues, courtyards, and monuments of there.
The major attractions of the Bhaktapur Durbar square are the Golden Gate, Window palace Big Bell, Dog barking Bell, Siddhilaxmi Temple, Taleju Bhawani Temple, Statue of king Bhupendra Malla, National art gallery, and Vathsala Temple. The Newari people call Bhaktapur Durbar “Layaku”.
2. 55-Window Palace
It is one of the best places to visit in Bhaktapur. King Yaksha Malla had built fifty-five windows of this palace in 1427 AD. And later King Bhupatindra Malla remodeled it in the 17th century.
We can see a unique masterpiece of woodcarving such as the palace lies among the brick walls with their courteous setting and sculptural design, and the balcony of fifty- five windows.
The Palace had closed for many decades because there had done a lot of damages during the 1934 earthquake. There are many plans to repair this area and hope it will open soon. There is the Golden gate for its entrance.
3. Nyatapola Temple
Nyatapola Temple is one of the best places to visit in Bhaktapur. It is the tallest and one of the most impressive temples in Nepal. This temple is the main entrance of Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It is the courtyard of Tamaudhi Square. People built it in 1702 in pagoda style.
The temple devotes to the goddess Sidhi Lakshmi. It is a five-story temple and we can see the stone staircase, along with many historical guards like Jayamel, Phattu, elephants, and lion on the gate. There is only allow for the priests to go inside the temple.
The temple opens once every year. It survived the earthquakes in 1943 and 2015AD with minor damage to the ceiling of the fifth floor. However, it is beautiful for visiting.
4. Bhairavnath Temple
It is the best place to visit Bhaktapur. The Bhairavnath temple is a famous ancient temple located close to the five-storied temple. People had built in the early 17th century and King Bhupatindra Malla rebuilt and added an extra story in 1717, and a third level rebuilt after the earthquake in 1934.
This temple is a popular legend regarding the origin of this temple that says Bhairavnath, who was organizing the Lingo Festival of Bhaktapur. There two brass lions holding the Nepali flag in front of the temple as the guards.
At this temple, every year Newari Local people organize during the festival of Bisket Jatra. This is the best place to visit in Bhaktapur.
5. Dattatraya Temple
The Dattatraya Temple is one of the famous temples of Bhaktapur. The temple is in Pagoda style. Yaksha Malla had established this temple in the 15th century. The temple combines a form of three principal Hindu gods, Bramha, Vishnu, and Shiva.
There is a three-stored temple on the ground. Every year the festival of Teej, a huge number of female devotees come gathering each other.
6. Taleju Bhawani
It is a famous place to visit in Bhaktapur. People had built in the sixteenth century. Taleju Bhawani was the mother goddess of Lord Indra, the God of rain according to pilgrim’s belief.
The Taleju Bhawani was first brought to Bhaktapur from Simrangad. People believe that the King Yaksha Malla had brought the idol of Taleju for the protection of the city from an energy evil spirit.
This temple only opens for the public during the annual Dashain festival. Actually, people say that this temple originally belongs to the south of India but the goddess worshipped here. It has a twelve-stage plinth on which this religious site in Kathmandu.
7. Doleshwor Mahadev
It is a famous temple of Bhaktapur, It is located at South Sipadol- 6, Jagati of Bhaktapur. Doleswor Mahadev is one of the myths of Kedarnath which is a sacred place for Hindus. People believe that the great battle of Mahabharat, who fought and won against Kaurav wanted redress of their sins and sorrows for the loss of lives during the war and wanted to pray Lord Shiva in this temple.
In this temple a large rock outcropping surrounded green forests, people can touch and worship the stone deity only three times a year during Shiva Ratri, Akshaya Tritiya, and the month of Bhadra.
8. Changu Narayan Temple
Changu Narayan temple is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites which lies in the Kathmandu Valley. It is the oldest temple in Nepal. People built it in the 4th century during the Lichhavi Period and later rebuilt in 1702. This temple dedicates to Lord Vishnu in his incarnations of the Narayan.
We can see the ten incarnations of the Narayan at the temple. At the temple, we can see a traditional Newari house that had turned into the museum where we can see ancient artifacts. One of the finest displays of stone sculpture of Lord Vishnu in a different incarnation is also inside the temple site.
It is the best place to study Hindu iconography. There is the statue of Vishnu sitting on a Garuda on the North of this temple. There is also Narsingha which means the statue of Vishnu is half-man and half-lion.
The temple is a collection of statues and sculptures, it is famous for beautiful crafts in wood, stone, and metal so this is the best place to visit Bhaktapur.
9. National Art Gallery
The National Art Gallery is the most interesting and must-visit sites in Nepal. This is Located in a Bhaktapur Durbar Square in the beautiful historical city of Bhaktapur, the 55 windows now house the National Art Gallery.
We can see the beautiful collection of paintings that we call Thankas and manuscripts with painted covers and illustrations. It contains brass, bronze, stone and wooden images, etc. which reflects the unique and traditional art of Nepal.
There are also historical documents that belong to various monarchs from Rana and Shah Dynasties, provide a deep insight into the political, cultural, social, and economic conditions of that era. There is no allow to see documents to the public. If the researcher student required to take permission from the Ministry of culture for getting access to classified documents.
10. Siddha Pokhari
Siddha Pokhari is one of the best places to visit in Bhaktapur. It is located near the main city gate in Bhaktapur. People also call this Ta-Pukhu, medieval king yaksha Malla had established it in the fifteenth century. This pond is 171 m long, 73 m wide and about 3 m deep.
In this place every year, on the day of Ashwin Dwitiya, thousands of peoples gather around the Siddha Pokhari, they take holy dips in the pond and worship goddess Indrayani. People decorate Siddha Pokhari with oil lamps all around the boundary.
We can see the Statue of Shaiva, Shakti, Buddhists, and Vaishnav surrounding the temple. People also worship Basuki Naga. They believe that when we worship Basuki Nag, he will bring rain in droughts. We can see also beautiful views and different types of fishes. We spend our holidays with our friends happily by feeding numerous fishes in the pond.
11. Surya Binayak Temple
It is one of the famous Ganesh temples of the Bhaktapur. Surya Binayak Temple locates on a hillock south of Bhaktapur. They established it in the medieval period and later King Mahendra re-established during his period.
The temple is in White Shikhara-style. There is a peaceful environment with sweeping views over Bhaktapur.
This place is worshiping the Ganesh, people come here to pray if their children are having trouble learning how to speak, or for just about any activity that requires a little luck.
The temple is edge by the statues of Malla kings and a large statue of Ganesh’s vehicle, the rat. Surrounding the temple is a small beautiful forest, people come and picnic here and get together with their friends.
This is one of the famous temples in Bhaktapur. It is located in the ancient city of Bhaktapur. Navadurga refers to the nine forms of Durga. The nine names of Durga are Brahmayini, Mahrswori, Kumari, Bhadrakali, Barahi, Indrayani, Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, Tripurasundari.
In Dashain, the people worshipped as each Goddess known as Devis are famous for their aspects and power. We can see the nine forms of the images of Durga in the Sovabhagawati Temple. Every year during Dashain the NavaDurga dance starts at the temple. The four Navadurga gods are attendant dance the step of tradition. People believe that the goddess will come to inhabit the body of the dancer and worship the dancer.
People had kept the masks in this temple for the Nava Durga dance in Dashain.
13. Bhimsen Temple
Bhimsen temple is one of the popular temples of the Bhaktapur. The temple is located in the Northern part of Patan Durbar Square. King Shree Nivas Malla made it in the 18th century. The temple mainly dedicates to Bhimsen, one of the five Pandavas of Mahabharat.
It also dedicates the god of trade and business, which we mainly know for his strength and bravery. This temple has three inter-connected golden windows which we consider as distinctive apart from another temple of Patan.
At this temple, the people worshiped with all grace and devotion but only locals. However, there is a prohibition for tourists in this temple where a statue of a brass lion guarded it.
14. Til Mahadev Narayan Temple
It is one of the oldest temples in Bhaktapur. It situates at the Tamaudhi tole which we can find behind the buildings at the south end of the square. People set Til Mahadev Temple in a disorganized courtyard but it has lots of significance place of pilgrimage and we know it as one of the best temples in the city. They installed the image of Til Mahadev Narayan Temple in 1170.
The temple dedicates to Lord Vishnu. There is an artistic statue of kneeling Garuda and two columns bearing the sacred sankha and chakra. There is a Shiva lingam symbol on a Yoni base stands in front of the temple.
We can see the Buddhist deity, Vajrayogini in a characteristic pose with her left leg high in the air on the door of this temple.
15. Bhupatindra Malla Statue
The Bhupatindra Malla Statue is one of the tourist attractions of Bhaktapur. Bhupatindra Malla ruled the kingdom of Bhaktapur for 26 years. They built the 55-window palace and Natyapola Templ during his rule. He also gave an important contribution to the renovation and restoration works of various temples and monuments.
The bronze statue of King Bhupatindra looks a prayer who is praying in front of the Vatsala Durga temple. People consider this statue as the most glorious statue in Bhaktapur. It is a stone pillar paying homage to the guardian figure goddess Taleju Bhawani. The statue also reflects the belief towards the Mother Goddess Taleju Bhawani.
We hope this article helped you to find the best places to visit in Bhaktapur, Nepal.
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