Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the most popular UNESCO world heritage sites of Nepal. Sightseeing in Bhaktapur offers you the best Chance to observe the culture of Nepal, as well the traditional Of Nepal.
Description About Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur is known as Khwopa in a local Newan tongue. The cultural capital of Nepal, Bhaktapur’s history goes back to the early 8th century and it used to be the capital city of whole Nepal till the 12th to the 15th century. Until the early 18th century, the ancestors protected the city as a sovereign country surrounding it with boundary walls and a number of city gates. Shaped like a flying pigeon, the city spreads over an area of 6.88 sq. km. and lies at 1401 meters above the sea level. Bhaktapur gives shelter to almost 100 thousand people, most of whom are peasants. Businessmen, handicraft producers, and public employees are among the others. Juju Dhau (Yoghurt), BhadgauleTopi (Black Cap), Haku Pasati (black saree with border), Pottery and handicrafts are the identifiers of the city and are well known for their uniqueness. Majority of the inhabitants are either Hindus or Buddhists. It is religious harmony that unites the people in the city. Every festival and cultural activity, irrespective of its religion, is observed with full and equal enthusiasm.
A blend of northern art and southern mythological philosophy, the aged arts, architecture, and culture are the heritage of Bhaktapur that it inherits from the earlier generations. The Pagoda and Shikhar style temples, Vihars and Bahis, (traditional Buddhist monasteries), Lonha Haiti (stone spouts), ponds, Pat, math and sattal (pubic shelters), stupas city gates, terracotta temples, Dyochhens (residence of Hindu Deities), Jahana (traditional water tanks), palaces, artistic private houses and other cultural and historical ages are the major of the ancient city. Recognizing the significance of this well-preserved heritage. Bhaktapur Durbar Square was established in World Heritage Sites in 1979 AD.
Bhaktapur is a “Living Heritage” or “Living Museum” displaying the vibrant depth of Newari culture. Great festivals of local Newars, their lifestyle, rituals, Daffas (prayers group) and Guthis and traditional dance groups are giving life to the intangible heritage of the city. Bisket Jatra (mid-April), Ga Jatra (August), Dasháin and Tihar (October/ November) are the main attractions of the festivals. Everyone can experience the daily cultural activities performing such as Daffas, Bhajans (hymns) worship dances, music, rituals, traditional Newari dress and lifestyle while visiting the city. These living heritages have been handed down for centuries in an unbroken chain from generation to generation.
The spectacular Newari cultural heritages of Bhaktapur are the pride of entire human civilization. Keeping in this mind, Bhaktapur Municipality is running restoration of these ancestors’ creations with various plans and programs. For that the city has been collecting tourist entrance fee from every foreign tourist to visit the core area of the city since 1993 and the amount is used for preservation of culture, heritages, cleaning the city building and developing infrastructure, educating and skilling manpower and making the city as one of the best tourist destinations in Nepal. The Municipality is also distributing grants for wood, traditional bricks, and tiles to encourage the local people to build their building in traditional styles. The city has also been successful to be one of the ten cleanest cities of Asia through its cleaning effort.
Five-stories temple, Bhairab Nath Temple, 55 window palace, Taleju complex., Jagannath Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, Nawadurga Deo Chhen Tipurasundan Deo Chnen, Siddhapokhar,i Kamal Pokhari, public shelters (Pati, Sattal), Jhaur Bahi and Chaturbramiha Mahd Bihsrs, City gates, wells and water spouts, etc. are the major monuments preserved the municipality with public participation. So the ancient city is still mentioning the charm of medieval period and every foreign visitor experience the lifestyle of centuries back, visiting the city.
Major Attraction of Bhaktapur Durbar Square
DURBAR SQUARE
Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the main square of the city, is a conglomeration of stone art, metal art, wood carving, and terracotta art and architectural showpieces. The Golden Gate, statue of King Bhupatindra Malla perching the top of stone monoliths, National Art Gallery, the palace of 55 windows, the Vatsala Temple, the big bell the bell of barking dogs, and Pashupatinath Temple (Yachheswor Mahadev Temple) with erotic wood carvings, stone temple of Siddhilaxmi, octagonal structure “Chyasinhmandap”, Phasi Degá (Silumahadev Temple), golden spout, stone spout, Taleju complex, Pahanchhen, replica of Chardham (Jag Nath, Badri Nath, Rameshwor and Kedárnath Temples, four pilgrimage sites of Hindu) and many masterpieces of stone sculpture are the main attraction of the square.
TAUMADHI SQUARE
Taumadhi is the next important square in the city where the best example of engineering and architecture of multi roofed temples and rectangular temples can be observed. The best craftsmanship of stone sculptures, stone spouts traditional water tank and wood carving are proudly exhibiting their glorious history. The Nyatapola Temple, Bhairabnath Temple, Tilmadhav Narayan Tem and Stone sculpture of earthquake protector are the major monuments of the Square.
POTTERY SQUARE
Pottery is known as one of the world’s old professions. In Bhaktapur, many potters can still be seen working with their traditional wooden wheels for giving various and size to clay. Talakwo (middle-south of the city) and Suryamadhi (east of the city) are two particular localities of Bhaktapur where eastern part are made are known as Pottery Square of Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
DATTATRAYA SQUARE
It is the oldest part of the city which is also an open museum, especially for wood carving. Dattatraya, the oldest temple of the city, Bhimsen temple, water spouts, peacock window and other various size and shaped windows and Maths are the major art and architecture of this site. Brass and Bronze, and wood carving museum also can be observed in the square.
AROUND BHAKTAPUR
Bhaktapur is also surrounded by very exciting places. Walking or driving around the city, you will experience amazing natural beauty, glorious historical monuments indigenous lifestyle and panoramic views of high Himalayas. Changu Narayan, Nagarkot, Suryabinayak, Thimi, Nagadesh and Bode are ideal places to visit around the city.
