Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur is one of the cities in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. 13 kilometers east of Kathmandu and 1,400 meters above sea level, the city is filled with medieval art, architecture, sculptures, woodcarvings and pagoda temples. Bhaktapur Dubar Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which located in front of the royal palace of the old Bhaktapur Kingdom.

This area is known as Bhaktapur Durbar Square as an entirety, while it consists of four squares-Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square and Pottery Square. Numerous ancient shrines, temples and heritage sites attract thousands of travelers all over the world to pay a visit.

55 Window Palace

The palace was built in the 15th century AD, during the reign of the Malla King, who ruled the kingdom from 1696 to 1722 AD. This palace is the main architecture on Durbar Square and you can enjoy its magnificence.

Vatsala Temple

Vatsala Temple was a stone temple dedicated to the goddess Vatsala Devi. While there were intricate stone carvings, it was famous for the silver bell. Known as the “dog-barking bell”, it is said that when it’s ringing, local dogs will bark. The bell was hung by King Ranjit Malla and it was rung every morning during the worship of goddess Taleju. Unfortunately, the temple was ruined by the earthquake in 2015.

Nyatapola Temple

Nyatapola Temple is the most famous pagoda in Nepal while Nyatapola means “five stories” in Newari language, the symbolic of five basic elements. With architectural as well as artistic perfection, it’s the highest pagoda in Nepal. This pagoda is dedicated to Sidhilaxmi, the goddess of power and success.

Bhairava Nath Temple

As you can see from its name, the Bhairab Nath Temple is dedicated to Bhairava, the fiercest manifestation of Lord Shiva. It’s the God of terror and death.

Golden Gate

The world-famous Golden Gate is erected by King Ranjit Malla and it’s the main entrance to the courtyard of the palace of fifty-five windows. The gate is decorated with marvelous monsters and Hindu mythical creatures, and there’s a figure of the Hindu goddess Kali and Garuda above it. It’s not beautiful, it’s an eternal beauty itself.

Lion’s Gate

The beautiful gate is decorated with two Hindu deities’ stone statues. It is said that after finishing this masterpiece, artisans’ hands were cut off by the Bhadgaon King so that nobody can produce an architecture as beautiful as Lion's Gate.

Mini Pashupatinath Temple

Be known as the “royal dream temple”, it is said that a Bhadgaon King was told by Lord Pashupati to build a temple in front of his palace in a dream. After dreaming of it, the king built this holy god Shiva temple dedicated to the Lord Pashupati.

Attractions nearby Bhaktapur Durbar Square