Bhaktapur Durbar Square: UNESCO World Heritage Site

The city, also known as “Bhaktapur Durbar Square,” is 15 kilometers away from Kathmandu and is home to several instances of sculptures, woodcarving, and enormous pagoda temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses.

It is a collection of the pagoda- and shikhara-style temples centered on a brick and wood palace with fifty-five windows. The area, which showcases Nepal’s old arts, is one of the Valley’s most endearing architectural showpieces.

The guardian deities peering out from their sanctuaries, the golden shrines of kings sitting atop stone monoliths, and the wood carvings found on struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, doorways, and windows all seem to compose a well-orchestrated symphony. The two main traditional businesses there are weaving and pottery.

Bhaktapur Durbar square: The most significant of all the tourist attractions at Bhaktapur, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a well-known tourist hotspot for both domestic and foreign visitors. Newari call this region “Layaku.”

This city’s character is carried by ancient temples and shrines, sculptures, and historical heritage monuments built over various times. Ancient Nepali art highlights include the golden gate, the 55 Window Temple, the Bhupatindara Malla Statue, the Museum, and the Krishna Temple.

You may see the Big Bell, Dog Barking Bell, Siddhilaxmi Temple, Taleju Bhagawati Temple, and more in this location. The Durbar square serves as a gathering place for locals to unwind after a long day, roam around, and have fun.

It is simple to go to this location from various locations in Bhaktapur. Visitors from outside the country must pay a fee to enter this tourist attraction.

Bhaktapur Darbar Square: Major Attractions

Taumadhi Square:

A brick-paved path leads to Taumadhi Square, located east of Durbar Square. Here, a five-story plinth supports the five-roofed Nyatapol temple erected in 1702 and sweeps beautifully into the sky. Stone statues of gods and fantastical animals line the stairway to the temple.

Dattatreya Temple:

Tachapal Square, also known as Dattatreya, is located at the center of a network of streets dotted with elaborately decorated homes. It has an alluring atmosphere. It serves as the original center of Bhaktapur and the center of uptown. A Hindu monastery in this area called Math houses the Peacock Window, built into the wall.

Golden Gate:

According to legend, the Golden Gate is the world’s most exquisite and intricately sculpted specimen. The Hindu deity Kali and Garuda, a mythological griffin, are depicted atop the door, and two celestial nymphs are also present. It is decorated with intricately detailed monsters and other mythical Hindu creatures.

The Golden Gate is “the most magnificent work of art in the entire Kingdom; it is situated like a diamond, flashing many facets in the handsome setting of its surrounds,” according to Percy Brown, a renowned English art critic, and historian. The gate, which King Ranjit Malla built, leads to the palace’s main courtyard and its fifty-five windowed structure.

Potter’s Square:

Bolachhen, commonly known as Potter’s Square, is located two minutes walk south of Durbar Square. Here, you may watch potters sculpt wet clay into wide pottery varieties. It contains a display of recently made pottery that has been put outside to dry.

Siddha Pokhari:

Ta-Pukhu, which translates to “great pond,” is the more popular name for Siddha Pukhu, a pond from the Lichhavi era (350-750 AD). It is a serene area of the city where you may watch the fish and enjoy the stone statues of various Hindu and Buddhist gods while letting your tensions melt away.

55 Windows Palace:

One of the most important works of art in Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the 55 Windows Palace. You can find a lovely setting and exquisitely carved sculptural patterns on windows and doors in the three-story castle. In the 17th century, King Bhupaindra Malla constructed the palace. Its golden gate and a few nearby temples are renowned worldwide as a decorative element of Bhaktapur.

Temple of Nyatapol:

A Five-Storied Temple Nyatapol, Nepal’s tallest and most spectacular pagoda-styled temple, is located at Bhaktapur Municipality’s word number 11. This stunning temple, constructed of wood and clay bricks, is one of Nepal’s greatest architectural achievements. You can find god’s idol inside the temple. The manifestation of wealth, Siddhilaxmi, has been established.

King Bhupatindra Malla constructed this enormous temple in the 16th century, and it is reported that it withstood the devastation of the devastating earthquake in 1933 (except for some minimal injuries to the ceiling of the fifth floor). The follower claimed that the King had laboriously transported bricks for the temple’s building.

The temple’s struts, doors, and windows are decorated with artistically carved divine figures telling divine tales. According to popular belief, the elephant standing over the strong guy in the front is 10 times more powerful than the latter. Thus that is where the deduction is made. As a result, the temple abundantly displays the artistic history of Newar artisans.

Siddhi Lakshmi Temple:

Built in the 17th century, this Sikhara-style temple honors the tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi. The entrance to this temple is guarded by statues of numerous animals, including camels, rhinos, horses, and even mythological creatures.

Lion’s Gate:

On either side of this gate are two stunning stone statues of Hindu deities. According to legend, the artisans who created this had their hands severed as soon as he finished them. An envious Bhadgaon King accomplished this so the artist could stop creating similar works of art.

Durbar Simhadhwaka:

The National Art Museum, which has a fantastic collection of Medieval and Licchvai arts, is housed in this palace that King Bhupatindra Malla erected in the 17th century. The statues of two lions standing guard at this palace’s entrance gave it its name. Two enormous statues of the Hindu deity Narsimha are also present.

The Peacock Window:

Located in Dattararya in Bhaktapur, The Peacock Window is a well-known tourist attraction. The monarch Yaksha Malla constructed it in the 15th century and has a lovely creative design. Near the main Dattatraya temple, on the second floor of the Pujari shrine, is where you’ll find the Peacock Window.

Among the several shrines in Bhaktapur, it is the biggest. There once resided soldiers and royal officials who were connected to King Haksha. This ancient temple features a variety of artistic shapes. The primary highlight of this structure is the uniquely creative design on almost every window and door. The carpenters who worked on constructing this shrine may have competed with one another.

The building’s whole woodwork is from the fifteenth century. The shrine’s bricks were replaced after the earthquake destroyed the originals. The peacock is a stunning and untamed bird. Buddhists revere Abhitav Buddha, while Hindus worship the peacock as the representative of God Kumar.

Peacocks dance so beautifully that anyone who watches them will have a pleasant and beneficial day. That is why a little window may have been constructed under Yaksha Malla’s rule so that time would favor the town’s residents. The public can view the old artwork and handicrafts in this building up close for a set admission cost. On Tuesdays and federal holidays, the museum is still closed.

Vatsala Devi Temple:

The Vatsala Devi Temple is situated at the front of the palace, near the king’s monument, and close to the Taleju Bell. Like the Krishna temple in Patan, this Shikhara-style temple is entirely made of sandstone and rests on a three-stage plinth. It is devoted to the goddess Vatsala Devi, a manifestation of Durga.

King Jitamitra Malla first erected the shrine in 1696. However, the visible building was rebuilt by King Bhupatindra Malla and dates to the late 17th or early 18th century. Dhunge Dhara, a water source, and the Chayslin Mandap are behind the temple. It was most well-known for its silver bell, which locals called “the bell of barking dogs” because when rung, the dogs nearby cried and screamed.

King Ranjit Malla hung the enormous bell in 1737 AD to announce curfews. Every morning, when worshiping the goddess Taleju, it was rung. The 2015 Gorkha earthquake destroyed the Temple, but the bell was unharmed.

Kedarnath Temple:

The temple dates back to the 17th century and is very appealing. You can see the entire durbar area, the rest house, and the Vatsala Durga Temple from its eastern pedestal. At the same time, you can see all of the Char Dham temples from the western or front pedestal of the temple.

In total, the temple has five pinnacles, including four subpinnacles. Architecturally, they also all rotate in four different directions. Despite this, it looks magnificent with the Lord Shiva statues there.

The stone pillars’ artistic carvings also appear to enchant onlookers. This temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla, the most active ruler of the Malla period.

FAQ for Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Q: What makes Bhaktapur Durbar Square so well-known?
The city’s central center, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, is home to various terracotta, stone, and metal sculptures, and wood and stone carvings. Everything about this place is astounding.

Q: When and by whom was Bhaktapur Durbar Square created?
This is the primary building that dominates Durbar Square as a whole—built in the fifteenth century AD, this spectacular structure. King Bhupatindra Malla is kneeling in devotion to God while seated atop a large column.

Q: What time of year is ideal for a trip to Bhaktapur?
Autumn (October-November)
The monsoon retreat brings in the best time of year to travel to Bhaktapur, with cold, crisp temperatures and a clear, perfect sky that offers stunning visitors to the entire city.

Q: What is Bhaktapur’s history?
In the 12th century, King Anand Dev Malla built the city. Until the 15th century AD, Bhaktapur served as the Greater Malla Kingdom’s administrative center in the Kathmandu Valley. The then-Malla monarchs erected many of Bhaktapur’s most important monuments.

Q: What is Nepal’s largest durbar square?
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Between Kathmandu and Patan, Bhaktapur Durbar Square does have the best durbar square. Having centuries-old temples and loving the fine woodworking elements of temples. Bhaktapur has very polite residents and is quite clean. If this is your first time, remember to visit durbar square.