Visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square with Changu Narayan Temple - 1Day

On a free day in Kathmandu make a visit to the ancient city of Bhaktapur, 20 km east of Kathmandu taking 45 minutes to reach there. Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of three ancient cities of Kathmandu Valley and an amazing place worth the visit, also known as the “City of Devotees”. Feel yourself visiting a medieval city with narrow, cobble streets and old brick buildings decorated with elaborate carvings. Surely, after visiting Bhaktapur you’d leave with a much deeper understanding of this amazing place. If you are looking for another true architectural tour in the valley, it would be worth to visit the Changu Narayan Temple listed in the UNESCO Heritage Site. It stands located on hill with the lovely, snow-capped mountains in the north. This ancient temple neither has a pagoda nor a Shikara style and one of Nepalese finest architecture still existing. Apart from getting awe struck by its architectural richness, you can take home a deep understanding of Nepalese culture. Of course the views of the valley below and the mighty Himalayas too cannot be missed- just so refreshing!!

Day 01 : Visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square with Changu Narayan Temple

After you’ve had your breakfast, get ready to commence your tour to Bhaktapur. The tour guide will be there in the hotel lobby in the morning. After 45 minutes drive you’d reach city of Bhaktapur for a unique experience. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square, one of the largest ancient squares in Nepal is filled to the brim with temples, cultural carvings and buildings. Certainly it is a fantastic walking tour to discover the medieval Malla dwellings known for its remarkable architecture. You can visit the Royal Bath, a true medieval architecture, located at the south rear of the Taleju courtyard passing through the Golden Gate.

Next, would be the Palace of Fifty-five Windows, a monument with spectacularly carved, wooden windows. Of course you cannot afford to miss the tallest pagoda in the valley- the Nyatapola Temple. The temple illustrates great workmanship to have built such a tall temple which is five storied. After having seen the artistically built temple, you’d visit another attraction of the city- the Dattatreya Square. Here you can see the only temple dedicated to Lord Dattatreya (a hybrid deity of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) believed to be made from the trunk of a single tree. It’s a giant three storied temple which catches one’s eyes while entering this square. If you are looking to experience the traditional way of life, visit to the Pottery Square which can render that. This visit to the square definitely adds charm to this tour.

Walking off the narrow lane of Dattatreya Square to the Pujari Math, you can see one of the unique and remarkable masterpieces in wood- the famous Peacock Window. This is a must-see work of wood with several small bird carvings and a large intricately decorated peacock carving in the center with tail feathers that form a lattice window. The tour of Bhaktapur is not complete without the tasting of “Juju Dhau”- a sweetened custard-like yogurt made from sweet buffalo milk sold here. It has rich taste with thick, creamy texture and leaves you wanting it for more.

Thereafter, there is a ride to a hilltop where the famous Changu Narayan Temple stands as a true architectural delight. This temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is considered the oldest and is said be built back in the 4th century. It has as a unique style which is regarded as the true Nepali style which differs from the pagoda and the shikhara styles. The excellent craftsmanship can be seen on the struts of the temple holding the roof with ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu carved out. Even the entrance door has Nagas (serpents) gilded which cannot go unnoticed. A pillar stands at the main entrance which is the first epigraphic proof of Nepalese history. Here you’d find the oldest inscriptions of Nepal which is in Sanskrit. So definitely you’d see the complete cultural development of Nepal. This tour is perfect for you want to combine architectural and rural experiences in Nepal.

Want to customize this trip? You can contact me: rabindhakal59@yahoo.com

What's Included
• Ground transport in a comfortable private vehicle
• Local, skilled English speaking tour guide
• Entrance fees for museums and monuments
• All government taxes