Bhaktapur Durbar Square

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Culture-Historical Building Culture-Monument Culture-Museum Culture-Palace Culture-Prehistoric Monument Culture-Statue Culture-Temple

Bhaktapur Durbar Square lies in the small city of Bhaktapur some 13kms east of Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is the smallest of the three cities in Kathmandu Valley and is important as the ancient culture, traditions, and architecture appear to be better conserved by the local residents here. The Bhaktapur Durbar is where the ancient royal family used to reside but that's not the only thing that you can observe here. Some other important sights to see in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square include The Palace of Fifty-Windows, the Vatsala Temple, Golden Gate, the magnificent Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, and the Siddhi Laxmi Temple. The architecture and the intricate carvings on these structures are sure to blow you away. As soon as you're past Durbar Square, a short walk through the narrow alley will take you to Taumadhi Square. Here you can witness the biggest and the highest pagoda in Nepal called the Nyatapola temple. It is a 5 storeyed tall temple which took three generations to complete. Just beside the Nyatapola temple, you can visit the Bharirabnath temple dedicated to Bhairabh - the most fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva. Towards the south of Bhaktapur Durbar Square and quite close to the Taumadhi square is another important square called the Pottery Square. Here you can witness the making of genuine Newari potteries and can even make your own pots for souvenirs. A twenty minutes walk to the east from Pottery Square will take you to the Dattatraya Square which features the beautiful Dattatraya temple from the 1400s. It is believed that the wood that was used to make this temple came from a single tree. And while you're here, also look for the gorgeous Peacock Window located nearby. Made in the 15th century, this window is also referred to as the Mona Lisa of Nepal. Image credit: Aaditya Shah on Unsplash