One Day in Bhaktapur

The historic city of Bhaktapur is not too far to go and see at only 13 km from Kathmandu. But once you get there, there are a full fledge of things to do and places to go!

Pack a bag and get your ride ready because I’m about to tell you how to spend an awesome day in Bhaktapur.

I suggest you go early; the ride to Bhaktapur is another journey in itself, one of the best roads to travel, unless there is no traffic of course!

Take a right turn from Sallaghari and up the Nagarkot road: straight past the army school. Take a stroll around the Sidhhapokhari first! The pond is serene and calm to take a walk around in the morning and come back in the evening if you want to. Feed the fishies here!

Past the Siddhapokharai, some metres further, you will come to the entrance of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the biggest among the three durbar squares in the valley and is a beauty in itself. Spread over the durbar square is the famous 55 window palace and the 5 storied Nyatapola temple. They say that the base of the Nyatapola temple is as big as the temple itself. Take your own time to embrace the history of this place.

Have a cup of tea or enjoy your breakfast overlooking the Nyatapola temple and the scenery at Café Nyatapola. Don’t forget to take awesome picture while you’re there.

After breakfast, or only a cup of tea, whatever suits you best: have a look around the pottery art taking form right in front of your eyes in the alleys and crooks of Bhaktapur.

Past the Durbar Square and through the alleys of Sukul Dhoka and Kwachhen , ask your way around to the Dattatreya Square. It should be a 15 mins walk from the square or 10 mins on your ride. The temple is a delicacy to look at and is to be said to be carved from the wood of single tree.

Speaking of delicacies, enjoy local food around the Dattatreya square if you’re hungry, at the Dattatreya Khaja Ghar or the De Arena Café near the Dattatreya Sqaure.

When you’re done, turn your eyes away from the Dattareya square and ask your way around and take a ride to Changunarayan temple, some 7 kilometres to the north of Bhaktapur on the top of a hill, known to be the oldest temple of Nepal. Did I mention the view from there is spectacular too?

On your way back from Changunarayan go through the durbar square again, grab a light snack at Aalucha; become a potato hunter!

Devour a bowl Juju dhau to balance the deep fried snacks. It is the best form of dhau in the valley and that is where it gets its name as the King of curds. 

The kulfi at Bhaktapur durbar square is to die for too! If you don’t want a kulfi, you can grab a jerry from the mithai pasal at Sukul Dhoka: they’re yum!

With your tummy full, go back the same way you came from the highway and if you still have the time and the energy *wink wink*, head further after you take left and take a right from the suryabinayak chowk. Go uphill from here, there could be a few twists and turns, you can ask around, but the ride up there is amazing. It should be a 20 minute ride uphill to reach the popular Pilot Baba Ashram. Take your blessings and enjoy the scenery and the fresh air.

 If you are done spending time at this awesome danda, exit the ashram and head down to the highway and take a right, the road that leads to Banepa. At the edge of Bhaktapur, Sangha, you can see the world’s tallest statue of Shiva: Kailashnath Mahadev at 143 feet from far away. Head up the statue from a narrow way behind the statue. The whole of Kathmandu is visible from here.

That about sums up an awesome day in Bhaktapur! But do not think this is it: there are many more places that want and need your attention in Bhaktapur!