The famous city of Bhaktapur, situated at an altitude of 1,401 meters, is home to medieval art and architecture, covering an area of 4 square miles. Bhaktapur means the city of devotees. The city lies about 14 kilometers east of Kathmandu and can be reached by public transportation or taxi. The major sites in Bhaktapur include.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Here are the main attractions of Bhaktapur.
Nyatapola Temple
Nyatapola Temple is the five stories pagoda built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1702 A.D., standing on a five-story terraced platform. There are squat pairs of figures, two famous wrestlers, two elephants, two lions, two griffins, and a Baghini and a Singhini, the tiger and the lion Goddesses on each of the terraces.
Bhairavnath Temple
This temple was first built as a one-story pagoda during the reign of King Jagat Jyoti Malla and later changed into a three-storied temple in 1781 A.D. by King Bhupatindra Malla. The temple is noted for its artistic grandeur. It is dedicated to Lord Bhairav, the god of Terror.
Surya Vinayak
Surya Vinayak is situated in the beautiful surroundings of Bhadgaon, which is the shrine of Ganesh, the elephant-headed god. From here the pleasant view of the city of Bhaktapur is seen with snow-capped peaks in the background. Changu Narayan is one of the most famous religious sites in Nepal. It is located at the end of a long ridge, which runs well into the valley. This temple is said to have been built in 323 A.D. by King Hari Dutta Verma and is considered to be the oldest temple in the valley.
