The short answer
Bhaktapur is the best-preserved of the three royal cities, with brick streets, the 55-window palace, Nyatapola (the five-storey temple) and Taumadhi, Dattatreya and Pottery squares. The town also keeps a strong craft tradition in pottery and woodcarving, and everyday life still runs in the old patterns.
Allow half a day to a full day. Foreign visitors pay an entry fee that covers the whole old town. The Bisket Jatra festival in April brings the biggest crowds, and mid-week mornings are the quietest.
Key facts
- Zone
- Bhaktapur
- Time
- Half to full day
- Highlights
- Nyatapola, palace, Pottery Square
- Festival
- Bisket Jatra, April
How it works
- Enter earlyBuy the town ticket.
- See Taumadhi and NyatapolaThe architectural centrepiece.
- Visit Durbar SquareLook at the golden gate.
- Walk to Pottery SquareWatch potters at work.
- End with juju dhauTry the local king curd.
Insider tip
Stay overnight to see the town after day-trippers leave.
Avoid this
Do not rush; the pleasure is in the lanes.
Related questions
Is Bhaktapur worth a night?
Yes, the evenings and mornings are especially calm.
Is it hurt by the earthquake?
Some buildings were damaged and rebuilt.
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