By air
Tribhuvan, Kathmandu (KTM), ~12 km
Nepal & Bhutan · Nepal
Bhaktapur, Nepal
A medieval Newar city of squares and potters
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to November and March to April — clear and dry
Don't miss
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
The Nyatapola Temple
The 55-Window Palace
Dattatreya Square
Things to do
Wandering Durbar Square and Taumadhi Square
The potters at work
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Saroj Pandey · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Walking shoes
A quieter corner
Pottery Square's wheels in the morning
Questions travellers ask
How far is Bhaktapur from Kathmandu's airport?
About 12 km from Tribhuvan (KTM) in Kathmandu.
Which squares and temples should I see in Bhaktapur?
Wander Durbar Square and Taumadhi Square, see the Nyatapola Temple and the 55-Window Palace, and stop at Dattatreya Square.
When can I watch Bhaktapur's potters at work?
In the morning, when the wheels are turning in Pottery Square.
What treat should I look for in Bhaktapur?
Juju dhau, the 'king of yoghurts'.
About Bhaktapur
- Hills
Where it is
Bhaktapur is an old Newar city in the eastern Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, east of Kathmandu on the banks of the Hanumante River, at about 1,400 m.
History
Bhaktapur was the capital of the Malla kings who ruled the whole Kathmandu Valley until the late 15th century, and afterwards the seat of an independent kingdom that filled its squares with temples, such as the five-storey Nyatapola, built in 1702. Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered it in 1769, and its Durbar Square is part of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site.
People
Bhaktapur is a stronghold of Newar culture, where most people speak Nepal Bhasa and many families follow hereditary crafts such as pottery, woodcarving and weaving. Its festivals, above all Bisket Jatra at the Nepali New Year, when huge chariots are hauled through the streets, bind the neighbourhoods together.
Known for
- Durbar Square and the 55-Window Palace
- The five-storey Nyatapola Temple
- Pottery Square
- Juju dhau, the king of curds
- The Bisket Jatra festival
Did you know?
The Nyatapola, about 33 m high and the tallest temple in Nepal, withstood the great earthquakes of 1934 and 2015.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.