Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur, literally the ‘City of Devotees’, is renowned for its elegant art, fabulous culture, colorful festivals, traditional dances and the typical Nepali lifestyle. Tourist visiting Nepal feels their visit incomplete unless they get a mesmerizing glimpse of this ancient ‘City of Culture’.
This conch shaped historic city, Bhaktapur, Spreading over an area of 6.88 square kilometers and lying at 12 km. east of Kathmandu, was founded in the 12th century by King Ananda Dev Malla.
Age-old dances and festivals are still observed by the locals with the same flavor and enthusiasm as their ancestors did in the past. King Yaksha Malla (15th Century) heavily fortified this city. Eight Mother Goddesses (Asta Matrika) at eight geometrical corners of the city were installed for the divine protection.
In spite of continual invasions by calamities, the historic city still boasts of its superb art and subtle culture so vividly depicted on the remaining palaces, temples, monasteries, Biharas and other monuments.
The Hindus and the Buddhists have coexisted in harmony and drawn inspirations from each other through the ages.
Bhaktapur is predominantly occupied by the peasantry. Painting, carving, masonry, bronze casting, jewellery, pottery, etc. are other traditional enterprises still existing.
Monuments and artistic carvings on wood, stone and metal are strewn all over the historical core of the city. Aleys and narrow and zigzag lanes lead you to see the environment of medieval Newari Settlements.
The Three main squares of the city are remarkably attractive in their artistic expositions of elegant temples, dignified palaces, graceful monasteries and Biharas standing around these open public places and connected to one another with quaint streets.