Bhaktapur is the best-preserved medieval city in the Kathmandu Valley and one of the finest examples of traditional Newari urban architecture in South Asia. The city's interconnected squares contain an extraordinary concentration of temples, shrines, courtyards and traditional carved-wood buildings that largely survived the 2015 earthquake and retain the character of a medieval Himalayan city. Walking Bhaktapur's old-town lanes – past potters throwing traditional clay vessels in Pottery Square, women weaving on outdoor looms and children playing beneath ancient carved struts – is one of Nepal's most vivid cultural experiences.
The Nyatapola Temple (five-storey pagoda, 1702 AD) in Taumadhi Square is Nepal's tallest surviving traditional structure. The 55-Window Palace on Durbar Square preserves extraordinary carved peacock windows from the 15th century. Bhaktapur's cuisine – particularly its yogurt (juju dhau) and the ring-shaped sel roti pastries – is distinctly Newari and available throughout the old town. Our Kathmandu area hiking routes connect Bhaktapur with Changunarayan and Nagarkot on a superb full-day walking trail.
Among the three major cities of the Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur, to this date, is the living representation of how the entire Kathmandu Valley would have looked like during the medieval periods. The city is celebrated for its glorious architecture; sky-high temples built in pagoda style - which is believed to be the stairway to the heaven, fine clay pottery, and massive royal courtyards whose existence date back to the 12th century, where devotees, still, celebrate their pre-historic festivals by equal amount of gusto and passion.
Bhaktapur used to be the ruling throne of the Kathmandu Valley until the king, Yakshya Malla, in 1482, divided the kingdom between his three sons, eventually fading the strength of unity and losing the nation to the Shah dynasty from Gorkha. But, before losing the kingdom to Shah kings, Bhaktapur was renowned for its Malla Yuddha; a fierce combat between two wrestlers. Hence, one can observe muscular craved wrestlers, as the trademark of the city, into various temples of as the guardian of the city and of the Gods.
Bhaktapurians are proud inhabitants of their city and culture. Most of the women would be seen in their traditional, Newari, attire, who would do their laundry in public - but artistically crafted - taps, farmers would be seen here and there carrying vegetables, as the city is also known as Bhadgaon, which means the City of Rice. This city has preserved the Newari value as a mother would keep their children safe, so it would be not hard to feel the aroma of ancient Newari culture once you reach the Bhaktapur.
The city is considered as the neat city, compared to other two cities, where tradition and modernization walk in sustainability. Bhaktapur city is one of the beautiful UNESCO Heritage Sites of Nepal.
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