Nepal's Bhaktapur: What to see in Asia's cleanest city?

Brick-made and wood-carved abodes of Gods, beautifully designed palaces, granite paved winding streets and courtyards, Buddhist monasteries, pagodas, this is Bhaktapur, which was the capital of Nepal once upon a time. Known as the cleanest city in Asia, stepping into Bhaktapur municipality through an artistically built city gate, a visitor could feel the cleanliness. The walkways are aesthetically laid. Spread over a 6.88 sq km area, the city seems stuck in an ancient era along with its people. As per the 2021 census, the city has a population of 79136. A blend of past and present carefully knit and dexterously woven with its winding streets, is also kept intact for the future. That is why the city with its ancient monuments was enlisted by UNESCO as the World Heritage Monument Zone in 1979.

Tourism the lifeline
Since 1993 tourism has been the lifeline for the people of Bhaktapur. The revenue generated has been utilized for better conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, cleaning activities, setting up state-of-the-art facilities for visitors, and providing free bricks, wood, pottery and tiles to citizens. India being a SAARC nation, an Indian citizen has to pay Rs. 500 as an entry fee which is higher for the other foreign nationals.
History
The history of Bhaktapur dates back to the 8th century AD. With its spectacular Newari culture, Bhaktapur is the pride of entire humanity. Until the early 18th century the ancestors protected the city as a sovereign state surrounded by boundary walls and city gates. While insignificant ancient buildings were handed over to people to run businesses, and schools, for residential purposes, major archaeological marvels were kept intact. Moreover, the city administration has ensured that bricks and tiles were provided free of cost so that the new buildings constructed were in tune with the existing archaeological style. Walking along, one can also see the hectic restoration activities of buildings which were devastated in the 2015 earthquake.

What to see?
The Durbar Square, also known as the royal palace complex, was the abode of the kings of Nepal for many centuries. Apart from palaces, the square also houses as many as 34 'pagoda and shikhar' style temples. The square houses the Nyatapola Temple, the tallest pagoda-style temple in the entire Nepal, which has five stories. The temple allows two-wheelers and three-wheelers on the roads running through the compound, thus bringing the active human element into the frozen past. The Bhairavnath temple with three stories is another attraction.

Temples built on the lines of both Buddhist and Hindu traditions are found here. Here, those who are interested in seeing the 'char dham' temples- Kedarnath-Badrinath-Dwarka-Rameswar, and are not able to travel to India to see the original, can visit miniatures at Bhaktapur and pay respects. There are also several ponds in the square made of stone and brick.

Dattatreya Square, the oldest of the past
The Dattatreya Square showcases the oldest part of Bhaktapur. An open museum with wood carvings, and brass and bronze artworks. Artists are working on paintings in shops with artworks on display. Those interested in art can also be part of the creative process and also can interact with the artists.
The Pottery Square
Another chief attraction of Bhaktapur is the Pottery Square. Potters are considered with high esteem in Bhaktapur. At the pottery square one can see women and men making pots from row soil using the traditional wooden wheel. Those who are interested in pottery can also learn the trick of transforming a heap of clay into artistic pots and other artefacts.

Don’t miss the National Art Museum of Nepal, tourists from India, a SAARC country, have to pay an additional Rs 50 where the precious artefacts and ornaments from the past, as old as 1697 AD are kept. One can enjoy Bhaktapur for one day or many days as each square is a matter of close watch. There were also other neighbouring archaeologically significant spots like Patan and scenic hamlets like Nagarkot on the laps of the Himalayas from where you can have a close view of the ice-capped Himalayan peaks. From the Langtang range, which is just a 40-minute drive away from Bhaktapur, one can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Kathmandu valley.

The ‘Newari Cuisine’, a unique taste
The Newari thali is a popular food item with boiled rice, mixed with meat and also with side dishes. The sweet Juju Dhau is a must-taste yoghurt unique to Bhaktapur. Dhau means sweet custard-like yoghurt prepared by the Newars, the indigenous tribe of Bhaktapur. Dry meat, particularly buff (buffalo meat), is very much popular in Nepal. You will get it at all restaurants.
Where to stay?
There are enough hotels and lodges in Bhaktapur to provide you with a comfortable stay. The tariff starts from Rs 1000 and above. The value of the Indian rupee is 1.62 in Nepal. And you will get Rs 160 Nepalese for 100 Indian rupees. There are also hostels for backpackers who will get a bed space and locker facility paying less than Rs 200 Nepalese. Those who prefer more comfort in a cityscape can opt for the countless hotels and lodges in Kathmandu, the Nepal capital. The tariff for a decent stay begins at Rs 1000 Nepalese and above.

How to reach?
Bhaktapur is just around 16 km away from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The travel time is 15 to 25 minutes. You can travel to the ancient city by share-taxi, hiring a taxi on your own or by using public transport buses. The cost for a taxi is Nepalese rupees Rs 1500 to Rs 2000. If it is a bus it would take only Rs 40 Nepalese per head.
The best season to visit
Avoid the peak of both the monsoon and the winter seasons while visiting Bhaktapur. The ideal time is during the spring (March to April) and autumn (October to November).