7-Hour Bhaktapur Durbar Square & Changu Narayan Temple Tour

Explore the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur / Khwopa, also known as the city of the temples, about 13 kilometres from the capital city, Kathmandu

Highlights

Visit the ancient Bhaktapur Durbar Square and the Dattatreya Square

See the Palace of Fifty-five Windows

Explore the 4th-century hilltop temple of Changu Narayan

Bhaktapur

cultural, historical, sightseeing

Group Tour

7 Hours

Easy

English, Hindi, Nepali

Description

Make the best of your Kathmandu trip with a day-long visit to the ancient city of Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 20 km east of the capital city. The 'City of Devotees' is one of three ancient cities of Kathmandu Valley and an amazing place worth visiting. Explore the ancient hilltop temple of Changu Narayan, another Heritage Site with impressive architecture and picturesque views.

Itinerary

Bhaktapur Durbar Square & Changu Narayan Temple Tour
- After breakfast, get ready to commence your tour to Bhaktapur. The tour guide will be waiting in the hotel lobby to pick you up for the tour.
  Drive for 45 minutes to reach Bhaktapur and visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, one of the largest ancient squares in Nepal and filled to the brim with temples, cultural carvings, and buildings.
- Go on a fantastic walking tour to discover the medieval Malla dwellings known for their remarkable architecture.
- Visit the Royal Bath, a true medieval architecture, located at the south rear of the Taleju courtyard passing through the Golden Gate.
- Next, visit the Palace of Fifty-five Windows, a monument with spectacularly carved, wooden windows.
- Of course, you cannot afford to miss the tallest pagoda in the valley- the five-storey Nyatapola Temple.
- Head to the famous Dattatreya Square. Here, you can see the only temple dedicated to Lord Dattatreya (a hybrid deity of Lords Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) believed to be made from the trunk of a single tree.
- Get to know the traditional way of life in these parts with a visit to Pottery Square.
- Walk down the narrow lanes of Dattatreya Square to the Pujari Math; you can see one of the unique and remarkable masterpieces in wood- the famous Peacock Window. This is a must-see work of wood with several small bird carvings and a large intricately decorated peacock carving in the center, with tail feathers that form a lattice window.
- The tour of Bhaktapur is not complete without the tasting of “Juju Dhau”- a sweetened custard-like yoghurt made from sweet buffalo milk that is native to this region. It has a rich taste with a thick, creamy texture and leaves you wanting for more.
- Thereafter, take a ride up to the hilltop where the famous Changu Narayan Temple stands as a true architectural delight. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and considered the oldest, said to be built during the 4th century in a unique architectural style. The excellent craftsmanship can be seen on the struts of the temple holding the roof with ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu carved out. Even the entrance door has Nagas (serpents) gilded, which cannot go unnoticed. A pillar stands at the main entrance, which is the first epigraphic proof of Nepalese history. Here, find the oldest inscriptions in Sanskrit to be found in Nepal.
- Drive back to Kathmandu.