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Bhaktapur, Nepal |
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Information about Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur or the city of devotees was founded in 889 AD.
Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon is situated about 20
km. to the east of Kathmandu. Bhaktapur was the first
city to attain a high level of artistic achievements,
after Kathmandu and Patan. The people of this town were
very artistic and it contains some of the finest
architectural showpieces. The artistic excellence of
Bhaktapur is superior than other towns in the valley.
Its golden effigies of kings and mythical figures,
perched on pillars and roofs and deities looking out
from their shrines are fantastic. The town is also known
for its pottery, weaving and |
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Nepali caps.
History of Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur has remained relatively unchanged over the
centuries. It has also preserved its medieval character better
than Patan and Kathmandu and developed independently until
Gurkha unification in 1768. After the Gurkha unification, its
growth stopped and Kathmandu became the cosmopolitan city and
Bhaktapur was merged with Patan. In 1970, it was benefited
from the West German, who funded a restoration project.
Bhaktapur was the capital of the whole valley from the 14th to
16th century and was fortified in the 15th century. The
original centre of the city was the east Square, the
Dattatraya temple and the Pujahari Math, but it was later
shifted to Durbar Square.
Tourist Attractions in Bhaktapur
The various tourist attractions in Bhaktapur are the Durbar
Square, the Palace of 55 windows, Golden Gate, Nyatapola
Temple and Bhairavnath Temple. |
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Durbar Square
The Durbar Square is the major centre of all the
activities going in Bhaktapur. This place was greatly
destroyed by the 1934 earthquake and became more
spacious. This place is still an architectural showpiece
with numerous superb examples of the skills of Nepali
artists and craftsmen over the centuries. Some of the
places which are still present in the Durbar Square are
the ruined palace, Siva Parvati temple, Siva temple, two
large stone lions, two fine statues that represent the
18-armed Ugrachandi Durga and 12-armed Bhairav and some
smaller temples of Rameshwar, Bhadri, Krishna and Shiva.
Another main feature of the Durbar Square is |
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the life size
gilded statue of Bhupatindra Mall, seated on a tall stone
pillar and faces the Golden Gate. This Malla King was
responsible for most of the building activity in Bhaktapur.
Bhairavnath Temple
The two-storeyed Bhairavnath Temple stands on the right of
Nyatapola Temple. This temple was built in the 17 century but
was reconstructed after severe damage caused by the earthquake
of 1934. This temple has a dance platform in front and the
Shiva and Narayan shrines behind the temple.
Dattatray Temple
The Dattatray Temple is situated only about four minutes walk
from Bhairavnath Temple. This temple was built in the 15th
century and is the oldest temple in Bhaktapur. This temple is
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. There is a pillar and on top of it
Garuda sits with his traditional weapons. This temple is
believed to have been built from the wood of a single tree.
Pujahari Math monastery
The Pujahari Math Monastery is an ancient monastery and
extraordinarily rich in wood carvings. A head priest still
lives here. The area is of special interest since it was one
of the most extensively restored sections with West German
aid. The work has been done with aesthetic care. It also
incorporates water and sewage systems for the benefit of the
community living here. |
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The
Golden Gate
The Golden Gate is located near the Art Gallery of the
Royal Palace. The Golden Gate was built by the last
Malla king in the middle of the 18th century. This gate
is one of the artistic masterpieces of the valley and
set into the glazed brickwork. Percy Brown, the
historian also described the Golden Gate as the
loveliest work of art in the whole of Nepal. The goddess
Kali and Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu is shown
killing serpents on the gate. The four-headed and 16
armed figure of Taleju Bhawani, the personal deity of
the Malla dynasty is shown below the figure of Garuda.
Palace of 55 Windows
The Palace of 55 Windows was built during the early 15th
century and later renovated by Bhupatindra Malla in
1754. The balcony with 55 windows is known for its
unique and marvellous woodcarving. A part of the palace
has been converted into an Art Gallery. Its entrance is
flanked by the Hanuman as the Tantric Bhairab and Vishnu
as Narsingha. The Art Gallery has a fine collection of
thangkas, palm leaf manuscripts, rare paintings and fine
examples of the craft heritage of |
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Bhaktapur.
Nyatapola Temple
The Nyatapola Temple is situated south of the Durbar Square
and at the northern end of the Taumadhi Square. The Nyatapola
Temple is the Nepal's largest temple. This 55-storey temple is
the highest temple in the valley and a fine specimen of
Nepalese architecture and craftsmanship. This temple was built
by the King Bhupatindra Malla in 1702. The successive tiled
roofs are supported by the extravagantly carved and painted
beams and struts. The five pairs of stone carved figures of two
wrestlers, elephants, lions, griffins and the tiger and lion
goddesses line the steps of the five terraces, which are 10
times stronger than each other. The interior of the temple is
Chinese and Thai in character. The wood carvings in this
temple are some of the best in Nepal. A fine view of the
temple can be had from the road leading out of the valley
towards the Tibetan border. |
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