Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Changu Narayan Heritage 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 Bhaktapur Durbar Square, one of the largest ancient squares in Nepal, filled with temples, cultural carvings, and historic buildings.
Go on a fantastic walking tour to discover the medieval Malla dwellings, known for their remarkable architecture.
Visit the Royal Bath, a fine example of medieval architecture, located at the south rear of the Taleju courtyard and reached by 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 Pujari Math, where you can see one of the unique and remarkable masterpieces in wood - the famous Peacock Window. This must-see work features several small bird carvings and a large, intricately decorated peacock carving in the centre, with tail feathers that form a lattice window.
The tour of Bhaktapur is not complete without tasting "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 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 is considered the oldest temple in Nepal, said to have been built during the 4th century in a unique architectural style. The excellent craftsmanship can be seen on the temple struts holding the roof, with ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu carved into them. Even the entrance door, gilded with Nagas (serpents), cannot go unnoticed. A pillar stands at the main entrance, providing the first epigraphic proof of Nepalese history. Here, you will also find the oldest inscriptions in Sanskrit found in Nepal.
Drive back to Kathmandu.
