Bhaktapur's local Newar name is Khwopa, and it was long known to outsiders as Bhadgaon. The city stands about 13 km east of Kathmandu at 1,401 m.
Source: Bhaktapur
City in Nepal
Bhaktapur
Potters, pagodas and the king of curds
Bhaktapur is the best-preserved of the three royal cities of the Kathmandu valley, 13 km east of Kathmandu at 1,401 m. Its five-roofed Nyatapola temple, potters' square and thick juju dhau curd make it worth a night, not a rushed half-day. SAARC visitors pay NPR 500 entry, other foreigners NPR 1,800.
Photo: Saroj Pandey · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CommonsNewar residents call their city Khwopa; older maps say Bhadgaon. Bhaktapur was the capital of the Malla kingdom of the whole valley until the 15th century and then one of three rival city-states, and it still feels like a separate town. Brick lanes run between three main squares, Durbar Square, Taumadhi and Dattatreya, and most of the old town is closed to through traffic. The city collects an entry fee from visitors and spends part of it on conservation.
Bhaktapur is a working city of farmers, potters and woodcarvers. In Pottery Square you see clay pots drying in rows and wheels spun by hand; in the side lanes, families set buffalo-milk curd in clay bowls to make juju dhau, which the city is famous for across Nepal. Early mornings are the best time, when people line up at temple taps and the squares fill with puja trays and vegetable sellers.
The 2015 earthquake damaged many buildings here, including temples in Durbar Square, but Nyatapola, completed in 1702, stood as it had in the 1934 earthquake. Most monuments have been restored. Stay a night to see the squares empty after the day-trippers leave, and come in mid-April if you can, when Bisket Jatra fills Taumadhi with chariots for the Nepali new year.
Say it like a local · NewarJuju dhau
king curd; Bhaktapur's thick buffalo-milk curd set in clay bowls
What to do in Bhaktapur
Nyatapola, five roofs high
The five-roofed pagoda in Taumadhi Square was completed in 1702 and is the tallest temple in Nepal. Pairs of stone guardians line its stairway: wrestlers, elephants, lions, griffins and goddesses, each said to be ten times stronger than the pair below.
Pottery Square
South of Durbar Square, potters shape cups, water jars and curd bowls on wheels and leave them to dry in rows across the square. You can try the wheel for a small fee, and buy small pots for NPR 50–300.
Juju dhau, king of curds
Bhaktapur's thick, sweet buffalo-milk curd is set in clay bowls that absorb moisture and give it a firm top. Small bowls cost NPR 60–150 in shops around Durbar Square and Taumadhi. Eat it fresh, the same day.
Dattatreya Square and the peacock window
The quietest of the three squares has the Dattatreya temple and the Pujari Math, a priests' house with a famous carved peacock window on a side lane. Woodcarving workshops nearby still turn out windows and struts in the old style.
Durbar Square and the Golden Gate
The palace square has the gilded Golden Gate leading to the Taleju temple courtyards and the Fifty-five Window Palace. Non-Hindus may not enter the inner Taleju shrine. Go late afternoon for low light on the brick and gilt.
Field notes
What most guides miss about Bhaktapur
Nyatapola, the five-roofed pagoda in Taumadhi, was completed in 1702 and is the tallest temple in Nepal. It survived both the 1934 and 2015 earthquakes.
Source: Nyatapola Temple
Bisket Jatra follows the solar new year rather than the lunar calendar used by most Nepali festivals. A wooden pole of about 25 m called the yosin is raised and then pulled down to mark the new year.
Source: Bisket Jatra
Experiences
Three days worth having in Bhaktapur
Photo: Goutam1962 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Bhaktapur · 2 hours
Juju dhau tasting and Pottery Square
Watch Bhaktapur's potters at work, try the wheel, then taste the city's famous juju dhau curd set in the same clay bowl…
City entry NPR 500 SAARC; curd ₹40–100 a bowl; wheel try ₹150–3…
Photo: Hari Paudyel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Bhaktapur · 2 hours
Morning puja at Nyatapola and Taumadhi
See Taumadhi Square wake up: puja trays at the Bhairab temple, vegetable sellers, tea stalls, and Nyatapola's five roof…
Included in city entry; guide ₹1,500–2,000
Photo: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Bhaktapur · 2–3 hours
Dattatreya Square and the woodcarvers
Walk to Bhaktapur's oldest square, Dattatreya, to see the carved peacock window and the workshops where Newar carvers s…
Included in city entry; small museum fees extra
Real prices
What things cost in Bhaktapur
ItemIndicative 2026
Bhaktapur city entry₹310 SAARC (NPR 500); ₹1,125 other foreigners (NPR 1,800)
Small clay bowl of juju dhau₹40–100
Taxi from Thamel₹750–1,100 one way
Local bus from Kathmandu (Ratna Park/Bagbazar)₹30–60
Guesthouse double in the old town₹1,500–3,500 a night
Newari set meal (samay baji)₹200–450
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Getting there
How to reach Bhaktapur
Air
Tribhuvan International Airport is about 10 km away; a taxi takes 30–45 minutes.
Bus
Local buses run from Ratna Park and Bagbazar in Kathmandu to Bhaktapur's bus park, a 10-minute walk from Durbar Square, in about an hour.
Road
A taxi from Thamel takes 45 minutes to an hour on the Araniko Highway or via Thimi. Cars must stop outside the old town; walk in from the ticket gates.
Where to stay
Sleeping in Bhaktapur
Saver: family-run guesthouses around Taumadhi and Durbar Square offer simple doubles with rooftop views for ₹1,500–2,500; book one inside the ticketed zone so you can come and go freely. Comfort: several small heritage hotels in restored Newar houses near Durbar Square have carved windows, courtyards and breakfast terraces. Signature: there is no luxury hotel inside the old town; stay at Dwarika's in Kathmandu and come by car, or stay a night here in the best heritage guesthouse for the empty evening squares.
Trips that stop here
See Bhaktapur on a trip
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
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Questions
Bhaktapur, answered
What is the Bhaktapur entry fee for Indians?
SAARC nationals, including Indians, pay NPR 500 (about ₹310); other foreigners pay NPR 1,800 (about ₹1,125). Show your passport or voter ID at the counter. The ticket covers the old town for the period printed on it. Fees change, so check current status before you travel.
Is Bhaktapur worth an overnight stay?
Yes. Day-trippers leave by 5 pm and the squares become quiet and local. Staying also gives you dawn at Nyatapola before the crowds. One night is enough for most people; two if you add Changu Narayan or Nagarkot.
How do I get from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur?
A taxi from Thamel takes 45 minutes to an hour and costs about NPR 1,200–1,800. Local buses from Ratna Park or Bagbazar cost NPR 50–100 and take about an hour to Bhaktapur bus park, ten minutes on foot from Durbar Square.
When is Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur?
Bisket Jatra runs for nine days around the Nepali new year, usually 13–14 April, with the main chariot pulls and the yosin pole ceremony on the days before and after the new year. Dates follow the solar calendar. Check current status before you travel.
Was Bhaktapur badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake?
Many houses and some temples in Durbar Square were damaged or collapsed. Nyatapola survived. Most monuments have since been restored, and the old town is fully open to visitors.
What should I eat in Bhaktapur?
Juju dhau is the must. Also try bara (lentil pancakes), chatamari, samay baji and, in winter, yomari. Courtyard restaurants around Durbar Square serve full Newari sets.
Is Bhaktapur good for elderly travellers?
Yes. The old town is mostly flat and car-free, though paving is uneven. Taxis can drop you near the main gates, and there are plenty of places to sit in the squares.
Can I visit Bhaktapur and Nagarkot in one day?
Yes. Nagarkot is about 20 km uphill from Bhaktapur, 45 minutes to an hour by taxi. Many people spend the day in Bhaktapur and drive up for the sunset, staying the night in Nagarkot for sunrise.
Are there ATMs in Bhaktapur?
Yes, several banks have ATMs near the bus park and on the main road outside the old town. Inside the squares, carry cash, because small shops and juju dhau sellers rarely take cards.