Bhaktapur – Bhadgaon
Overview
Bhaktapur is the third largest city in the Kathmandu valley. The city was once the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom from the 12th to the 15th century. Four square miles of land situated at an altitude of 1,401 meter from sea-level is a home to Traditional art and architecture, pottery and weaving industries, rich local customs and culture, and the every-day life of Bhaktapur people. All that and more will have you visit this untouched ancient city more than once! Nepal’s Malla dynasty’s achievements in arts and crafts are reflected throughout the Bhaktapur city. Bhaktapur is also known by woodcarving artists, for it’s cap known as Bhadgaon Topi, and for it’s curd known by Nepalese as the `Bhaktapur ko Dahe’ (meaning Curd made in Bhaktapur). Tourists visiting the city also take the time to relax and observe other interesting happenings in the city such as children’s playing outside their home and in temple yards, busy and color-full open markets, women’s making clay-pots, weaving, and sun-drying crops and vegetable products. Bhaktapur is located at 14 km east of Kathmandu.
Places to visit in Bhaktapur:
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
Bhaktapur Naytapola Temple
The Bhaktapur National Art Gallery
Bhairavnath Temple and short drive ancient Hindu Temple of Changunarayan.
Nagarkot:
Among all the places for mountain viewing in the Kathmandu Valley, Nagarkot is usually considered to be the best. The views go from Dhaulagiri in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east. On a clear day you can see Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha). You can also see Manaslu (8,463m), Ganesh Himal (7,111m), and Langtang (7,246m). Many people go up to Nagarkot in the afternoon, stay in a hotel in Nagarkot, and then get up at dawn to see the Himalaya Mountains during the sunrise.
Nagarkot is 32 kilometres east of Kathmandu, on the northeast edge of the Valley at an elevation of 2,175m. It is best to view the mountains in the early morning because it is more likely to be clear. There is a viewing tower next to the Club Himalaya Resort, where you get good views that has a coffee shop where you can sit inside. Many of the hotels also have good views.
Dhulikhel:
Dhulikhel (1440m.) is a small town with a long history. Records show that it has been around for more than 500 years. The artistic skill and urban ethos of its Newar inhabitants have created a place of charm and beauty. Streets lined with bare-brick houses, carved wooden windows, sloping title roofs, pagoda temples and sacred statues everywhere. You will think you have wandered into a cultural theme park.
The major places of worship here are the Narayan and Harisiddhi temples which are adorned with profuse wood carvings. The Gokhureswar Mahadev temple, a 30 minutes’ walk to the eastern part of town, is a peaceful and scenic spot. The Bhagawati temple is situated at a height in the western part of Dhulikhel and dominates the skyline. From here, you can get a beautiful vista of the town and surrounding areas. There are many vintage points in Dhulikhel which offers a panorama of the Himalaya that will leave you spellbound. Looking out over low hills and valleys, the mountains rise up in an extended arc stretching from the far left to the far right. More than 20 Himalayan Peaks can be seen in all their glory. You should get up early in the morning to watch the first rays of the sun hit the summits and their colors change. Sunset views are equally spectacular.
Namo – Buddha:
A very sacred place close to Dhulikhel where the teachers, the perfect and supreme Buddha-at that time still on the path of learning-offered his own body without regret to a tigress suffering from great hunger. What follows is a history of this supreme and distinguished sacred site, whose location is unmistaken based on the clear identification given in the Sutra Requested by the Tigress and so forth.
