Overview

The Bhaktapur and Panauti tour takes you to the ancient city of Bhaktapur and the half city – half remote part of Panauti. This tour is especially designed for travelers who have limited time in Nepal but still want to explore the natural, cultural and traditional monuments of the cities.

 

Highlights

• Ancient Newari city of Bhaktapur
• Ancient temples and stupas
• Perfect introduction for first-time visitors

 

About the tour

Bhaktapur is an ancient Newari town, 12km east of Kathmandu. Found in the 12th century, Bhaktapur became the greatest of the Malla Kingdoms in the 15th century. Now it’s Nepal’s third largest city and famous for its culture, temples and craft work. The meaning of the word “Bhaktapur” translates to ‘City of Devotees’. Bhaktapur is like a living museum and is pleasant to walk through as the streets are free of traffic and full of temples, wells and courtyards. Here you can watch craftsmen producing their century old arts of pottery as well as wood carving. You can also buy souvenirs to take home. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is famous for the 55-Window Palace, that served as the seat of royalty in 1769. The Golden Gate of this palace opens on the Taleju Temple, that was built in 1756, and the bell which has been rung to pay homage to the Goddess Taleju for centuries.

 

After spending some time in Bhaktapur we will head towards Panauti. Panauti sits at the sacred meeting point of the Roshi Khola and Pungamati Khola. A third ‘invisible river’ called the Padmabati is said to link the other two rivers at Panauti, making this a sacred spot. Panauti is an old Newari settlement, and also claims one of the only two known pre-17th century structures of Mahadev temple.