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Nepal

Bhaktapur (Durbar Square)

Car-free Newar old town of pagodas, potters' squares and curd in clay pots

HeritageCulture

Best time to visit Bhaktapur (Durbar Square)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: February to March and October to November
  • Shoulder: April to May, September and December to January, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to August

Planning a specific month? FebruaryMarchOctoberNovember

Bhaktapur (Durbar Square) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Sunny afternoons for the squares and cheap off-season rooms, but dawn fog sits low and nights drop close to freezing.

Summer March to May Prime time

Bisket Jatra in Apr hauls giant chariots through the lanes at Nepali New Year; Mar is the clearest month before the May heat.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Rain soaks the brick lanes and hides the hills in Jul and Aug, though Gai Jatra processions in Aug are worth a wet day.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Ideal: clear skies after the rains, Dashain kites and Tihar oil lamps in Oct and Nov, and an easy day trip up to Nagarkot.

What Bhaktapur (Durbar Square) is actually like

Guesthouses in old brick houses, juju dhau curd and bara at street stalls, potters at their wheels and day trippers by noon.

Things to do in Bhaktapur

The local places worth your time in and around Bhaktapur, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Nyatapola Temple

    Temple · in town

    Five-tiered 1702 pagoda on Taumadhi Square, the tallest in Nepal, its stair guarded by stone wrestlers, elephants and lions.

  • Pottery Square

    Market · in town

    Potters spin clay on wheels and dry rows of pots in the sun; some will let you try the wheel for a small fee.

  • Dattatreya Temple

    Temple · 1 km out

    Oldest square in town with the 15th century temple, and the carved Peacock Window in a lane right beside it.

  • Siddha Pokhari

    Lake · 1 km out

    Large walled pond at the bus park end of town, good for an evening stroll before walking into the old city.

  • Changu Narayan Temple

    Temple · 5 km out

    UNESCO-listed hilltop Vishnu temple with the oldest dated inscription in Nepal, 464 AD; 20 min by taxi or a 2 h hike.

  • Nagarkot

    Viewpoint · 10 km out

    Ridge village above 2000 m for Himalayan sunrise from Langtang to Everest on clear mornings between Oct and Mar.

Getting to Bhaktapur (Durbar Square)

Kathmandu airport (TIA) is about 11 km, 40 min by taxi; the heritage entry fee is NPR 500 for SAARC visitors.

Practical ways in: flightroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Made for solo travellers
Altitude
1338 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
27.6722, 85.4279

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Bhaktapur (Durbar Square)?

February to March and October to November is peak season in Bhaktapur (Durbar Square). April to May, September and December to January is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August. Ideal: clear skies after the rains, Dashain kites and Tihar oil lamps in Oct and Nov, and an easy day trip up to Nagarkot.

How many days do you need in Bhaktapur (Durbar Square)?

2 days is the usual stay. Guesthouses in old brick houses, juju dhau curd and bara at street stalls, potters at their wheels and day trippers by noon.

How do you get to Bhaktapur (Durbar Square)?

Kathmandu airport (TIA) is about 11 km, 40 min by taxi; the heritage entry fee is NPR 500 for SAARC visitors. Practical ways in: flight and road.

Is Bhaktapur (Durbar Square) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Made for solo travellers.

Is there a festival in Bhaktapur (Durbar Square)?

Bisket Jatra (Apr). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Bhaktapur?

Nyatapola Temple, Pottery Square, Dattatreya Temple, Siddha Pokhari, Changu Narayan Temple and Nagarkot. Five-tiered 1702 pagoda on Taumadhi Square, the tallest in Nepal, its stair guarded by stone wrestlers, elephants and lions.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Nepal

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