In 17th century it was the capital of local kingdom. Today it is a little town, much more quiet then Kathmandu with many onreresting monuments and traditions. From the north- eastern corner of Ratna Park I took overpassage to get to the little side street – buses from this street go to Bakthapur. It is an hour drive and they charge 50 rupees each way.
0nce in Bakthapur you disembark at the big pond. Follow the street east to the old city gate. From this point you will be walking the long, long cobbled street full of little chapels, shops and hindu religion pilgrims in red.
Pilgrims are nicely dressed, they are praying and listening rather noisy music and makinng offerings (there were two goats to be ceremonially killed) Two squares with outstanding, beautifully carved monuments are connected by long long street. On the first one there os is 5-storey pagoda with solid granite statues along the stairs. It is worth to climb it for the view. In Bakthapur they do not charge any entry fee to this UNESCO site…
On the second square I met just-married couple posing for the pictures. Congratulations! On this square there are also nice pagoda- like monuments. On the back side of the main temple you will see famous, precisely carved peacock window. Woodcarvers still work here.
Bakthapur is more quiet and more atmospheric then noisy and crowded Katmandu. Don’t miss it when you will be here!
