Bhaktapur Craft Paper Community development

Bhaktapur Craft Paper Community development through paper production was founded by UNICEF/Nepal in 1981. It has since been developed and expanded by his majesty's government of Nepal (HMGN) in collaboration with UNICEF - Nepal. The expanded project under the name of Bhaktapur Craft Paper Ltd.(BCP), has launched several community development programmes in different parts of Nepal, aiming specifically to improve the quality of life of the poor and underprivileged and enabling the craftsmen and their families to better their lives and revitalize the local economy.


At present, the BCP programmes cover the five district of Baglung, Parbat, Myagdi, Lamjung and Gorkha in the mid-west, and Bhaktapur in central region. BCP invests a substantial percentage of its profits into community development activities in these districts in the areas of water supply, sanitation and school support. BCP has been a model sustainable project, initiated by UNICEF, a self- sustained organization, and working in collaboration with the Small Farmers Development Programme/Agricultural Development Bank, The Department Of Forest and The Department Of Cottage And Small Industries. It has been turned and incorporated inti public ltd. company for its independant and ligal rntity in 2005. BCP has been registered in Nepal Government of Industry department keeping the name "Bhaktapur Craft Paper Ltd.".

Wooden Sculpture In Nepal

Wooden sculpture in Nepal is another art that traces Nepalese culture from its early beginnings right up to modern times. Many visitors to the Katmandu valley are impressed by the numerous extremely intricate and beautiful wooden windows, wooden staue, wooden doors, temple roof-struts and other artifacts carved entirely by hands of Nepalese wood carvers. As wood is obviously more vulnerable to the ravages of time and other art forms, well-preserved specimens only date back to the 14th century and the beginning of the Malla period. From this period onwards, woodcarving became an integral part of Nepalese architecture, some of the best examples being the old royal palaces of Katmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur and a number of different Viharas (monasteries) around the valley.

Nepal has achieved the high level in wood carving arts. Many carved artifacts have been found in the Terai region of the country, thus providing an insight into the religion and culture of these times. As with painting, nearly all-Nepalese sculptures are of a religious character. In addition to the theme, it seems that the artists themselves were also greatly imbued with a feeling of religious devotion. Sculpting wood is a lengthy and delicate procedure that requires great skill. A large piece of art can take up to more than a month to create and several people need to work on it. Crafting the work by hand is sometimes exhausting. The secrets of quality metalwork were kept restricted to a few families. Knowledge of the skill was passed down generation to generation and was guarded from those outside the family circle.


Still today you can find Shilpakars of Kathmandu, Nepal are devoted to their ancient and cultural gift which has been passed them by their ancestors. The wood work has been so perfect that the materials made by the Shilplakars are highly appreciated by all over the world. These Silpakar and Kaisthakar families enjoy a strong local and foreign market for their products. Most of the woodcraft industry today is focussed on providing local people and tourists with collectible items such as picture frames and miniature statuettes. Bungamati, Lalitpur, is one of Nepal's centers for woodwork and more than 350 family groups can be found there involved in the craft. Along with Bhaktapur, these centers produce high quality hand crafted work. However, only a few artists produce large pieces of arts as the market for them is relatively small, they take a long time to complete and require greater skill. Their Excellency of work can be found in most of the parts of Kathmandu valley, which have attracted many tourists since ancient times.  

Handicrafts

Besides the physical monuments and cultural festivities, the Newars of Bhaktapur have also inherited a long history of craftsmanship. It is here where visitors can have rare close-up views of Nepal’s master craftsmen giving continuity to their time-honored traditions of art. In its two famed Pottery Squares, they can see potters giving shape to lumps of clay on their traditional wooden wheels. Besides, they also encounter the city’s well-acclaimed artisans who, with their wondrously skilled hands, produce a great variety of handicrafts. Bhaktapur’s indigenous handicraft varieties include paubha scroll paintings, papier-mâché masks, cotton cloth, woodcarvings, metalwork, jewelry and ceramic products. In addition, the home-spun haku-patasi (black sari), black cap and the delicious Juju-dhau, literally the "King of all yogurt varieties", have also made this city a favored spot for tourists and the Nepalese alike.

Monuments

Monumental masterpieces in Bhaktapur are innumerable, and each is more attractive than the other. Mostly terra-cotta structures supported by carved wooden columns, elaborately carved struts, windows and doors, gilded roofs and pinnacles, open spacious courts all around and, above all, the fascinating divine images presiding over the monument—many edifices have many things in common, yet their varied shape, size and designs make the one even more wondrous than the other. Furthermore, each of their components reflects the religious belief, social outlook and the economic status of the builders, and the monuments in all carry along a rich artistic tradition of the native Newars.


In Bhaktapur, visitors confront a smaller or larger monument almost at every ten or twenty steps. Perhaps stunned by the clusters of monuments, a visitor in the past had admired the Kathmandu Valley, saying that "every other building (in the Valley) is a temple and every other day a festival". The proportion, owing to continual external invasions and natural calamities, might have changed over centuries, yet the presence of variously shaped and sized monuments in Bhaktapur is still awe-inspiring. The world-famous Nyataponla Temple, Bhairavnath Temple, Taleju Temple, 55-Window Palace, Golden Gate, Golden Faucet, Big Bell, Yaksheswor Mahadev Temple, Dattatreya Temple, Peacock Window, Taja Math, Pujari Math, Wakupati Narayan Temple, Nava Durga Temple, Chandeswori Temple, Barahi Temple, Bharbacho Gate, Terra-cotta Windows and Nepal’s largest Shiva Lingum at Hanumanghat, and such historic ponds as Ta-Pukhu, Na-Pukhu, Bhajya-Pukhu and Bahre-Pukhu (Kamal Pokhari) are simply a few among many that embellish the city’s brick- and stone-paved squares, courtyards and open fields. Besides, the presence of a great many Buddhist monuments, many of them rubbing shoulders with Hindu shrines, simply reaffirms the age-old Nepalese tradition of social harmony and religious tolerance among its peace-loving populace. Because of this time-tested tradition, Bhaktapur’s well known Lokeswor Mahavihar, Prasannasheel Mahavihar, Chatu Brahma Mahavihar, Jaya Kirti Mahavihar, Sukra-varna Mahavihar, Dipanker Mahavihar and many other Buddhist shrines have been the places of esteem and adoration for the Hindus alike.

Nagarkot

A view of Nagarkot

Nagarkot is a village and Village Development Committee located 32 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3504 and had 655 houses in it.[1] At an elevation of 2,195 meters, it is considered one of the most scenic spots in Bhaktapur District. It is renowned for its sunrise view of the Himalaya including Mount Everest as well as other snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley.


Nagarkot is an international tourist destination with spectacular views of the whole Langtang range, sunrise on the mountains and sunset views. We can see the panoramic views of the captivating landscapes and hills with the Kathmandu valley. You can breathe the cool mountain breeze in the resort town of Nagarkot. There are resorts from top-end quality to decent lodges to accommodate you and serves different cuisines.

Changu Narayan

Changu Narayan is the name of the deity enshrined in the Changu Narayan Temple, located near the Changunarayan village in Bhaktapur. The temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples of the valley, and is believed to have been constructed in the 4th century. Changu Narayan is the name of Vishnu, and the Temple is dedicated to him. A stone slab discovered in the vicinity of the temple dates to the 5th century, and is the oldest such stone inscription discovered in Nepal. The Changu Narayan Temple is one of seven structures cited by UNESCO as demonstrating the historic and artistic achievements that make the Kathmandu Valley(Bhaktapur) a World Heritage Site.


Known as the biggest among the Narayans, Changu Narayan has greater importance than the others. It is situated at the top of the hill. One can view the beautiful white Himalayas and hills in the north and the whole panoramic view of the Kathmandu valley. The steep green hill of pines adds to its beauty.

Siddha Pokhari

This is a big rectangular water tank located near the main city gate. It is considered as the most ancient pond in Bhaktapur which is known to have many myths associated to it. This 275m×92m pond was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in the early fifteenth century and is associated with a number of different myths. Nowadays, the pond is of both religious and archeological importance. From this spot a wide range of snowy peaks are visible on clear days.