Kancha-Pukha

Kancha-Pukha located to the south of the Dattatrya square is one of the most amazing architectural pond. The unique improtance of the pond lies in the fact that it perfectly displays the image of the Nayatapolea Temple. Despite being situated at the distance of over 500m from the temple and densely packed tall houses standing between them, the beautiful reflection can still be viewed and enjoyed.

Nava Durga Temple

From a religous point of view, the shrine of Nava Durga the nine manifestations fo Goddess Durga has a high place in Bhaktapur. Nava Durga is also the combination of nine protective mother Goddess of the city. The three storied shrine which lies in Kwathando-4, Bhaktapur also popular for the its elaborately carved windows and doors. It seems huge crowd of devotees during Dashain (October), the greatest festival of Hindu in nepal. A wood carved window and the nothern facade displays the Chariot of Bhairav which has its own importance and significance.

Hanuman Ghat

It is the religious site for Hindus and Buddhists alike. River banks are often used by the local people to burn dead bodies called 'Ghat'. People have the practise of visiting such ghats areas in the early mornings to wash themselves purifying their body and then to go about visiting temples and images of gods and goddesses, a process of purifying one's mind and soul. Ghats usually have one or more crematories where the dead bodies are burned to ashes and the ashes in turn are thrown into the rive as a part of Hindu/Buddhist culture. There are several such Ghats in around Bhaktapur. 

Hanuman Ghat is very popular Ghat in Bhaktapur, it spreads to a larger area with many religious images, objects and structures scattered around in such array that even a non religious perosn would start feeling differently once visiting there. For tourists it is like alking about in an alien land. The largest Shiva Lingam(Idol) in nepal, temple of Ram , numerous store sculptures, small stupas, shiva lingams, more can be observed in this Ghat area. Visiting this place in the early morning is recomanded. One can observe how a day begins for a religious traditional Newar in Bhaktapur.

Juju dhau"KING CURD"

The city of Bhaktapur is renowned for its Juju Dhau or Bhaktapur KO Dahe (curd from Bhaktapur). Traditionally the buffalo milk is used to produce this delicacy. The tasty yogurt is also known as king curd. It is the typical desert in a Newari community. In every ceremonial feast, yoghurt plays an important role. One should not miss it while visiting Bhaktapur. A visit to Bhaktapur is not complete without trying a bowl of Juju Dhau.

The Temple of Taleju Bhawani

The temples dedicated to the goddess Taleju Bhawani are presnt in all three towns of Kathmandu valley, i.e Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The royal temple of goddess Taleju in Bhaktapur however is the oldest among the three. Taleju Bhawani was the clan goddess of Malla Kings. The temple is one-storeyed. The artworks found in the temple are regarded among best in Nepal. The temple square consists of two shrines for two female deities, Taleju Bhawani and Kumari. The temple of Taleju has always been one of Bhaktapur’s most sacred spots, traditionally closed to all but the reigning kings. The Taleju temple stands in the Mulchok Court. At present, only Hindus are allowed to go inside the temple and the goddess cannot be photographed.


Structure
The Golden gate leads to another entrance which ends in an open square. It is also the part of the palace. The main entrance door that leads to temple square is beautifully sculpted and so are the inside of the temples. It seems more time and care is given to upper part of the door while carving figures of deities just like in Nyatapola main entrance or the Golden Gate. Inside the temple, window, doors, struts are carved with images of various female deities. It is said that king Bhupatindra Malla himself carved one of the window. The square consists of two stone pillars, a four feet plinth, and a bell hanged in stone pillers. The sign of half moon is painted in the bell and the pillars. There are numerous doors on each four side and each door has sculpture of kalash, conch and eye on two adjacent sides. One of the door leads to a pond which is source of water for Naghpokhari “the royal bath”. The roof of the both temple is large as eleven spiers of equal size stand along the roof for the entire length of main shrine. The spire in the middle is little big then other spires.

FOOD

Samhebaji (Newari food)

This dish is local in Newar community. In each and every festival for god and goddess this is cooked. It has many more veriety than in this picture. It is so delicious and rich / heave food. People drink rice wine or rice beer (home made)/chhyang with this dish. It takes quite a long time for all the veriety to be ready. It is eaten on leaf plate. People sit on mat(sukul) on the ground like in a row. So it looks nice when all seat in a row and eat Samhebaji. In this picture, white bread is thin rice pancake made of rice flour. On this bread, is beaten rice (crunchy cooked rice), then on it is roastedblack soyabean, fried ginger and garlic pieces, small fried fish. At the sides  green garlic fried, white beans curry, potatoes mashed in Newari style, roasted buff meata(Chhoyala), fried eggs like plain omellete, bara wo under egges, well mashed raw buff meat. Not only this much there are many more like cauliflower curry, Newari mixed pickle, bamboo potato curry(Aalutama), green leaf vegetable(sag) and many more. In second picture there is one more rice pancake on top, before serving.

This dish is local in Newar community. In each and every festival for god and goddess this is cooked. It has many more veriety than in this picture. It is so delicious and rich / heave food. People drink rice wine or rice beer (home made)/chhyang with this dish. It takes quite a long time for all the veriety to be ready. It is eaten on leaf plate. People sit on mat(sukul) on the ground like in a row. So it looks nice when all seat in a row and eat Samhebaji. In this picture, white bread is thin rice pancake made of rice flour. On this bread, is beaten rice (crunchy cooked rice), then on it is roastedblack soyabean, fried ginger and garlic pieces, small fried fish. At the sides  green garlic fried, white beans curry, potatoes mashed in Newari style, roasted buff meata(Chhoyala), fried eggs like plain omellete, bara wo under egges, well mashed raw buff meat. Not only this much there are many more like cauliflower curry, Newari mixed pickle, bamboo potato curry(Aalutama), green leaf vegetable(sag) and many more. In second picture there is one more rice pancake on top, before serving.                                                          

PRESERVATION EFFORTS

For Bhaktapur and its tradition-loving locals, having monuments and culture alone is not all. For them, preservation of the mankind’s shared glories is as much important as the creation of new ones. Keeping this in mind, Bhaktapur Municipality has launched an ambitious campaign for the purpose. In this course, the local body so far has carried out massive restoration of the Nyataponla and Bhairavnath temples, Ta-Pukhu (Siddha Pokhari), the Bhandarkhal Complex, and many other monuments of both religious and archeological importance. Now on the anvil of the municipality are the undertakings involving the rehabilitation of the Taleju Temple Complex, Chatu Brahma Mahavihar, Yaksheswor Mahadev Temple and the 55-Window Palace. In addition, the upkeep of the streets and squares will continue as it had in the past. The most notable part of all these conservation efforts is the active participation of the locals as well as the visiting tourists. While the locals on their part contribute with their labor and skills, tourists do the same through their moral and monetary support.

Bhaktapur Municipality’s commitment to the preservation and promotion of the city and its glorious traditions of art and culture also has taken shape into the legendary Bhaktapur Festival 1997. Organized by the local body for five consecutive days, from October 22 to 26, 1997, the mega event—the first and biggest of its kind ever held in Nepal—had been instrumental in promoting not only Bhaktapur, but also the whole nation in the international arena.

Effortful of realizing its noble objectives, Bhaktapur Municipality has also enforced a ban on vehicles in the Durbar Square. Effective since 1992, the law forbids heavy vehicles from getting into the city core and all kinds of automobiles into the palatial enclave. Because of the municipality’s endeavors and cooperation from the local citizens, Bhaktapur today is Nepal’s one of the least polluted urban areas, besides being the country’s best preserved city.

Given the historic city’s artistic and cultural riches combined with the unspoilt natural atmosphere all around it, a visit to Bhaktapur will sure to become an experience of a lifetime for many. A quiet stroll down the city’s tranquil streets not only take them into a drastically different socio-cultural environment, but also help them explore a glorious dimension of human civilization that is Bhaktapur.