Nagarkot Sunrise and Bhaktapur Walking Heritage Tour

Our first destination is Nagarkot View Tower. Get ready before dawn and you will be picked up from the
hotel and driven to Nagarkot View Tower for a beautiful sunrise and panoramic view of Himalayan
ranges like Mahalangur (Everest) range, Annapurna range, Manaslu range, Ganesh Himal range,
Langtang range, Jugal range, Numbur range, and Rolwaling range of Nepal along with view of Shivapuri
National Park and Kathmandu. After sunrise, we will drive to the city of Bhaktapur.

Bhaktapur is an old city in Kathmandu Valley. Famous for the ancient architecture, temples, wood crafts,
red stoned roads, and local curd, Bhaktapur is an open museum. There are many Newar in the area,
with various community festivities celebrated throughout the year. With Bhaktapur Durbar Square as a
heritage site recognized by UNESCO and listed as one of the World Heritage Sites of Nepal, there is
always the flow of national and international tourists in the city of Bhaktapur. We will visit the major
ponds/pokharis in Bhaktapur city. Some of those ponds are Jela Pokhari, Khancha Pokhari, Nhade
Pokhari, Kumari Pokhari, Laiko Pokhari, Mangal Pokhari, Kadha Pokhari, Degamana Pokhari, Tekha
Pokhari, Bhajuya Pokhari, Rani Pokhari, Siddha Pokhari, Guhye (Na Pukhu) Pokhari, Bal Maasan Pokhari,
and Kaldaha Pokhari along with many small and community temples like Maheshwori temple and
Chupinghat Mahadev temple built in various chowks and corners.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is filled with many unique landmarks and buildings. Some of the noted
structures are: Nyatapola temple, 55 windows palace, Vatsala Temple, Siddhi Laxmi Temple, and Golden
Gate. Let us explore Bhaktapur Durbar Square and see why this royal courtyard has been deemed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way you can try the local curd made in Bhaktapur famous
throughout Kathmandu valley.

Nyatapola temple is a five-leveled temple over 30 meters tall. It is one of the tallest temple in Nepal. You
can see 5 pairs of statues of ancient animals and deities at the sides along steps of the temple. It is said
that each statue is 10 times stronger as you climb up the stairs. The temple is dedicated to the ancestral
deity of Malla royal family: Siddhi Laxmi. The image of Siddhi Laxmi is said to be 10 feet tall but as the
temple opens once a year in July, peaking a look is difficult.

Dattatreya temple is located in the east side of Bhaktapur, in Dattatreya Square of Bhaktapur Durbar
Square. The temple is associated with the deity Dattatreya which is composite of Brahma, Vishnu, and
Shiva. The huge temple is said to be built using the stem of a single tree. The idols of the three gods with
a huge tree at the back is one of its important feature.

Another iconic stop is the 55 Window Palace of Bhaktapur. The palace is right near the golden gate
entrance. Its name comes from the 55 windows carved around the palace. There are carvings of many
designs and deities around the palace with sacred wall paintings.

Siddha Pokhari is a huge pond made by human at the entrance of Bhaktapur. The pond is big enough to
ride a small boat. It is a bustling spot where locals often hangout. The environment around the pond is
beautiful.