About Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur has the best-preserved palace courtyards and old city center in Nepal.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Photo credit: ImagePasal.com

Bhaktapur (भक्तपुर), About this sound, listen (help·info); literally translates/ means “city of devotees”), also known as Khwopa ( in Nepal Bhasa: ख्वप Khwopa), is a city in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley and is about 8 miles (13 km) from the capital city, Kathmandu. It is located in and serves as the headquarters of Bhaktapur District in Bagmati Pradesh of Nepal. In Bhaktapur district, we can find four different Municipalities. Among these municipalities, Bhaktapur municipality is most popular in tourism aspects.  It is administratively divided into 10 wards.

Khwopa was the largest of the three Newa kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley and was the capital of Nepal during the great ‘Malla Kingdom’ until the second half of the 15th century. It has a population of more than 81,728, of which the vast majority are still Newa Nepa mi. Historically more isolated than the other two kingdoms, Kathmandu and Patan, Bhaktapur has a distinctly different form of Nepal Bhasa language.

Bhaktapur has the best-preserved palace courtyards and old city center in Nepal and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 AD for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone artworks.

The city is famous for a special type of curd (yogurt) called “Ju Ju(king) dhau(curd) and Bhadgaunle Topi (black hat).

Bhaktapur Location map:

Photo credit: ImagePasal.com