Bhaktapur is located in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley. It is the smallest and most densely populated city in Nepal. It is predominantly Hindu. Its origin is from the 12th century and the medieval buildings and sculptures make up the best collection of Nepalese medieval art in the country.. It was very heavily damaged in the earthquake, and so many buildings are still in ruins.
The center of the city, which is restricted to pedestrians, is a World Heritage site and must be rebuilt as it was—a medieval city. It was depressing to see women and children sitting among the rubble, having lived in those conditions for six years and will live for many more. This area is full of squares and temples, both Hindu and Buddhist, and stunning wooden architecture. We saw street vendors, pottery makers wood craftsmen.
The Nantahala temple, a five-storied pagoda completed in 1702, is the tallest temple of Nepal. As you can see it is under reconstruction.
The palace with 55 windows, completed in 1754, is one of the most iconic palaces of the square
These two main buildings are must-sees. But there is so much more in the square.
From these images, you can see the temples and some of the destructions.
Another thing that was interesting to see were the craftsmen working outdoors. Here is a potter and the pots he had for sale.
While I was shocked at the devastation that remained five years after the earthquake, the beauty and serenity of the people amazed me.
Nagarkot
After our visit in Bhaktapur, our driver took us up to the Village of Nagarkot to our “mountain” hotel (Hotel Country Villa) for the night. The hotel sits at 7,201 ft with a magnificent view of the Kathmandu Valley and Himalayas. , Even though it was cloudy and we couldn’t see as far as on a clear day, it was lovely. The drive was incredible, hardly two lanes, dirt road, many potholes, and a rise in elevation of 3,000 ft. in about 10 miles. But our driver was excellent. I would never have attempted it. This is one of the most scenic spots in the Bhaktapur District. On a clear day you can see the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest (which we had just flown by).
Nagarkot was an ancient fort overlooking the Kathmandu valley, built monitor invasions from other groups. We stayed at the Hotel Country Villa. The hotel’s motto is “Enjoy Nature in Luxury.” Surrounded by nature, it was truly a luxurious break from the more rustic inns we had been staying in. Though it seemed large in comparison, to the others, it was a family-run inn. At dinner that night our waiter, Binod, took an interest in us. His English was fairly good, so we had a nice conversation. He and his family live nearby and hope one day to open their own inn. He was as interested in our lives as we were in his. We have become Facebook friends and have enjoyed seeing his family grow. He waited on us again at breakfast before we left.
The view of Kathmandu Valley from our patio. The Himalayas are in the distance, clouded in. You can see the pathways to different sections of the resort.
Above: One wing of the hotel. It was perched into the side of the mountain. It stretched around the hill and was on different levels.
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