Bhaktapur: Ponds, Squares and Festival Culture

Bhaktapur can be explored through very different places and traditions: the large rectangular Siddha Pokhari from the Licchavi period, squares with their own histories, pottery, and festivals. The Changu Narayan Temple, located on a ridge overlooking Bhaktapur, is also nearby. As you plan your trip, consider whether you are particularly interested in the city’s landmarks, crafts, historical connections, or a festival period—and tailor your search for a holiday apartment to these priorities.

Pond, Ridge and Squares

Siddha Pokhari is a large rectangular pond from the Licchavi period. Its clear geometric shape makes it a distinctive place within Bhaktapur. Changu Narayan Temple offers a different sense of place: it is near the destination, on a ridge from which the view opens out over Bhaktapur. If you enjoy taking a close look at individual places, you can use these contrasts as a guide—here, the rectangular pond in town; there, the temple on the ridge overlooking the city.

The squares also each have their own character. Dattatraya Square is the oldest of Bhaktapur’s four squares. The Woodcarving Museum is located at Dattatreya Square in the former Pujari Math; Durbar Square is a ten-minute walk from there. These details help distinguish the places without requiring you to combine them into a set walking route.

Pottery and the Museum

Pottery Square is a square where many pottery-making activities take place. At pottery training centers on Pottery Square, you can learn pottery for a fee and make your own items, such as cups. This offers a different way to experience the area from visiting the pond, squares, or museum: here, the focus is on hands-on craftwork. Check before your visit whether pottery sessions are available on your dates.

The Woodcarving Museum offers another cultural attraction in the former Pujari Math at Dattatreya Square. Together with the information that Durbar Square is a ten-minute walk away, this provides a practical guide between two named places. Dattatraya Square, meanwhile, stands out as the oldest of Bhaktapur’s four squares. If you are traveling with people who have different interests, you can discuss in advance whether the museum, the squares, or trying your hand at pottery should take priority.

Festival Routes and Travel Dates

The traditional Gai Jatra procession follows the ceremonial route known as Pradakshina Patha around Bhaktapur. Among other places, it passes Taumadhi Square, Pottery Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Dattatraya Square. Gai Jatra is also a festival at which people can joke about social issues. The route and the satirical character offer different insights into the festival tradition: one describes where the procession goes, the other the kind of humor associated with the festival.

Biska Jatra is celebrated in Bhaktapur in mid-April and lasts eight nights and nine days. The exact festival dates vary, so check the dates for your travel period in advance. This is a different planning consideration from visiting a museum, pond, or pottery training center: what matters here is whether your trip coincides with the festival. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore also weigh up whether you would like to experience Bhaktapur outside a festival or specifically in connection with these traditions.

Choosing the Right Priorities for Your Holiday Apartment

The places and experiences mentioned here represent different ways to get to know Bhaktapur: Siddha Pokhari as a large rectangular pond, the squares and museum as cultural stops, pottery as a hands-on activity, and Gai Jatra and Biska Jatra as festival traditions. For families or groups with different interests, it helps not to treat these priorities as interchangeable activities. Consider whether your trip should focus more on cultural sites, hands-on crafts, or a particular festival period.

With these priorities in mind, you can compare the locations of available holiday apartments more closely with your own plans. First consider which of the experiences mentioned is most important to your stay; then compare the options based on their respective location descriptions.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Madhyapur Thimi, Lalitpur, Panauti, Thaiba, Kathmandu, Budhanilkantha, Sankhu, Bungamati.

For the main travel overview: Bagmati.