Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the center of Bhaktapur city. Bhaktapur Durbar Square was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Bhaktapur Durbar Square has a larger area than Kathmandu Durbar Square and less crowded than Patan Durbar Square. The devastating earthquake of 1934 is believed to have destroyed many temples and buildings in Bhaktapur Durbar Square. There is a ticket office at the western end of Durbar Square where foreigners and SAARC citizens must pay an entrance fee to Bhaktapur.
Estates
Bhaktapur Durbar Square has one of the best collections of the best medieval arts in Nepal. There are many beautiful temples, palaces and buildings in Bhaktapur Durbar Square which are examples of superb architecture. These include The Lion Gate, The Golden Gate, The Palace of 55 Windows, Bhupatindra Malla Statue, Nyatopola Temple, Vatsala Temple, Dattatraya Temple, Art Gallery, Pujari Math, Bhairav Temple Nath, the Shiva Parvati temple and the Pashupatinath. Temple. Dattatreya Temple, built by King Yaksha Malla, is the oldest temple structure in Bhaktapur’s Durbar Square.
temples
The Lions Gate was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in the 17th century. The Lions Gate is guarded on each side by huge lion statues and by two stone statues of Lord Bhairab and Goddess Ugrachandi. It is said that the sculptor who made these statues had his hands cut off so that he could not duplicate these masterpieces. The Golden Temple, which was built by King Ranjit Malla, has an image of Goddess Kali and Garuda (the mythical bird man) on top. It is adorned with various mythical creatures and nymphs with marvelous intricacy. The Golden Gate is also the entrance to the Palace of 55 Windows and the Taleju Temple. A group of four temples at the western end of Durbar Square, namely the Rameshwar Temple, the Badri Temple, the Krishna Temple and the Shiva Temple, are known as the Char Dham– four holy places.
The Pashupatinath Temple in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, also known as the Yaksheswor Mahadev Temple, is a replica of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Legend has it that a king of Bhaktapur had a dream in which Lord Shiva asked him to build a temple for him. The king obeyed the order of Lord Shiva and built the Pashupatinath Temple. The Nyatopola temple in Bhaktapur is 5 stories high and 30 meters high. The Nyatopola Temple, dedicated to the goddess Siddhilaxmi, is one of the best examples of traditional Nepalese architecture. In Newari, Nyatopole refers to the 5 basic elements: water, wind, fire, earth and sky.
palaces
The Palace of 55 Windows was built by King Yaksha Malla in 1427 AD The Palace of 55 Windows has a balcony of 55 windows and is considered a unique masterpiece of wood carving. The palace was remodeled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the 17th century.
The Royal Palace of Bhakapur was built by King Yaksha Malla and was enlarged by many kings. The western end of the palace has been converted into an art gallery. The Art Gallery has a display of Hindu and Buddhist paintings, paubha (paintings on cloth), and handicrafts in metal, stone, and wood. The Art Gallery is open every day except Tuesdays. Vatsala Temple in Bhaktapur, which was built by King Jagat Prakash Malla, is a beautiful Shikhara-style temple. This temple which is dedicated to the mother Goddess bears a strong resemblance to the Krishna Mandir in Patan.