Nepal: The UNESCO World Heritage City of Bhaktapur

What’s your favorite trip this year?

Our trip to Nepal especially in Bhaktapur, that moment when we’re at the rooftop of this restaurant and just gazed at the Himalayas and we were drinking and…

*Just nodding*

That conversation happened just days ago. It’s been months after our Nepal adventure but the memory still lingers. Southeast Asia was my comfort zone for like forever and experiencing a world beyond your orbit is truly gripping.

Me and my buddy have been in Nepal for seven days and experiencing the craziness of Kathmandu and the somberness of Dhulikhel made us hanker for something more. There’s this air of thrill when exploring around Nepal, you wouldn’t know what to expect every time.

Bhaktapur is like a location or set of a huge TV series. It’s as if it imitated life somewhere. It’s dreamlike. It is not real.

Hotel reservations at Shiva Guesthouse and Thagu Chhen Boutique Hotel were arranged beforehand. We shelled out 1,500 Rupees (US$ 15) each for a 7-day pass inside Bhaktapur’s Durbar Square (you can extend it up to 15 days).

We’ve got the best view from our Shiva Guesthouse room and we settled effortlessly. With just a little more time before dusk, we looked for the perfect spot to hang around that afternoon.

Golden Gate Guesthouse is just a few meters away from our guesthouse. We went in its dungeon-like entrance and asked the staff on their rooftop restaurant. We were ushered to the topmost level and fell in love instantly by the scene from that viewpoint. The Himalayas on the north and the lush hills on the south were too awesome. Plus the view of the temples and courts inside Bhaktapur’s Durbar Square was just so great. And to top it all, they serve beers on their rooftop restaurant.

We got some Everest beers and spent the rest of the afternoon just enjoying the cool breeze of Bhaktapur. We waited for the sunset that left us speechless for a few minutes. We boozed up all the way till nighttime and dragged ourselves back to our guesthouse which happens to be the most happening place in town at night for boozing up and chitchatting. We’re too drunk tired to check out what’s happening so we went up to our chamber and snoozed instantly.

SMB baby!

Gorgeous sunset

We started the day early and were so thrilled to go out and check out the huge Durbar Square. The place was deserted and early morning scenes of the locals captivated us that we needed to rest for a while somewhere to have some coffee and just chill.

The early morning haze and chilly air added to this mystifying vibe of the place. We didn’t have a definite plan on where-to-go and what-to-do and haven’t even dug up into the historical significance of the place. We were just there, getting lost and strolled lazily on alleys heading to nowhere. Wherever our feet and hearts led us, we went willingly.

Bhaktapur’s Durbar Square is truly fascinating with everything that’s happening inside. I specially loved those moments when we got lost and ended up hanging around with some locals. And those times when we lazily lounge on top of the shrines and just observe people. 

The chariot used in Bisket Jatra Festival in Bhaktapur

Community effort in dismantling the chariot

Pottery Square

I find it hard to write about a place I truly love. Words and images are not enough to truly capture the essence of that certain place. Bhaktapur is one of those; it has this enchanting feel to it that truly captivated us. 

Check Check here for discounted Bhaktapur accommodations

(check here for discounted tours in Kathmandu)