Bhaktapur Durbar Square
UNESCO World Heritage royal square in Bhaktapur's old town, home to the 55-Window Palace, the Golden Gate and the towering Nyatapola Temple nearby — the best-preserved of the valley's three Durbar Squares.
About this spot
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the former royal palace complex of the Malla kings, who ruled the independent Kingdom of Bhaktapur until the Gorkhali conquest in 1769. A UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 1979), it is widely considered the most atmospheric and best-preserved of the Kathmandu Valley's three Durbar Squares, with intricately carved Newar architecture set in a largely traffic-free old town. Highlights include the Golden Gate (Lion's Gate), the elegant 55-Window Palace commissioned by Bhupatindra Malla and completed in 1708, the stone Vatsala Temple, and the iconic five-tiered Nyatapola Temple in nearby Taumadhi Square.
Visitors wander between temples, courtyards and statues, watch artisans at the famous Pottery Square shape clay on traditional wheels, and sample local specialties like juju dhau (king curd). The wider protected old town rewards slow exploration on foot over a half to full day.
The entry ticket covers the entire historic core, not just the square. As of 17 July 2025 the foreigner fee is NPR 2,000 (about USD 15); SAARC nationals pay NPR 500 and Nepali citizens enter free; the fee funds ongoing heritage conservation. Early morning offers the calmest atmosphere and best photography light, and the dry October-to-March season gives the clearest views.
Why it's worth it: rated 4.6★ on Google Maps (23,390+ reviews).
Location
Durbar Square, central Bhaktapur old town, BhaktapurBhaktapur Durbar Square, Bhaktapur 44800, Nepal
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