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Bhaktapur, situated at an altitude of 1401 meters, is a home of medieval art and architecture. The urban city covers an area of 4 square miles. Shaped like a conch shell, Bhaktapur means “the city of devotees”. Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries. The city lies about 14 kilometers east of Kathmandu and can be reached by public transport and by trolly buses. The major sightseeing places in Bhaktapur include: Durbar Square: The main square of the city contains innumerable temples and other architectural showpieces like: the Lion Gate, a statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, a picture Gallery, the Golden Gate, the palace of 55 Windows, the Batsala Temple, the Bell of Barking Dogs, and a replica of Pashupatinath Temple.
The Lion Gate which was built during the region of King Bhupatindra Malla is adorned with stone figures of Hanuman, Bhairav, and Narasingh Narayan. A statue of the Malla King in the act of worship is placed on a column facing the palace. Of the many statues in Nepal, this is considered to be the most magnificient. The Picture Gallery contains ancient paintings belonging to Hindu and Buddhist schools of Tantrism of various periods and description. The Golden Gate is the entrance to the main courtyard and the palace of 55 windows. It was built by King Ranjit Malla and is one of the most beautiful and richly carved specimens of its kind showing the Goddess Kali and Garuda, the winged carrier of Lord Vishnu. This gate is embellished with monsters of marvelous intricacy. The Palace of 55 Windows was built in the Seventeenth century by King Bhupatindra Malla. Among the brick walls, with their gracious setting and sculptural design, is a balcony is a masterpiece of wood carvinig. The stone temple of Batsala Devi, which is also located in the Durbar Square, is full of intricate carvings. This temple is also shows a beautiful example of Shikhara style architecture in Nepal. There is a bronze bell on the terrace of the temple which is also known as the “bell of barking dogs.” When it peals, the local dogs start barking. This bell, placed in 1737 A.D. by King Ranjit Malla, was used to sound curfew during his reign. The bell is rung every morning while worshipping the Goddess Taleju. Nyatapola Temple: This five storeyed pagoda was built in 1702 A.D. by King Bhupatindra Malla. It stands on a five storey terraced platform. On each of the terraces there is squat pairs of figures; two famous wrestlers, two elephants, two lions, two griffins, and Baghini and Singhini, the tiger and the lion goddesses. Each pair of figures is considered ten times stronger than the ones immediately below, while the lowest pair, the two strong men, Jaya Malla and Fatteh Malla, were reputedly ten times stronger than any other men. This is one of the tallest pagodas and is famous for its massive structure and suble workmanship. The temple was built for Goddess Laxmi. Bhairavnath Temple This temple was first built as o one-storey pagoda during the reign of King Jagat Jyoti Malla, and later changed into a three storeyed temple in 1718 A.D. by king Bhupatindra Malla. The temple is noted for its artistic grandeur. It is decided to Lord Bhairav, the god of Terror. Dattatraya Temple This temple is said to have been built from the trunk of a single tree. It was built in 1427 A.D. during the reign of King Yakchhya Malla and was repaired in 1458 A.D. by King Bishowr Malla. Pujari Math Near the Dattatraya temple is a monastry with carved peacock windows. This monastry was built by king Yakchhya Malla and later renovatd by priest Ram Dutt Giri. Surya Vinayak This is a shrine of Ganesh, the elephant-headed God, situated in the beautiful surroundings of Bhadgoan, places in a sylvan settting to catch the first rays of the rising sun. The view of the city of Bhaktapur is seen from here with snow-capped peaks in the back-ground. Nestled in a thick forest, it is good picnic spot flanked by many attractive landscapes. It is easily accessible by trolley bus. Changu Narayan Located at the end of a long ridge, which runs well into the Valley, this temple is said to be have been build in 323 A.D. by King Hari Dutta Verma. The temple is richly decorated with sculptures and carvings. It is said to be the oldest temple in the valley. Situated about 153 meters above the level of Kathmandu Valley, it affords a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. An all-weather motorable road connects it with Bhaktapur city. Nagarkot Nagarkot is a popular tourist resort. It is located 32 kilometeres east of Kathmandu at an altitude of 2175 meters sea level. A panorama of the major peaks of the eastern Nepal Himalayas, including Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), can be seen from here. Himalayan peaks like Manaslu (8463), Ganesh Himal (7111), Langan (7246), Choba Bhamre (6016) and Gaurisanker (7134) are also clearly seen from Nagarkot with Bhaktapur.
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