Day 3: Exploring the ancient city of Bhaktapur, Nepal

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Today, on July 11th, 2022, I am updating our journey of exploring the city of Bhaktapur in Nepal.

Watching the sunrise behind the Himalayas in Nagarkot

This morning, we woke up early to watch the light behind the Himalayas at the Everest Manla Resort in Nagarkot.

After that, the hotel served breakfast with a choice from the menu. Since Hoang Cuong is in Nepal, I chose the Indian curry rice (there were no Nepali dishes on the breakfast menu), while my wife opted for the American-style breakfast (as listed on the menu).

From Nargakot back to Bhaktapur

After breakfast, the driver from yesterday came back to pick us up from the resort to take us to Bhaktapur for a price of 1800 Rs (approximately 330,000 VND). Most of the journey was downhill, with poor road conditions, sharp turns, and potholes. The way up and down were similar, only the direction of traffic was different. In my Nagarkot review yesterday, I shared a video of the entire journey.

Around 11:30 AM, we arrived in Bhaktapur. On the way back, some people at the city gate stopped our taxi and demanded a fee for foreigners to enter the city (15 USD per person for a 10-day pass). I read many reviews online and found this fee unreasonable, so we did not pay. The driver understood our situation and helped us avoid the fee by taking a different route to the hotel without additional charges.

Note: There are two types of hotels in Bhaktapur, those located inside Bhaktapur Durbar Square and those outside. You should choose the ones to avoid the 15 USD per person fee. The inside and outside options are only about 200 meters apart, and their prices are similar.

Exploring the ancient city of Bhaktapur – Bhaktapur Durbar Square

There are several entrances to Bhaktapur Durbar Square from different directions. However, the doors with archways have guards and charge entrance fees.

We stayed at Shiva Guest House 2, with a direct booking price of 2000 Rs (approximately 370,000 VND). The room is at the square’s entrance, featuring two single beds, a bathroom, a table, chairs, and hot water. There is no air conditioning or breakfast included.

The advantages of this hotel are its kind and English-speaking owner, affordable price, excellent location, strong Wi-Fi, and beautiful view from the outside.

Upon arriving at the hotel, I had to upload videos immediately since my computer ran out of storage. The internet connection was slow, so I needed a faster upload speed. My wife took a nap as she felt a bit car sick from the downhill journey, and I also fell asleep soon after.

Around 2 PM, we both ventured out to explore Bhaktapur Durbar Square and the streets of Bhaktapur.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our experience exploring the ancient city of Bhaktapur and the enchanting Bhaktapur Durbar Square was truly memorable. The rich history, captivating architecture, and welcoming locals made our visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site an unforgettable part of our Nepal journey. Despite a few challenges with transportation and entrance fees, the beauty and charm of Bhaktapur made it all worthwhile. We highly recommend adding Bhaktapur to your travel itinerary when visiting Nepal, as it offers a unique and authentic glimpse into the country’s past and vibrant culture.