Wood carving museum, you can find this well-garnished architecture on the left side of the Dattatraya temple. At once, it used to be the pujari math of Tachupal Chowk but now it is considered one of the significant museums of Bhaktapur.
Just accessing through the main door and reaching the inner yard would leave you with a big wonderment. But yes, before reaching there, you need to show your yellow-colored ticket to the guards of the museum.
If you already have visited the National Art Museum of Bhaktapur Durbar Square or the Brass and Bronze Museum, then you don’t need to buy another one here. The same ticket works for you.
The rich wood carvings start to appear as soon as you step into the wood carving museum. The windows of the following floors, the struts, and the wooden pillars, make us realize that yes, we are in the woodcarving museum.
In the straight corner, there is a mask of Jayamal often called Jaya or Jai. He was a far-famed wrestler of the Malla era.
In front of it, there is a stairway that leads you to the very top and the third floor of the building.
*On the museum’s first floor, there is a room filled with wall paintings. But nevertheless, you might not call it actually a wall painting because the paintings are painted on a wooden platform that is attached to the room’s walls.
There are paintings depicting the Ramayana and Krishna Leela stories. On the beam, there are paintings of Nava Durgas (Astamatrika), Lord Vishnu’s Dasa Avatar. The room is literally filled with paintings, as there are paintings even on the ceilings.
Now, coming back to the third floor, you will find some of the most exquisite pieces of wooden art over there.
The museum is like a paradise for art admirers and practitioners. There are several statues made in the woods which consist of the statue of Bhairava, Vishnu, Buddha, Nitya Devi, Tara, Bhrikuti, Ganesha, Shiva, and many others.
The most satisfying part of being in the museum is that you can take pictures of these centuries-old crafts.
With the statues, there are torans, wooden pillars, and even boxes (safes) of different eras.
Besides these things, there is one unique thing that indeed is quite different from the ancient newa culture. A tiny window made out of brick, not the woods.
There might be some sort of story behind outputting such a window. Yet, there is one more thing that not only surprises you but also startled you.
After entering the third floor of the museum, you will find a small room on your left-hand side. It mentions that there is a statue of Bhairava with shakti (shakti means his consort) and some wall paintings.
Even after keeping that thing in your mind before entering over there, you would probably get startled. So, keep calm and enjoy what’s inside there.
The building of the current wood carving museum, which initially came into existence during the reign of King Yakshya Malla with the most epigraphic temple of Bhaktapur, The Dattatreya Temple.
After the blessing of King Yakshya Malla, it was rebuilt in 1763. And again renovated by German experts as the wedding gift to the then King Birendra in 1979.
The peacock window, being the most alluring woodcraft from the 15th century, even today made us come for it. You have to leave the museum to go look for the window because the window is placed on the eastern side of the building. A narrow street facing south (next to the museum) leads to this masterpiece.
The museum, of course, with the dark rooms and brazen woodcraft, showcases the then wood carvings. Nearby, there are some mini souvenir shops with miniature wooden peacock windows. And the brass and bronze museum to share the ticket, for instance.
Besides, there are different cafes and restaurants along with a small old shop, on the left corner of the Dattatraya temple.
However, the earthquake of 2015 made the museum quite terrible. But, it’s worthy enough to widen your eyes for the classics.
The woodcarving museum is basically famous for displaying exquisite woodcarvings of the Malla era and possibly elder than that.
This woodcarving museum is located at Dattatraya Square, right opposite the Brass and Bronze Museum and behind the Dattatraya temple.
Actually yes, the world-famous peacock window is a part of the woodcarving museum. You can witness the window on the eastern part of the building.
Well, one can witness the exceptionally beautiful examples of woodcarvings in there. Besides, there is this wooden image of Bhairava with his Shakti, which is so beautifully carved and then there is a small window made out of brick powder or something, that really outstands over there.
Yes, it is. In fact, it is called pujari matha by locals rather than the woodcarving museum.
If you have already bought a ticket either to National Art Museum or the Brass and Bronze Museum, then you do not have to buy tickets to enter here. And, if you haven’t bought one, then you must pay Rs. 150, Rs. 50 and Rs. 25, if you are Non-SAARC Nationals plus Chinese, SAARC Nationals and Nepalese respectively.
Yes, you can. However, if you have heavy equipment for shooting or bringing out the camera, then you have to pay extra charges over there.
Indeed, there are. There are actually plenty of cafes and restaurants, convenient for all kinds of visitors. And, they kinda give you the typical newari vibes.
Dattatreya Square, Bhaktapur Municipality, Bhaktapur District, Nepal.
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