This is the story of Bhaktapur.
Most people I know, love this small, cultural town.
I have always loved it for its timelessness. It seems to change yet be like what it always has been. It is the perfect little hideaway after the mad life of Kathmandu for me.
But, it hides some secrets.
And, in this video, I’ll tell you all about the reasons why you should ‘NEVER, EVER VISIT BHAKTAPUR’.
Video from Mannsi Agrawal
Visit her youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnev0J1DpakfwW0szHbqujA
Let’s try to catch her with each word, following the whole script of the video.
“4 reasons to never, ever visit Bhaktapur
This is an old city.
This is a beautiful city.
This is an artistic city.
This is the sweetest city.
This is the city of devotees.
This is Bhaktapur.
And today, I am going to tell you four reasons to never, ever visit Bhaktapur.
When I came to Nepal for the first time, forty than a half year ago, the first place my husband took me to was Nagarkot. And on the way, we stopped over at Bhaktapur. And, when I came here for the first time, I fell in love, real love, true love, deep love.
You see, Bhaktapur is one of the most glorious places in Nepal. It is a small town around 13 kilometers from the center of Kathmandu, within the Kathmandu Valley. And, today I am gonna tell you all about it.
It was the largest of the three Newar kingdoms of the Valley. And, also the capital of Nepal until the mid 15th century. It has the best-preserved courtyards and the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is famous all over the world for its rich stonework, artworks, and metal sculptures. It is also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
But today, I am gonna tell you some of the reasons, you should never, ever visit this place.
Architecture
The city itself was built in the 12th century and the Bhaktapur Durbar Square has many statues, palaces, and monoliths, all starting from the 15th century onwards. The square itself is a charming compound consisting of the 55 window palace with its golden gate, the Vatsala temple, statue of Bhupatindra Malla, Nyatapola temple, Bhairavnath temple among many others.
Being here is like being in a painting, or being in a movie set. Every corner, every street, every pillar is so beautiful and so full of life and energy although it was built so so long ago. But, this, this is the exact reason why you should never ever visit Bhaktapur.
You see, it’s just too beautiful. You want to take it all in, you want to soak it all in. Your eyes are being dazzled by the beauty. Your neck is going to be hurt because you want to look at everything all around. And your feet, well, even if you are tired, your feet will not want to stop. Because you want to discover every look and cranny and corner of this beautiful, completely out of the world place.
So, If you have a free day, and if you don’t want to get tired, walking around, seeing things, and taking all the beauty in, never, ever visit Bhaktapur.
Old World Charm
The town of Bhaktapur was made centuries ago. So many of the old streets still have that old-world charm. They are preserved in the way they were made many many many years ago. When you walk in through these cities, you will be very very pleased to find Aakhijhyal, a beautifully carved ornate window, you will see old ladies sitting and basking in the sun.
Walking through these cobbled meandering streets is almost like walking into a time machine. It’s all so well preserved. It really gives you a good glimpse of how life was lived many many years ago. Pure, simple, and easy.
But you, don’t you like your big modern skyscrapers? Don’t you like all the beauty that the modern world brings? Well, If you like everything that’s modern, if you like everything that’s glitzy and glamorous, never, ever visit Bhaktapur. Because visiting Bhaktapur is like going back into a time machine, going back into the simpler and more beautiful days that our ancestors had the privilege of living in.
So, if you want the modern world, never, ever visit Bhaktapur.
Art
Each corner of this city feels like an art museum. Its artiges are masters at metal works, stonework, woodwork, pottery, and even painting. I have personally got a chance to visit the lama thanka painting school at Bhaktapur. When I visited here, I realize that all of these people create these works of magic. Somehow, it seems like they have been specially blessed by their ancestors. When I came here, I too was tempted to try a paint some. And that’s exactly what I did.
However, once I started painting, I realized that my artistic abilities in no way can match up to the wonderful work that these people create. So, if you too, just like me don’t want to feel terrible about your own artistic abilities, Please, please, never visit Bhaktapur. Because the people here are master artiges and they will make you if you are anything like me, feel really embarrassed about your own skills.
Juju Dhau
Number 4, JuJu Dhau
My videos are never complete without food, are they? Well, not just mine, no video of Bhaktapur can ever be complete without the mention of JuJu Dhau. JUJU dhau is the perfect yogurt. It’s translated as the king’s curd. JUJU dhau is served in earthen pots. It’s not too sweet, it’s not too savory it’s just right. JUJU Dhau is beautiful and especially on a hot summer day, if you have a spoon full of JUJU Dhau, it can completely change your mood. But, here is a fun fact. The real original JUJU Dhau is only available in Bhaktapur. So, once you come here that taste may linger in your mouth for many, many, many days.
So, if you don’t want to miss the taste of JUJU Dhau, after you’ve gone away from Bhaktapur, never, ever, visit Bhaktapur. So, if you don’t want to get tired of seeing all this beauty if you don’t want to miss your modern skyscrapers, if you don’t want to feel like you have zero artistic ability and if you don’t want to miss the taste of the most beautiful yogurt ever,
Never, ever visit Bhaktapur.
Jojolapha…”
