Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the magnificent centerpiece of one of Nepal's most important and best-preserved World Heritage Sites. In its golden age between the 14th and 16th centuries, Bhaktapur was the most powerful kingdom in the Kathmandu Valley and served as its capital for 300 years.

Despite earthquakes and reconstructions over the centuries, the city retains an authentic medieval character found nowhere else in Nepal. The square is part of three vast interlocking plazas filled with shrines, temples, and living culture.

The surrounding neighborhoods remain caste-oriented and centered around ancient ponds and water tanks (tongue) — built centuries ago for drinking, washing, and religious ceremonies — which continue as important social hubs today.

Local people are predominantly farmers or skilled craftspeople, keeping alive the traditional arts of pottery, metalwork, woodcarving, and painting that have sustained the city since its founding in the 12th century as a key stopover on the trade route between Tibet and India.

Highlights of Bhaktapur Durbar Square include the spectacular Nyatapola Temple — Nepal's tallest pagoda at over 30 metres — the intricately carved Palace of 55 Windows with its famed Golden Gate, the Dattatreya Temple said to be built from a single tree, and the ancient Siddha Pokhari pond. A fascinating and endlessly rewarding place to explore!

Take time to enjoy lunch at one of Bhaktapur's many excellent local eateries. Don't miss trying the town's famous Juju Dhau — the 'King of Yoghurt' — a sweet, creamy curd served in traditional clay pots, unique to Bhaktapur.

Once a thriving commercial town on the medieval trade routes, Panauti today is a calm, beautifully preserved backwater and one of Nepal's most charming and least-visited destinations. The town sits at the sacred confluence of three rivers — Brahmayani, Roshi, and Punyabati — from which it derives its name (from the holy river Punyabati).

Wander through streets lined with intact traditional architecture, restored Rana-era mansions, and an array of ancient stupas, stone sculptures, and temples adorned with exquisite woodcarvings. The surrounding landscape is equally compelling — terraced rice paddies reveal an agricultural way of life that has changed little over centuries.

Local life revolves around farming and metalwork, and the town calendar is marked by vibrant festivals including the grand 12-year Makara Mela, Swosthani Purnima, and Shivaratri.

The crown jewel of Panauti is the Indreshwor Mahadev Temple (12th–13th century) — a superb three-storeyed pagoda dedicated to Lord Shiva, set on a single-plinth base with three grand entrance gates and six tundals (roof struts). It is one of the finest surviving examples of medieval Newari temple architecture in Nepal.

Your visit also includes a special Community Homestay experience, where you'll have the rare opportunity to meet with local entrepreneurs, gain an authentic insight into daily Panauti life, and engage directly with the people who are shaping this community's future.