Outside the main Durbar Sq entrance gate is this little piece of architectural whimsy on the roof of the small Shiva Parvati Temple. Giving graphic representation to the lyrics ‘birds do it, bees do it…’, the temple roof struts feature camels, cows, armadillos and even elephants engaged in the act of making sweet love. Missionary style!
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
5.2 MILES
The first stupa at Boudhanath was built sometime after AD 600, when the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, converted to Buddhism. In terms of grace and purity…
8.85 MILES
The Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the crowning glories of Kathmandu Valley architecture. This perfectly proportioned monument rises through a whitewashed…
7.61 MILES
Kathmandu's royal palace, known as the Hanuman Dhoka, was originally founded during the Licchavi period (4th to 8th centuries AD), but the compound was…
6.25 MILES
This unique Buddhist monastery is just north of Durbar Sq. It was allegedly founded in the 12th century, and it has existed in its current form since 1409…
0.12 MILES
The magnificent Golden Gate is a visual highlight of Durbar Sq. Set into a bright red gatehouse surrounded by white palace walls, the fabulous golden…
7.62 MILES
The long, rectangular courtyard of the Itum Bahal is the largest bahal (Buddhist monastery courtyard) in the old town and remains a haven of tranquillity…
0.19 MILES
You should be able to see the sky-high rooftop of the Nyatapola Temple long before you reach Taumadhi Tole. With five storeys towering 30m above the…
7.43 MILES
The beautifully restored Swapna Bagaicha (Garden of Dreams) remains one of the most serene and beautiful enclaves in Kathmandu. It's two minutes' walk and…
Nearby Bhaktapur attractions
0.01 MILES
With a plinth similar to Nyatapola Temple, this much smaller version also features pairs of statues of elephants, lions, bulls and the wrestlers Jayamel…
0.04 MILES
Buy your ticket to the left of the arched city gate and show it to the guard as you enter the Durbar Sq.
0.05 MILES
This small temple is topped by an ornate dome held up by four pillars.
0.06 MILES
The Badrinath Temple is sacred to Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayan.
5. Ugrachandi & Bhairab Statues
0.06 MILES
As you enter Durbar Sq through the western gate, look left to a gateway flanked by two stocky stone lions, erected by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1701. On…
0.07 MILES
Standing at the western end of Durbar Sq, the four Char Dham temples were constructed to provide spiritual merit for pilgrims who were unable to make the…
0.07 MILES
This two-tiered temple features different incarnations of Vishnu on the ceiling struts and a statue of Garuda on the pillar at the entrance.
0.08 MILES
Just outside Durbar Sq, head down the path near the hiti that leads down the stairs to this atmospheric Kali temple that was built around a gnarled pipal…