Bhaktapur Durbar Square
A medieval royal square filled with temples, carved windows and courtyards, including the Palace of 55 Windows. Its brick lanes and pottery squares make Bhaktapur feel like a living museum.
Bhaktapur
Close to Kathmandu, this well-kept medieval town is known for pottery squares, wood carving, brick temples and local yoghurt.
Attractive locations
Nyatapola Temple
A tall five-storey pagoda temple on a stepped base, guarded by stone figures at each level. It is the best-known temple in Bhaktapur and a landmark on Taumadhi Square.
Changu Narayan Temple
A very old Hindu temple to Vishnu on a hilltop east of the town, known for its detailed stone and metal carvings. A short walk or drive from Bhaktapur, with rural views.
Suryavinayak Temple
A temple to the elephant-headed god Ganesh, set in a wooded area south of the town. It is visited by worshippers and by travellers looking for a quieter spot near the old city.
Pujarimath Museum
A historic monastery building with finely carved windows, now home to a woodcarving museum. It shows the skill of Newar carvers, who created much of the decoration seen around the town.
Nagarkot
A hilltop village east of the Kathmandu Valley known for sunrise views of the Himalaya. Walking trails and viewpoints make it a popular overnight trip.
Airports
Tribhuvan International Airport KTM
It is about 7 km in a straight line from Bhaktapur.
Simara Airport SIF
It is about 72 km in a straight line from Bhaktapur.
Janakpur Airport JKR
It is about 118 km in a straight line from Bhaktapur.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan11.1 °C10 mm
- Feb13.8 °C17 mm
- Mar18.1 °C21 mm
- Apr22.4 °C37 mm
- May24.2 °C89 mm
- Jun24.8 °C170 mm
- Jul23.3 °C280 mm
- Aug22.8 °C238 mm
- Sep21.6 °C169 mm
- Oct19.0 °C45 mm
- Nov15.5 °C3 mm
- Dec12.3 °C5 mm
Driest months: Jan, Nov, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 24% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 100. Fire 101. Ambulance 102. (Confirm with your hotel or guide on arrival.)
local government
Tourist Police (Nepal Police)
Helps with: A special unit of Nepal Police to prevent harassment and crime against tourists. It takes complaints, helps recover lost documents, and liaises with embassies. Its page says it operates 24/7 in Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara.
Who qualifies: Tourists in Nepal, mainly around Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and other tourist areas where it has units.
Phone: 1144
Email: policetourist@nepalpolice.gov.np
Address: Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, Nepal (inside the Nepal Tourism Board premises)
local government
Nepal Tourism Board
Helps with: Nepal's national tourism body. Contact its Kathmandu office for visitor information. It also publishes official updates and the tourist police information page.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Nepal or planning a trip there.
Phone: +977 1 5356909
Email: info@ntb.org.np
Address: Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, P.O. Box 11018
ngo
Nepal Red Cross Society
Helps with: Nepal's national Red Cross society. Its website reports its flood, monsoon and earthquake relief work and invites volunteers and members. Contact its national headquarters in Kalimati.
Who qualifies: People in Nepal affected by disasters or needing its humanitarian services.
Phone: +977-1-5370650
Email: info@nrcs.org
Address: Redcross Marg, Kalimati, Post Box 217
local government
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA)
Helps with: Nepal's national disaster agency, which coordinates search, rescue and relief and publishes situation reports on floods and other disasters.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Nepal affected by a disaster or seeking official disaster information.
Phone: +977-01-4211195
Email: info@bipad.gov.np
Address: Singhadurbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Nepal
Helps with: The UN migration agency, in Nepal since 2006. It supports flood response, displacement tracking and migrant services. Its contact page offers an online form.
Who qualifies: Migrants and people affected by displacement. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Address: Lazimpat Sadak, Panipokhari, Ward-3, Kathmandu, Nepal, PO Box 25503
local government
Police emergency number 100
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 100
local government
Ambulance emergency number 102
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 102
local government
Fire emergency number 101
Helps with: Reaches the fire service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 101