Category: Nepal

The City of Devotees, Bhaktapur, in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

On By Isobar ExpeditionsIn NepalLeave a comment

During our first full day in Kathmandu, we took a tour just outside of the city to visit the temples of Bhaktapur. Like many of the locations that we visited throughout the Kathmandu Valley, there was evidence of the devastating earthquake of 2015. There has been a lot of work done to restore these UNESCO World Heritage Sites back to their original states. Bhaktapur is one of the three main cities of the Kathmandu Valley and is home to many of the Newar people, which is one of the oldest cultures in Nepal and also give the city its name as the city of the devotees.

Pagoda Style Temple
Hindu Relief
Dramatic Shikhara Style Temple
View of the Durbar from the Temple Stairs
Ornate Entryway

There are three styles of temple roofs in Nepal and can be found in the Bhaktapur square, the pagoda style that can be found throughout Asia, the Shikhara style that resembles a mountain peak, and the Stupa style with its dome top. Neapal was made up of many different small kingdoms and each of these palaces had their own squares called a durbar where people gathered, worshipped, and most likely sold goods. The architecture of Bhaktapur is quite stunning, but the effects of the earthquake are quite visible as many of the buildings are being supported by posts to keep them from toppling over until they can be fully repaired.

Buildings Supported by Posts
Another Shikhara Style Temple in the Durbar
Amazing Architecture
Detailed Carvings on the Door
Temple Under Reconstruction

Bhaktapur is also known for the clay pots and bricks that are produced in the region and as you drive towards Bhaktapur, you can see the chimneys of the brick factories with plumes of smoke rising towards the sky. In the square, you will find clay pots being painted by the local artisans and awaiting for their time in the kiln to be fired. We spent about two hours in Bhaktapur walking amongst the temples and enjoying the atmosphere. Visiting Bhaktapur is definitely a must for anyone spending time in the Kathmandu Valley.

Pagoda Style Temple Roof
Dragon Protecting the Doorway
Another Temple
Entrance to the Durbar
Snake Fountain
Another Statue Guarding the Temple
More Construction
Items for Sale

Two Days Until Our Trip to Kathmandu, Nepal

On By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Dubai, Nepal4 Comments

We are looking forward to our trip to Kathmandu, which also includes a twenty-four-hour layover in Dubai. As with any trip such as this, we are excited to see the destination, but aren’t necessarily looking forward to the long flights. This is our first time flying Emirates, so we are interested to compare our experience with other airlines that we have flown. As with all of our trips, we will be taking a lot of photographs and will share all of our experiences after we return.

Flying over the Swiss Alps

We have a full day to explore Dubai, which obviously isn’t enough time to see everything that we’d want to see, but the highlights are going to be enjoying a drink at the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. We will also be staying at the Palm Jumeriah, the man-made island that looks like a palm tree. Once we arrive in Kathmandu, we have time to explore the city on our own for a day before taking a couple of tours that will get us out of the city and also take us into the Himalayas. We will also be taking a cooking class and enjoying as much of the culture as possible before returning back home.

Sunset From One of Our Flights