CityBuddy
Posetite Stari Grad Kirtipur
Best time to visit
Early morning (7-9 AM) to watch potters work their wheels and avoid midday heat. October through March offers clear mountain views from the watchtower.
Budget tips
No entry fee to explore the town itself; the Bag Bhairab Temple asks for a small donation (around 50 NPR). Bring cash as there are no ATMs inside the old settlement.
Recommended for
History enthusiasts, Photography lovers, Cultural travelers, Solo wanderers
Plan your visit
2-3 hours
About
Quick facts: Three massive stone gateways mark the entrance to this 12th century settlement, each one telling a different chapter of its medieval past. The Bag Bhairab Temple here safeguards a 16th century golden mask that only sees sunlight once a year during the Indra Jatra festival.
Highlights: Local potters still shape clay using the same 500 year old foot powered wheels inside their century old courtyards, the rhythmic slap of wet clay echoing off brick walls. Visitors can walk up the uneven stone steps of Taudaha Tower, originally a watchtower that once kept vigil over three kingdoms, and see all three valley settlements on a clear day.
Insider tips
- Take the narrow alley branching left from the main square to find Kirtipur's oldest working pottery courtyard, often missed by visitors.
- Wear sturdy shoes with grip: the stone staircases are uneven and get slippery after rain.
- Visit the local curd shop near the entrance gate for a clay bowl of juju dhau, the sweet yogurt Kirtipur is famous for.
- Photograph the Bag Bhairab Temple's carved wooden struts in late afternoon when golden light hits the erotic and mythological figures.
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