Nepal. Bhaktapur

  Bhaktapur is an ancient Newari city located 16 kilometers from Kathmandu. After taking a local bus to Bhaktapur, we were shocked by the entry fee for the central part of the city, which was $15 for foreigners (non-Asians), just to visit the main square. Sure, there are many temples and it's beautiful, but you can't enter the temples, and you need to buy additional tickets to enter the museum. Basically, they shamelessly extract money from foreigners, offering in return only the chance to walk around their territory. It's like charging Asians for access to squares in the historic parts of European cities...

 However, we managed to get inside without paying, bypassing the "block posts" - it was a matter of principle. Our communication skills and a kind local resident helped us, guiding us through narrow streets on the opposite side of the booths where the entrance fee was required, and showing us the way to the heart of the city...Bhaktapur has many old brick houses, with women often peeking out of the windows, and the walls frequently feature communist symbols and propaganda posters. The streets are beautifully paved, adding a special charm...

  Seeing a shop with a very nice yogurt seller, we decided to stop and try his product. After once tasting fantastically delicious lassi in Varanasi at a seemingly unremarkable place, we now always look for something similar. This time we were lucky again... In Nepal, as in India, the tastiest things are often found in the least appealing places, sometimes even better than in more expensive and luxurious restaurants...        

 Gradually, we approached Durbar Square (the Royal Square). The architectural monuments and historical buildings increasingly captivated us...

 Feeling a bit hungry, we went up to one of the "rooftops" (a rooftop restaurant) for lunch. The views from there were simply wonderful...

   Especially the tallest pagoda in Nepal - Nyatapola Temple...

  After lunch, we went to see the pagoda up close...

  In Bhaktapur, we saw many groups of schoolchildren, who, when approaching a landmark, completely covered it... 

  Most of the architectural monuments were built in the 12th-15th centuries. The entire city looks as if you are transported back in time...

  Later, we returned to Durbar Square, seeing it in a slightly different light. The sun erased the morning shadows and revealed the dark sides of the sculptures and temples...    

 

   Spending quite a lot of time on the royal square, we returned to our favorite pagoda. We settled in one of the cozy cafes with a view of the temple to refresh and relax a bit...   

  After leaving the cafe, we climbed the steps to the entrance of the pagoda, waiting for a moment when there were the least people...

   At the very top steps, at the entrance to the temple, a few people were resting. From here, there were very beautiful views of the small square near the temple and the mountains, which are an integral backdrop to most Nepali landscapes...   

 Returning to the city bus stop, we briefly visited a stupa - a tribute to the Buddhist population of Bhaktapur, and bought some fantastically delicious bananas...

  In general, the bananas we bought in Nepal were indeed the tastiest we've ever tried. These types of bananas are called "baby" bananas in our supermarkets, and they are quite hard to find, but here only such small ones are sold, it's hard to find bigger ones. These bananas have such a rich flavor that after them, the usual "fodder" bananas seem tasteless like potatoes... 

  The next day, we planned to explore another Newari city in the Kathmandu Valley - Patan...

To be continued... Patan...