Bhaktapur was established in the 12th century by King Ananda Malla and served as the capital of the Malla Kingdom until it became an independent kingdom in the 15th century. The houses, temples, palaces, and Durbar square of Bhaktapur are the responsibility of the Malla Kingdom‘s last three rulers.

In the 18th century, the area was united, and the Gorkha dynasty ruled over Patan (Lalitpur), Kathmandu (Kantipur), Bhaktapur (Khwapa-Bhagaon), and the rest of the Kathmandu Valley.

With towering pagoda-style temples forming the characteristic Nepali stairway to heaven, Bhaktapur is an architectural treasure, with many buildings remaining as they were in medieval times. Bhaktapur is also known for its pottery, and you can still see pots drying in the sun and being thrown and fired at Pottery Square today.

There are several wide courtyards and squares, and the majority of the temples are still in use today. During the Malla period, Bhaktapur was known for Malla Yuddha, a style of wrestling. The temple steps are guarded by carved wrestlers, just as they were in the past.