Nyatapola Temple
Located in Taumadhi Square, Bhaktapur, Nyatapola Temple was built between 1701 and 1702 by King Bhupatindra Malla. With 5 floors, it is one of the tallest temples in all of Nepal, measuring over 30 meters. The sky high rooftop of the temple is visible long before you reach Taumadhi Tole. The temple is reached by a stairway flanked by stone figures of the temple guardians. Each figure is said to be 10 times as strong as the figure on the level below.
History
According to the legends, the Nyatapola Temple was built to quiet an angry God, Bhairab. Built way before the Nyatapola temple was built, the Bhairab’s temple is right in front of Nyatapola. The legend says Bhairab vandalized the society of that time. So the people discussed with King Bhupatendra Malla and finally decided to build a more powerful temple than Bhairab's.
To make the temple of Nyatapola string and powerful, the locals made a statue in front of temple of elephants, tigers, a powerful Snake God and Bhaktapur's strongest man Jaya mal Pata. Also, Siddha Laxmi, a powerful and benevolent god, was worshiped inside Nyatapola.
About the temple
At over 30 meters high, it is the tallest temple in Nepal. The structure rises over the rooftops of the other edifices. Its backdrop is the Himalayan peaks, and its height is equivalent to a five storey building. The stairway going up the temple has guardian figures at each stage. The bottom of the staircases has figures of Phattu and Jayamel. Elephants are on the next level and then lions.
Thousands of tourists visit the temple every year to appreciate the technology used to make this temple. In the 18th century, many temples, statues and stupas were built in Nepal, mostly in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur, which were three different states at that time. Now these three places are known as the Kathmandu valley, or the valley of temples.
Entry Fee
There are no charges for Nyatapola Temple as the charges are covered under Bhaktapur ticket price. However, entry into the inner temple is restricted to the priests only. The current fee for foreigners is covered under the main Bhaktapur entrance fee.