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Although the 8 hour drive to Pokhara was picturesque, we opted to take a 25 minute flight back to Kathmandu instead. With the time saved we were able to see Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Despite already seeing Durbar Squares in Patan and Kathmandu, the other 2 major population centres in the Kathmandu Valley, it was definitely worth seeing Bhaktapur as well. There was a variety of buildings different from the other sites and the palace was great. The royal baths that were quite something.

Bhaktapur was hit pretty hard by the 1934 earthquake – many of the buildings were not replaced making for an open central square. Unfortunately, Bhaktapur experienced bad damage from the 2015 earthquake as well and they are working to salvage and rebuild the buildings that are left. It is interesting that the wood and brick Buddhist temple fared better than the stone Chola Hindu temples.

We checked back into Dwarika’s Hotel for a final night and ate our dinner at Krishnarpan restaurant – it was a spectacular culinary and cultural tour through Nepal. The restaurant serves between 6 and 22 course meals. We ate 9 courses from regions across Nepal. The female servers were dressed in traditional native dress that is apparently still worn outside the major cities. If you are ever in Kathmandu and want to have a culinary treat give Krishnarpan a go.