Layaku (Bhaktapure Durbar square)

bhaktapure durbar

The Durbar squares are the historic cores of the three major town within the kathmandu valley.  Durbar means 'palace' and the square devolved around the former royal palaces and a series of important temples and shrines, linked together by an open public space. They were , and still are the center of public life in the cities. In the western croner, the city, Bhaktpure Durbar square is relatively unintegrated in to daily life. 

This spacacular square the capital of the Malaa kingdom till 1769, is an open museum in itself. Victorian illustrations show that it was once packed with monastres, temples and artistic buildings, almost one third of which were devastate in the great earthquake of 1934 AD and is former odd black space ruining the once masterful composition. This square however, still holds mesmerising palaces, pagodas, Shikhara tyal temples as well as well as Buddhists minasteries with exclusive architecture is Bhaktapure's monumental gem. It is one is the seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. One can get o feel the touch of mediaeval excellence.

The Durbar square of Bhaktpure is smaller than those of patan and kathmandu. Approaching Durbar square Though the huge white gate, one can notice on the left, a pair of lion statues guarding supposedly one of the entrances to the royal complex. Between them lie two master pieces of stone sculpture, Bhairab, the fierce from of shiva and Durga back to 1701 A.D . It is believes that the unfortunate sculptor had  his hands cut off afterwards to prevent him from duplicating his mastrpieces. In front of theses statues of Ugrabhairb and ugrachndi or when enteing the Durbar Square from the main gate three is a group of temples on the right south, which represent the four highest Hindu pilgrimage sites. Gopi nath kedarnath, Rameshowar and Badrinath. These temples are constructed by the malla kings for those who could not afford visidt to the original sites another pair of lion status and stone sculptures of hanuman (worshiped for strength and devotion) and Narsingha (an incarnation of lord (vishnu) can be seen at the entrance of the National Art Gallery which is situatef on the middle north side of the square The gallery is worth visiting for its exclusive callection of Buddhist paubha paintings palm leaf manuscripts as well as metal and stone crafts The whole block on the north side of the square is the main palace complex lt consisted of 99 different  courtyards Golden gate the main entrance to this palace complesis the master piece matal carvings in bhakatapur Through this golden gate you may enter to discover the courtyard of the Taleju temple the royal bath and what used to be the residence of the malla kings Nest to the Golden gate is the most talked about 55 windows palace of king Bhupatindra malla This palace which is recently renovated by the Department of Archaeology and the Bhaktapur municipality is o0ne of the main parts of the palace complex Right in front of the golben gate one can seec the impressive statue of king Bhupatindra malla on a high stone column The gold gilded statue in the position of worship is the centre of appraisal for every visitor ln front of the palace lies a large bellerected by king ranjit malla in 1337 A.D Beside the dig  Bell stands the shikhara style Durga Temple completely built out of stones  in 1727 A.D by jaya Ranjit Malla on the lower flank of this vatsala Tempie lies another small bell erected by king bhupatindra malla popularly known as the khicha kho gan whine at its sound Unfortunately it is not broken some of the important parts of Bhaktapur Durbar square are explained below.