According to a report by UNESCO Institute of Statistics, the closure of educational institutes due to the pandemic has put an estimated 4.5 million girls at risk of missing school.

The closure of schools since March 2020 has proliferated the risk of thousands of girls never return to their schools.

“Such crises lead to long-lasting impacts on gender equality and education with irrevocable consequences on the most marginalized girls,” said the report.

“The risk of child labour, gender-based violence, early and forced marriage, and early and unintended adolescent pregnancy may increase, leading to many girls never returning to school.”

“Despite faring poorer in quality, girls’ access to education had increased significantly in the last two decades,” said Binay Kusiyait, Tribhuvan University professor.

“Though it is hard to say to what extent, the pandemic is surely taking away the achievement.”

The retention of children in school had been a challenge even before the pandemic. And the pandemic has further deteriorated the situation.

According to the government’s economic survey report for the FY 2020-21, over two-thirds of the students enrolled in Grade 1 drop out of the school by the time they reach Grade 12.

The report shows that the retention rate up to grade 12 in the current FY was 29.2 percent.

Stay Tuned to NepaliSansar for Latest Nepal Education News!

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The dream to build the UNESCO Museum Village in the country came true with the joint efforts of the Nepal National Commission for UNESCO under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Martyrs Memorial Park.

The Village will be spread across the 650 ropanis of the land of the Martyrs Memorial park.

After inaugurating the project office today, Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel said that the construction of UNESCO Museum Village is an important initiative in the country, and it would facilitate research works in the field of education, science, and culture.

Also Read | Aging Nepal Receives UNESCO Literacy Prize 2020!

He further added that the Village would provide self-employment training to the unemployed youth.

Minister Pokharel also launched a book containing information on the project unit as well as work procedures.

Meanwhile, Gokarneshwor Municipality Mayor Santosh Chalise and Yagyadol Community Forest Eco-Tourism Management Committee Chairman Sudarshan Sigdel escalated the need to develop the Gokarneshwor area into a religious and cultural tourism hub.

Stay Tuned to NepaliSansar for Latest Nepali Tourism News!

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The post Nepal’s Martyrs Memorial Park to Get UNESCO Museum Village! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The virtual conference brought together experts and educators to reimagine literacy teaching and learning for youth and adults.

Marking the Literacy Day celebrations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has awarded International Literacy Prizes 2020 to five outstanding literacy programs from Nepal, UK, Ghana, Mexico, and Yemen.

Stay tuned for more info on all laureates & their stories ahead of #LiteracyDay on 8 September: https://t.co/j6d951fXlC pic.twitter.com/6SbxQrnCBP

— UNESCO (@UNESCO) September 7, 2020

Prize Details:

Aging Nepal has received the UNESCO Literacy Prize for its national program ‘Basic Literacy Class for Older Persons’ in Nepal.

It is the country’s first program to empower older people by providing primary education in the Nepali language. Ageing Nepal is a non-government organization that targets the elderly who have moved from rural areas to urban areas.

“We were awarded the prize for our work on education for senior citizens as their rights. We have been running Basic Literacy Class for senior citizens since 2016,” said Krishna Murari Gautam, Ageing Nepal Founder Chairman.

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The people of Nepal have witnessed major events in terms of climatic changes, culture, sports, politics and more.

Let’s take a look at the activities in the week of July 06-12, 2019:

1) Randy Berry Plays Cricket With Nepal Cricket Team

The ICC Cricket World Cup continues to keep the world engaged and did not leave behind even cricket-enthusiastic Nepal. This week, US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry was up for some cricket fun, when he invited the national cricket team players to a friendly cricket match.

Berry sportingly wore the Nepal national cricket team Jersey as he joined the players in the sport. While they met, Khadka and Berry discussed the journey and issues surrounding Nepal cricket.

2) Monsoons Trigger Landslides

Monsoon arrived in Nepal last month and has wreaked havoc across the country. In the recent report, six people lost their lives and five people suffered injuries after landslides, lightening and floods lashed at out at Nepal’s panic-stricken population. The affected areas include Kavre, Ramechhap, Bhojpur and Lalitpur among others.

3) Sajha Yatayat Initiates Night Bus Services

In a bid to ease transport for night shift workers in Kathmandu Valley, the public transportation company Sajha Yatayat started night bus services on major roads within the valley since last week.

The public transportation organization is providing its services along three routes: Langakhel to Kalanki via Tripureshwor, New Road to Naya Bus Park via Narayan Gopalchowk and Tribhuvan International Airport to New Bus Park.

4) Fine for No Horse Riding

Following the rapid decline in traditional practices, leaders of Tanki and Manang villages have decided to fine locals with NPR 3,000. On the traditional festival of Yartung, locals are supposed to ride horses and have horse races.

However, with the dawn of modernization most of the locals sold their horses to buy motorcycles. Therefore, to revive and retain local tradition, the leaders have taken this serious decision.

5) Health Care Centre in Dhulikhel

The Dhulikhel municipality now has a healthcare center, which provides information about the health scenario within the municipality. The center was introduced with the aim to promote the concept of healthy city.

6) UNESCO Withdraws from Gopinath, Jaggannath Restoration

UNESCO withdrew its support from the restoration works for Gopinath and Jagannath temples after local groups threatened UNESCO workers at the site. UNESCO issued a press release stating that it was saddened to withdraw from the restoration projects.

The local groups are advocating that Nepal heritage sites should be constructed with local funds rather than international funds.

7) Parliamentary Committee Approves Four Ambassadors

The Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee approved the names of four Nepali ambassadors on July 08, 2019. The names recommended by the government were Maheshraj Dahal as Nepali Ambassador to Australia, Banisdhar Mishra Nepali Ambassador to Bangladesh, Narad Bhardwaj Nepali Ambassador to Qatar, Dawafuti Sherpa Nepali Ambassador to Spain.

Previous Week:-

• Nepal Weekly Round-up: June 22-28, 2019
• Nepal Weekly Round-up: June 15-21, 2019
• Nepal Weekly Round-up: June 08-14, 2019
• Nepal Weekly Round-up: May 25-31, 2019
• Nepal Weekly Round-up: (May 04-10, 2019)
• Nepal Weekly Round-up: (April 27-May 03, 2019)

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WHC listed Kathmandu Valley as ‘property proposed for inscription on the list of World Heritage in Danger’. Nepal Department of Archaeology (DoA) authorities say that if the given proposal is implemented, then it would be difficult for the Valley to regain its UNESCO status and the chances of getting completely removed from UNESCO’S World Heritage sites would increase.

Authorities said that they prepared a thorough report to prevent Katmandu Valley from being inscribed as ‘World Heritage in Danger’. They will make a presentation of the same at WHC’s 43^rd session at Baku, Azerbaijan from June 30-July, 2019.

Nepal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohan Krishna Sapkota and Department of Archaeology Director General Damodar Gautam will represent Nepal at the global conference.

WHC had previously proposed the same in 2015 after the devastating earthquake struck down most of the Valley’s heritage, stating that Nepal will not be able to rebuild its heritage sites.

“We are confident that the committee will vote in our favor after hearing our success story of rebuilding the heritage sites, into their original forms by complying with the standard archaeological principals,” said Gautam.

According to UNESCO, WHC will study 36 nominations for inscription on the ‘World Heritage in Danger’ list in UNESCO’s 43rd session this year.

The global authority has also listed Bangladesh’s Sundarbans, Bulgaria’s ancient city Nessebar, Albania’s Natural and Cultural Heritage of Ohrid, Iraq’s Babylon, Mexico’s Gulf of California islands and protected areas in ‘World Heritage in Danger’.

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Nepal also observed this day with utmost fervor, by holding various programs across the country.

In honor of this day, Nepal Academy organized a poetry recitation event in Kathmandu. Poets from various Nepali ethnic backgrounds participated in the event, where 36 poems were recited in 32 different languages.

The Nepali national languages spoken at the event included, Avadh, Bambule, Bajjika, Danuwar, Dhimal, Dhut Magar, Dumi, Dura, Ghale, Gurung, Hayu, Kham, Koyu, Kumal, Kulung and Tamang, Tajpuriya, Thami, Tharu and Yakkha among others. Most of these languages’ usage are decreasingly rapidly.

On the other hand, several ethnic groups such as Dhimal, Bantawa, Gurung, Khas, Limbu, Newar, Sherpa and Sunuwar held a rally, featuring their cultural activities on Kathmandu’s streets.

Speaking on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Nepal Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun stated how he was dissatisfied about foreign languages eroding Nepali languages. He encouraged Nepalis to practice speaking and writing in their own languages to preserve them.

“Knowingly or unknowingly, we are being more inclined towards foreign languages in the name of quality and expertise. How will our nationality survive if we fail to speak and write in our mother languages?” questioned Pun.

According to the United Nations, 43 percent of the 6,000 languages spoken in the world are endangered.

Globally, only a few hundred languages are genuinely being used or learned in education systems and in the public domain. Furthermore, there are less than 100 languages used in the digital world.

About International Mother Language Day

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s General Conference declared International Mother Language Day in November 17, 1999.

Since then, IMLD has been observed every on February 21 with the aim to promote awareness of linguistic & cultural diversity and promote multilingualism.

Bangladesh initiated the celebration of the international day, as a symbol of the full recognition of Bangla language on February 21, after a long struggle.

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Located in the fertile Chitwan Valley in the Terai region of the southern part of the country, the national park derives its name from two words “Chit” and “Van”, which translate to “Heart of the Jungle”.

Surrounded by Serene Environment

The Chitwan National Park (CNP) covers an area of 932 square kilometers and is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site.

The Narayani and Rapti rivers form the northern and western borders of the national park, while the Reu river flows through it. The Parsa Wildlife Reserve shares Chitwan’s eastern border.

The park is endowed with a wide variety of flora and fauna that attract tourists from all over the world. The lush green vegetation with the scenic Himalayas in the backdrop provides a spectacular view to nature lovers. Sal trees abound in the region and cover around 70% of the park. Grasslands cover 20% of the area and comprise some of the tallest grass in the world such as elephant grass.

A Refreshing Diverse Wildlife

Chitwan National Park (CNP) is home to over 700 species of wildlife with around 68 species of mammals and over 500 species of birds.

The one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Asiatic elephant, four-horned antelope, gharial, gaur, striped hyena, pangolin, mongoose, painted bat, chital, hog deer, porcupine, sloth bear, clouded leopard, toddy cat, palm civet, wild dog, langur and hispid hare are some of the animals in Chitwan National Park.

The birds on view include the Bengal florican, Egyptian vulture, giant hornbill, stork, peafowl, red jungle fowl, egrets, herons, kingfishers, flycatchers and woodpeckers. Additionally, CNP has 17 species of snakes including King Cobra & Rock Python, starred tortoise and monitor lizard.

The Narayani-Rapti river system and its tributaries that run through the park are home to 113 species of fish and mugger crocodiles.

CNP is also home to an indefinite variety of butterflies, moths and insect species.

Chitwan National Park Timings

Chitwan National Park enjoys a tropical monsoon climate combined with high humidity throughout the year. Located in the central climatic zone of the Himalayas, CNP receives rainfall between mid-June – late September. During this period, the park experiences rainfall at a density of 2,500 mm.

After October, rain subsides, humidity drops and the temperature ranges anywhere between +/-18 degrees to +/-36 degrees. Nights remain as cool as 5 degrees.

The most suitable time to visit Chitwan is between October-March. During that time, the skies are clear and the temperature is pleasant, making for an ideal Chitwan National Park tours. The best time to get a glimpse of CNP’s rich fauna is between January-March as villagers cut the tall Phanta grass. June-September is unfavorable for jeep safari as the tracks are slick or submerged with water.

April-June and September-December are the best seasons for enjoying CNP’s unique bird-watch experience.

Activities & Sightseeing at Chitwan National Park in Nepal

Following are some of the places to visit in Chitwan:

• Visitor Center, Sauraha: The center displays & provides fascinating information on wildlife and CNP’s conservation programs
• Chitwan Elephant Safari: Elephant safari offers visitors an exciting opportunity of getting a closer view of endangered one-horned rhinoceros and Bengal tigers
• Elephant Breeding Centre: The center at Khorsor, Sauraha presents visitors with information on domesticated elephants and the baby elephants born there
• Kasara Museum: Also CNP’s headquarters, the Kasara museum, has informative displays. Visitors can also get a glimpse of Bikram Baba, a religious Hindu site with archival value. A short 1-km walk from there will lead you to Gharial Breeding Centre.
• Gharial Breeding Centre: This center is home to Marsh mugger or Marsh crocodiles and many turtles
• Women’s User Group Souvenir Shop: The shop presents a wide range of handicrafts and other local products for take-home gifts and souvenirs

Chitwan National Park in News:

Here are some important updates about significant developments in the Chitwan National Park:

• 18 Water Resources: Standing up for environmental safety, CNP is gearing up to build more ponds in its vicinity as water sources have started drying up. Climate changes, soil erosion, flood and landslide had led to a water crisis in the park. “Eastern parts of the park will be given priority while building the ponds as many water sources had dried up there of late,” says Nurendra Aryal, Assistant Conservation Officer, Chitwan National Park. The park currently has 63 ponds. A budget of NPR 16.1 million has been invested for the upcoming project.
• Increased Entrance Fees: As Nepal’s high-on-demand tourist destination, CNP has recently decided to increase entrance fee for visitors. According to a recent update from Aryal, the Chitwan National Park entry fee for Nepalis will be increased to NPR 150 from the previous fee of NPR 113. Similarly, the entrance for SAARC nationals has been increased from NPR 847.50 to NPR 1,000 and for other international tourists from NPR 1,695 to NPR 2,000. Additionally, there has been an increase in the fee for car safari and elephant safari activities along with the resumption of jeep safari.
• Jeep Safari Back in CNP: With the end of the monsoon season, park authorities have resumed jeeps safari services in CNP on October 11, 2018 after complete repair of roads and bridges.
• Infamous Rhinoceros Poacher Nabbed: In a recent breakthrough, CNP officials finally got hands-on ace Rhino poacher Ishwari Prasad Mahato after a 10-year search. This move was a major step in curbing poaching activity within CNP’s boundaries.
• Double Tiger Population: Adding to Nepal’s list of merits, the Himalayan Nation made a record for itself in terms of tiger conservation. It became the first country to double its tiger population by 2022. Nepal announced that it now owns 235 tigers as part of its wildlife. The country is famous for its Bengal tigers.
• Research on Carrying Capacity of Bengal Tigers: Following a decline in the wild cats population by 27 in the last five years, CNP recently began research on the carrying capacity of the rare Royal Bengal Tigers. According to Nepal Department of National Parks & Wildlife Conservation Ecologist Laxman Poudel, the study will be conducted by international experts including India’s wildlife expert Abhishek Narayanan, Zoological Society of London Dr Rajan Amin, Department’s Deputy Director General Gopal Prasad Bhattarai and Ecologist Poudel, among others.
• Chitwan National Park Receives 200,000 Visitors: This year, Sauraha in Chitwan experienced an increase in visitors in view of Dashain. Adding about CNP that falls in the region, Regional Hotel Association of Sauraha Chairman Suman Ghimire said that 200,000 tourists visit CNP annually. Sauraha is famous as tourism center majorly because of Chitwan National Park. Around 90 percent of the tourists visiting the park also make a trip to Suaraha, 30 percent of which are Nepalis. This number further increases to 60 percent during Dashain.
• Seven Rhino Deaths in Four Months: Sadly, CNP reported seven rhino deaths in the first three months of the current fiscal. However, CNP Chief Conservation Bed Kumar Dhakal informed that the rhinos died due to natural causes including old age, fighting, getting stuck in swamp areas and ill health conditions. None of them were victims of poaching activity. Despite 26 rhino deaths in the last fiscal year, the park continues to have over 600 rhinos.
• CNP Draws 95,537 Tourists in 2017-18: According to CNP data records as of April 1, 2018, tourist arrivals in Nepal jumped by 7.5% in the first eight months of FY 2017-18 compared to the same period in FY 2017-18. 95,537 domestic and foreign tourists visited the park during that period. Following is the break-up of total tourists visiting the park in the given period:
  • Foreign tourists – 65, 084
  • Domestic tourists – 21,366
  • SAARC countries – 8,907

• CNP Succeeds in Conservation Efforts: In January, 2018, CNP announced its success of conservation efforts throughout 2017. In its biggest initiative, it reduced poaching activity to a mere ‘zero’ with the help of advanced security technology. CNP Chief Conservation Officer Ram Chandra Kandel admitted that 2017 has been remarkable in terms of conservation activity. “Transfer of rhinos, wild buffaloes & musk deer to the park, rescue of tigers & rhinos, rehabilitation of a male gharial and management of grasslands in the national park were the greatest feats achieved in 2017,”Kandel added.
• Asian Hispid Hare Rediscovered at CNP: In an exciting discovery made earlier this year, the Asian Hispid hare was found in the low grasslands of CNP. This rare hare was thought to have gone extinct in 1984, when it was last seen by scientists. However, CNP Conservation Officer Bed Khadka spotted the hare nesting in low grasslands, in March 2019. “The fact that the hispid hare was a baby indicates that there are also parents and both male and female,” Khadka said.

Chitwan National Park Facts:

• Totally, there are 47 security posts in CNP, of which, 16 are park staff only and 13 are Nepal Army personnel
• In the Gharial Conservation Project’s breeding center, animals are reared to an age of 6–9 years
• Approximately two-thirds of the globally endangered bird species are found in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park
• Chitwan National Park continues to record new species of butterflies, insects and moths
• Visitors are advised to spend at least two days in the park to witness its full wildlife experience

Where is Chitwan National Park in Nepal

From the Kathmandu airport, Chitwan National Park is located at a distance of 55 km and just 10 km from the Bharatpur airport. A number of cabs and buses are available for transporting the visitors. Sauraha town in the east and Meghauli village in the west provide the two main entrances to the national park.

Sauraha has hundreds of hotels, restaurants and other accommodation options while Meghauli offers an authentic Chitwan jungle safari experience for tourists.

Chitwan National Park provides an ideal holiday opportunity and a not to be missed experience for all wildlife aficionados.

Read Also:

• Kathmandu: Nepal’s City of Glory!
• Nepal, The Perfect Tourism Destination
• Sarangkot- The Adventure Lover’s Paradise
• Places In Ilam to Visit

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 It has been noted that despite progress in literacy statistics, challenges still persist and conditions have become even more critical, going by the growing demand for ever-evolving skills.

In 2018, through the International Literacy Day UNESCO aims to explore and highlight integrated approaches that can simultaneously propel the development of literacy and skills required to:

• Ultimately improve people’s life and work
• Contribute to equitable and sustainable societies

Let’s take a look at how the governing body has tried to bring about this change in Nepal.

Nepal celebrated the two events with the theme ‘Skilled Human Resources Development and Sustainable Educational Infrastructure – the Basis of Building Socialism-oriented Prosperous Nation’.

In view of the upcoming day and with the goal to foster the theme of ILD 2018, the UNESCO Kathmandu Office scheduled the following initiatives throughout the month of September:

• Launched a five-day training for school drop-outs including women and adolescent girls on vegetable production with an aim to provide them a livelihood & supplement their family income
• Launched a 26-day Digital Literacy Skills training for students of open schools, women schools, farmers schools and young girls & women from Pharping community
• A folk duet song Lok Dohori in Nepali language on the occasion of the International Literacy Day to make participants (general public) realize the significance of literacy and lifelong learning
• Launched a 45-day beautician training program for neo-literate women in Ratna Nagar Municipality to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities
• Orientation program for local-level officials on non-formal education (NFE) implemented by Nepal Eastern Region Education

Nepal Government, on its own, is also working hard to improve literacy in Nepal. Nepal’s Education Ministry will also be conducting some activities in the interest of the people, on the occasion of the 39^th Nepal Education Day.

International Literacy Day Activities in Nepal Include:

• Cleanliness and Tree Plantation Program in Bhaktapur on the occasion of Nepal National Education Day; celebrated on September 8, 2018 every year
• Dialogue on Literacy telecasted on Nepal Television and Radio Nepal
• Street Drama on Literacy and Lifelong learning
• Consultation Workshop on the Non-formal Education Equivalency at Kathmandu
• Nepali Folk Duet (Lok Dohori) on Literacy and Non-formal Education
• Publication of a Special Edition in Nepali language on the 39^th NED and 52^nd ILD in Gorkhapatra National Daily
• Main Celebration Event and Exhibition to observe the 39^th NED and 52^nd ILD organized by Nepal Education Ministry. The event was chaired by Hon. Nepal Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel and witnessed the participation of Nepal Government officials, development partners, students, teachers and other stakeholders
• A Journal on Literacy and Lifelong Learning was also launched and a video documentary on NFE and literacy-related activities in Nepal, produced by Nepal Centre for Education & Human Resource Development

Additional activities included:

• Launch of the Functional Literacy Program in Mahottari, Parsa, Rautahat and Sarlahi which was organized by Aasaman Nepal
• Literacy Awareness Rally in Chitwan and Janakpur, Tree Plantation Program in Banke and Street Drama on theme related to Literacy and Lifelong Learning in Kathmandu organized by Samunnat Nepal

Recent statistics show some major progress in Nepal’s literacy rate, both in men and women.

Let’s take a look at some of them:

• The overall literacy rate of Nepal stands at 75.14% in Nepali men compared to 57.59% in Nepali women
• Province-wise literacy statistics:
  • Province 1 overall literacy stands at 79.27 percent in men and 63.94 percent in women.
  • Province 2 depicts a 60.09 percent literacy rate in men and 38.88 percent in women.
  • Province 3 shows an 82.82 percent literacy rate in men and 67.04 percent in women.
  • Gandaki Province records an 83.4 percent literacy rate in men and 67.42 percent in women.
  • Province 5 presents a literacy rate of 75.50 percent in men and 58.33 percent in women.
  • Karnali Province reports a literacy rate of 72.88 percent and 53.21 percent in women.
  • Province 7 reports a 76.37 percent in men and 51.93 percent in women.
• Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, Kirtipur Municipality, Tokha Municipality and Lalitpur Metropolitan City show impressive literacy rates, far better than the overall literacy rate of Nepal
• Two municipalities of Province 6, one municipality of Province 2, one municipality of Karnali Province and one municipality from Province 5 fall far below the overall national literacy rate of 65.9%
• Currently, the primary school enrollment rate has reached 97.2 percent

The main program saw the distribution of prizes to various outstanding schools, educationalists and university graduates – who also received the Bidhyabhusan medals for topping various examinations under different faculties, by Nepal Education, Science & Technology Minister.

The Education Ministry launched the ‘Policy and Program on Reforming the Educational Quality in Community Schools, 2018’ on September 8, 2018.

UNESCO Declares International Literacy Day:

UNESCO declared International Literacy Day on October 26, 1966 with the aim to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies, across the world.

• According to UNESCO statistics, over 775 million adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five of them are still not literate and two-thirds of the total number are women
• 7 million children are out of school and many more continue to attend school irregularly or drop out
• As per UNESCO’s ‘Global Monitoring Report on Education for All (2006), South Asia has the lowest regional adult literacy rate which stands at 58.6 percent

Conclusion:
The world countries may have achieved or are heading to their goal of achieving increased literacy rates. But with Nepal, the progress is constantly on, monitored and supported to bring about the desired results. And, with the government and people’s collective efforts, the country will soon be able to stand among countries with high literacy rates.

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Nepali officials are worried as the UNESCO authorities meet to discuss on Nepal’s heritage site, at the ongoing 41^st annual UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s Conference in Krakow, Poland.

In the meeting, a team of UNESCO experts will decide on whether to include Kathmandu Valley in the UNESCO’s list of world’s endangered heritage sites. Nepali authorities are worried that the decision would hurt the country’s tourism sector, while also incurring additional budget to the government exchequer towards re-building efforts.

Going by the disaster the Valley witnessed during 2015 earthquake, the German-based international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), noted that the Valley could go into the endangered list.

Nepal Tourism Secretary, Shankar Prasad Adhikari, has already left for the meeting. The annual four-day event is witnessing 21 representatives from UNESCO member states, more than 170 observer nations, and various non-governmental organizations.

The 2015 earthquake was a massive disaster for the Valley, as it suffered the damage of three of its seven monument zones, which resulted in the death of almost 8000 people.

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The best way to get around in Bhaktapur is by walk, as taxis and rickshaws are not allowed to ply inside the city. It takes less than an hour to commute from one end of the city to the other.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley. The erstwhile royal palace with 55 windows, which now houses the National Art Gallery, is one of the prominent structures in the Durbar Square. The Golden Gate, the Taleju Temple complex and the Big Bell are the other attractions here.

Taumadhi and Dattatreya Squares

Taumadhi Square and Dattatreya Square are the other two well-acclaimed Squares in Bhaktapur. The Nyataponla Temple in Taumadhi is dedicated to Goddess Siddhi Laxmi and is the country’s tallest pagoda temple exquisitely created by Newar craftsmen. The Bhairavnath Temple, housing the gilded bust of Bhairav or Lord Shiva’s most ferocious manifestation, stands next to the Nyataponla Temple. The 14^th century temple of Jeth Ganesh is another highlight of this Square.

The main attraction of the Dattatreya Square is the Dattatreya Temple, a giant three storied temple believed to have been built with the stem of a single tree. At the nearby Pottery Square visitors can take a look at potters working on making earthenware of different shapes and sizes.

Buddhist Heritage

Bhaktapur has a large number of Buddhist monasteries and religious sites in close proximity to the Hindu shrines reaffirming the Nepalese tradition of religious tolerance and social harmony. Lokeswor Mahavihar, Prasannasheel Mahavihar, Chatu Brahma Mahavihar, Jaya Kirti Mahavihar, Sukra-varna Mahavihar, Dipanker Mahavihar and other Buddhist shrines are revered by people of other faiths as well.

Bhaktapur is very famous for its variety of yogurt Juju-dhau, which literally means the “King of all yogurt”.

Bhaktapur was close to the epicenter of the 2015 earthquake and experienced a significant damage to a lot of structures. Restoration work is in progress. Despite the earthquake, the flow of tourists to the city has not reduced.

Visitors to Bhaktapur are assured of an enriching cultural and spiritual experience.

Also Read:

• Kathmandu: Nepal’s City of Glory!
• Nepal, The Perfect Tourism Destination
• Sarangkot- The Adventure Lover’s Paradise
• Beautiful Places In Ilam to Visit

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