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| The
Royal Palace in Bhaktapur is the most beautiful place in this city. At
the end of the market street, a rather small stone-paved courtyard of Taumadhi
welcomes you. A giant Bhairava temple stands at Taumadhi, Bhaktapur, next
to the famous Nyatapola temple |
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temple, known as Bhailaa Dyo, is considered the temple of Kashi Bishwonath,
a wrathful image of Shiva from Baranasi. Though it looks dwarf in front
of towering Nyatapola, it has its own significance. People remember this
temple during the Bisket Festival, which falls in mid April. The deity
of Bhairava is taken around the city in a wooden chariot to show how happy
local people are and that he is the source of their happiness.
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Lichchivi
King Ananda Dev of Bhaktapur |
Though
the exact date of the temple's construction is not known yet, it is believed
that it existed even during the Lichchivi period, from 4th to 7th century,
perhaps in a simpler form. Chroniclogical order states that Lichchivi King
Ananda Dev of Bhaktapur had renovated it in 1150. Bhairava of this temple
later became so angry that he started bringing calamities in the city to
disapprove the people's worshipping. The priests later decided to erect
Nyatapola temple of Siddhilaxmi to calm him down. She is considered as
Bhairava's consort and both of them together admired the work city-dwellers
did tirelessly and got good harvest.
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The
origin of this temple is based on a legend. One day, Bishwonath of Kashi
or Baranasi, came to enjoy the festival of Bisket in Bhaktapur in the guise
of a simple man. A Tantric, identified as Muni Achaju, recognised him with
his sixth sense. Thinking that Bhaktapur would win fortunes if he could
force Bishwonath to reside in the city he tried to capture him with the
help of his mystic power. But he failed and he was forced to behead Bishwonath
and keep him in the temple. People still believe that the real head, cut
thousands of years ago, is still there.
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King
Ananda Dev earlier constructed the temple of Bhairava that had been there
before he had ruled the country in the 10th century. A stone inscription
found nearby indicates that there was a temple as early as 1005 AD.
And
a series of renovations and addition of new and new decorations took place
in course of time. And then King Bhupatindra Mall again turned it into
a giant temple of seven stories in 1722 AD. The great earthquake of 1934
destroyed that temple extensively. It was renovated later but obviously,
its original splendour was lost. The Bhaktapur municipality renovated the
temple using local technology and craftsmen last year that cost 7.3 million
rupees.
It
is in rectangular shape and has three major doors in the front. There is
one small cast image of Bhairava but no one is allowed to go inside. There
are two stone reliefs of Kalash and small windows on both sides. On the
first floor, there are five gilded windows which are too small to peep
through. On the right hand side, there is a beautiful golden window and
on the left, a painting of Bhairava is hung. Other floors are either filled
with struts or latticed windows. It has windows in either side as well.
The top floor is covered with metal roof whereas other ones are made of
tiles. Seven gold-plated pinnacles decorate the temple, which also have
umbrellas over them. It is flanked by pairs of guarding lions, bells and
pillars. In each floor, series of wind-bells supported by struts are hung.
of Patan is Yala. It is said that King Yalamber named this city after
himself and ever since then this ancient city was known as Yala.
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Vanishing
musical instruments reintroduced |
Vanishing
traditional musical instruments have been reintroduced in Bhaktapur after
foreign tourists and researchers took initiatives to restore their status
in the city. New groups of traditional instrument players have emerged
in the city after the initiatives of the Municipality to revive the instruments.
Even elder citizens along with the youngsters have started singing religious
hymns written in old Ranjana script playing traditional musical instruments
like the flute, drums, Dholak Madal, Chhusya, Bhusya, Jhyalicha, Pachhima,
Dhime, Dhan, Nayakhing and Maling. There is a tradition in Bhaktapur to
go round the temples collectively playing the traditional musical instruments
with the advent of the New Year. The people of Bhaktapur during the nine-day-
festival worship all the gods and goddesses of the temples located in the
city.
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Bhaktapur:
Cultural city |
The
Mayor of Bhaktapur Municipality has said that the municipality has been
giving special emphasis on developing the town as "cultural city" for tourists
and a centre of knowledge and science. Efforts are underway on the part
of the municipality which has come up with health, environment and drinking
water committees to give continuity to its commitment of developing the
town as the cleanest city in the Kingdom of Nepal.
municipality has constituted education, culture and tourism committees
in order to preserve arts, artefacts, language and culture so that it can
be developed as an attractive tourist destination.
Khwapa
Higher Secondary School, Khwapa College and Khwapa Engineering College
are in operation in Bhaktapur town. Khwapa higher secondary school came
into operation three years ago in a bid to train bachelors of every family
as an artist.The municipality has been providing Dachi bricks and Ghingati
to the private parties at a cent percent subsidised rate to renovate their
houses lying at the corner of th street and timbers at a 75 percent
subsidised rate to fix up windows, doors and rooftop. 1,168 people have
so far been imparted training on tailoring, woodcraft, fittings of electrical
appliances, weaving and computers. About 44 temples, 12 stone water spouts,
56 roadside shelters, 22 ponds, 43 wells, 33 buildings and 51 sewers have
been repaired in the last five years.
a
total of 196,561 tourists from the SAARC Region and 619,225 from other
countries visited Bhaktapur municipalitylast year. The funds raised by
the municipality in the name of service charges from the tourists have
been spend on the preservation and renovation of cultural heritage of the
town with due priority.
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