Himalaya only · Saver trips from ₹7,500
Try "Spiti", "snow leopard", "Char Dham", "homestay", "Tiger's Nest"
Route · Nepal
The easiest heritage trip in the valley: 15 km east from Thamel to Bhaktapur's old town, by local bus for under ₹60 or by taxi in under an hour. Cars stop at the edge; you walk in through the ticket gates.
Photo: Saroj Pandey · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CommonsEvery way to go
| How | Time | Cost, indicative 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Local bus | 45 min–1 h 15 min | ₹30–60 |
| Taxi | 45 min–1 h | ₹750–1,100 one way |
| Ride-hailing app | 45 min–1 h | ₹500–900 one way |
Buses and microbuses leave from Ratna Park and Bagbazar in central Kathmandu for Bhaktapur's bus park, about a 10-minute walk from Durbar Square. They are crowded at rush hour, so go mid-morning. Ask for 'Bhaktapur' and confirm the destination before you board.
Taxis from Thamel run along the Araniko Highway or through Thimi. Agree the fare first or ask for the meter. For a half-day trip, a return taxi with waiting time costs a little more than two one-way rides and saves finding a car for the way back.
Pathao and InDrive operate in the Kathmandu valley for car and motorbike rides, often cheaper than street taxis. You need a local SIM for the app. Availability can change, so check current status before you travel.
At each end
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Stupas, a living goddess and the start of every trek
Photo: Saroj Pandey · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Potters, pagodas and the king of curds
Questions
About 13–15 km from central Kathmandu and Thamel, which takes 45 minutes to an hour by road depending on traffic. It is close enough for a day trip, but a night in the old town lets you see it after the day visitors leave.
Local buses and microbuses from Ratna Park and Bagbazar go to Bhaktapur bus park for NPR 50–100 (about ₹30–60). From the bus park, walk 10 minutes to Durbar Square and buy the entry ticket at the gate.
Yes. Local buses run from Bhaktapur's bus park to Nagarkot in about an hour, so many travellers see Bhaktapur by day and sleep at Nagarkot for the sunrise. A taxi takes about 45 minutes.
Yes, NPR 500 for SAARC nationals, including Indians, and NPR 1,800 for other foreigners in recent years. Register your passport to reuse the ticket on later days. Check current status before you travel.
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