Kirtipur and its heritage

Kirtipur is a beautiful ancient city residing in the valley of Kathmandu which in 5 km away from the city if Kathmandu towards the south-west. Kirtipur or किपू (Kipoo) in Nepal bhasa is one of the relegious cities which has been made famous because of its cultural value. Kirtipur originally has a Newar foundation which has still kept the city culturally rich. It is one of the best destinations tourists love to visit kirtupur as half day quick trip from kathmandu. There is no entrance fee for tourists to visit Kirtipur unlike other places of Kathmandu. Top places you need to visit in Kirtipur are:

Chilancho Stupa

It resembles Boudhanath Stupa but it is a little smaller. It was built in 1515 by Ashokha the Emperor but since it has been neglected and not much has been done to take care of it, you might not find it as appealing as Boudhanath.

Tri Ratna Temple

This old stone Krishna like temple is worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists alike. It encompasses Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The temple took some mild damage in the 2015 earthquake and was used by many aid organizations as a landmark. To the right down a street are two large golden Buddha statues well worth visiting too.

Dev Pukku
This old royal area is one of most charming in Kathmandu. The pond here is where Kirtipur’s main water source is fed by underground water. To the tank’s left is the very well-preserved former Royal Palace. It’s all local accommodation now and it’s great on a summers day to see people sitting at the old Newari style windows looking out.

Bagh Bhairab Temple
The whole complex is one of my favorite in all of Kathmandu. The main courtyard is filled with shrines and temples. It’s worth having a look at a few as they are extremely unique.
The temple itself is huge, though Saturday mornings might best be avoided due to the odd animal sacrifice. The views from behind the temple are also some of the best in Kathmandu city.

Uma Maheshwar Temple
This tall temple is guarded by two elephants wearing saddles made of metal spikes (to keep people off). Originally built in 1663 with four roofs one was destroyed in the 1934 earthquake. It survived the 2015 without much of scratch. There’s also a British Bell here from Croyden!

Source: The Longest Way Home