Nyatapola Temple

Nyatapola, rising over 30 metres above Taumadhi Square in Bhaktapur, is the tallest and one of the most perfectly proportioned pagoda temples in Nepal. Built in 1702 under King Bhupatindra Malla, it is dedicated to the tantric goddess Siddhi Lakshmi and is renowned for the guardian figures lining its monumental stairway.

Commissioned by Bhupatindra Malla and completed in 1702, the temple's engineering is legendary: its deep plinth and balanced timber frame allowed it to withstand the catastrophic 1934 earthquake and the 2015 quake with only minor damage, while many lesser structures collapsed.

The deity within is so powerful in local belief that the sanctum is closed to the public. Nyatapola is the architectural emblem of Bhaktapur and a symbol of Newar structural mastery.

Five diminishing tiered roofs sit on a five-stage brick plinth, climbed by a stair flanked by paired stone guardians — wrestlers, elephants, lions, griffins and goddesses — each said to be ten times stronger than the pair below. The carved struts and doorways are exceptional examples of Newar woodwork.

Current condition: Excellent; structurally sound after 1934 and 2015 quakes

Part of the Bhaktapur conservation program; maintained with entry-fee funding dedicated to heritage upkeep.