We checked out of the Dhulikhel Mountain Resort to drive back to Kathmandu. First we stopped at Bhaktapur, which we had skipped on Sunday, having run out of time.
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| The roadside plants were covered with dirt and dust from all the holiday traffic |
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| Evidence of mudslides from September |
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| Roadside shrine with rickety access |
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| These buildings will be the next to go in another monsoon-type rain |
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| A gas station in Banepa |
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| Terraced fields |
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| Fruit stand |
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| In Bhaktapur, we began to walk to Durbar/Palace Square |
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| Indrayani Temple at an ancient Pipal tree |
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| We took the stairs, and motorbikes used the ramp |
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| Embroidered and fringed hangings |
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| Kauma Tole/square hiti/drinking fountain |
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| Shrine at the Kauma Tole hiti |
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| Gate to Durbar Square, which is full of temples as well as the former royal palace |
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| Tamiko in front of a gateway flanked by two stone lions, and reliefs of two Hindi deities (KSS) |
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| Ugrachandi (a manifestation of Durga) with 18 arms holding Tantric weapons and a cup made from a human skull, as she slays a demon with her trident, symbolizing the victory of wisdom over ignorance |
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| Bhairava (a fearsome manifestation of Shiva) is holding weapons such as a trident, sword, drum, and skull, for the destruction of evil |
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| A substitute of one of the Char Dham temples: Rameshwar Temple (south) (KSS) |
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| The Char Dham substitute of Kedernath Temple (west); this temple is built in the shikhara-style (KSS) |
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| Kedernath Temple is dedicated to Shiva and the image is covered in tika |
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| Cham Dam substitute for Jagannath Temple (east) in pagoda style, which originated in Bhaktapur before 600 CE, characterized by multiple roofs in descending size (KSS) |
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| The roof struts of Jagannath Temple are carved with different manifestations of Vishnu (KSS) |
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| In front of Jagannath Temple is a statue of Garuda, a sunbird and king of the birds, who acts as the transport vehicle for Vishnu (KSS) |
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| Part of the Royal Palace that is now the National Art Gallery |
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| Pilgrims rub tika (mixture of rice, yogurt and vermilion) on a sculpture of Hanuman, a monkey god who is devoted to Rama |
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| Children on bicycles take advantage of the large empty square |
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| Another section of the Royal Palace, and an example of the many dogs in the square (KSS) |
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| The Golden Gate (1754 with finest repoussé metalwork) and a brick gatehouse are the entrance into the palace |
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| We could photograph the Naga Pokhari/water tank from the 17th century that was used for ritual immersion of the figure of Taleju (goddess chosen as protector of the Malla kings) and perhaps for the king's ablutions (KSS) |
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| The dhara/spout is in the form of a goat being eaten by a makara/mythical crocodile-like creature (KSS) |
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| Column topped by the figure of King Bhupatindra Malla (1699) faces the Golden Gate of the palace |
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| Talehu Bell (1737) used to call to prayer |
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| Vatsala Durga Temple was completely destroyed in the 2015 earthquake and has been rebuilt including the smaller bell known as the "barking bell" because its ringing caused dogs to bark and whine (KSS) |
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| The Vatsala Durga Temple hiti/sunken drinking fountain with a makara spout (KSS) |
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| Chyasilin Mandap/Pavilion with an eight-cornered roof where the king and his guests watched festival activities on the square |
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| A bronze lion guards the pavilion (KSS) |
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| The 55-Window Palace (1677) with intricately carved wooden windows |
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| Siddhi Lakshmi Temple was also rebuilt, however, the stone animals are original |
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| The 17C statues include a male and female attendants leading a child and a dog, a pair of horses, a pair of rhinos wearing garlands, a pair of human-faced lions, and a pair of camels |
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| A large pair of curly-haired lions in front of rebuilt Silu Mahadev Temple, the tallest temple in Durbar Square |
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