Nyatapola Temple

Nyatapola Temple is the crowning achievement of Newari architecture and the tallest pagoda-style temple in Nepal, soaring 33 metres above Taumadhi Square in Bhaktapur. Commissioned by King Bhupatindra Malla, the entire five-storey structure was raised in a remarkable 214 days — from December 1701 to July 1702 — without any modern equipment.

The temple is dedicated to the tantric goddess Siddhi Laxmi, whose 9-foot black stone idol with nine heads and nine pairs of hands resides in the innermost sanctum. The temple has never been opened to the public, adding to its mystique.

Five pairs of guardian figures line the steep stairway, each said to be ten times more powerful than the pair below: the wrestlers Jayamel and Phattu (Bhaktapur's strongest men), elephants, lions, griffins, and the goddesses Baghini (tigress) and Singhini (lioness). The temple incorporates 5 Ganesh shrines, 5 tiers, 33 steps, 108 carved wooden struts, and 360 battens.

Built using an ingenious seismic-resistant design, the Nyatapola has survived every major earthquake including the devastating 2015 tremor — a testament to the engineering genius of the Malla era. It remains the most iconic image of Bhaktapur and one of Nepal's greatest architectural treasures.