About Basantapur Chowk
Located to your left just past the tourist information office in Bhaktapur Durbar Square. This was once part of the royal palace. Today behind the gates is a secondary school.
The main attraction here beside the two stone guardian lions are two sculptures said to be the finest in all Nepal.
Did you know?
Between 1200 AD and 1482 was the golden era for the Malla kings when much of Bhaktapur's artistry reached its peak.
It's worth getting up close to these two sculptures as the workmanship is quite intricate.
The Sculptures of Ugrachandi Devi and Bharib at Basantapur Chowk
To the left is the goddess Ugrachandi Devi and to the right is Bharib who features heavily in the Kathmandu Valley.
King Bhupatindra Malla commissioned the Ugrachandi sculpture in 1707. It is said that the king was so besotted with the sculpture that he ordered the artists hand to cut off so it could never be duplicated by another king.
The story doesn't end there though. The sculptor continued to work and made the Bharib sculpture. Sadly after this the king ordered his other hand to be removed!
The reasons behind this are that there was a great rivalry between the kings of the valley to have the greatest works of art in their cities.
Entrance fee
There is no entrance fee comes under the general fee for Bhaktapu
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