Introduction
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a living museum of Newari culture and provides a rare chance for filmmakers or travelers to examine the ancient and vibrant culture of the Himalayas. With many well-preserved buildings, delicate wood carvings, and profound cultural expression, this locale is a hub for potential photo opportunities to encapsulate Nepal’s past. In this article, we explore the Newar culture of Bhaktapur, Bhaktapur’s importance, places of interest, and practical information for filmmakers, travelers, and sight-seers.
Why is Bhaktapur Durbar Square a must-visited place?
Bhaktapur Durbar Square, also known as Bhadgaon which is the third unique city in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. It is popular for its Newari culture, which originated in the 12th century. For documentaries and cultural exploration, this city is best.
1. Vibrant Festivals
In holidays like Dashain and Tihar, they shows unique rituals and dances. The dazzling footage shot during such festivals and the associated images of pride can best capture the dynamics in the Newar community.
2. Artisanal Craftsmanship
Pottery Square and Thimi are centers for traditional pottery and craft works. It is here that craftsmen practice age-old methods to produce masterpieces of pottery, wooden carvings and metalcraft. Videographers can film the artists at work, capturing the tradition of Newari craftsmanship and their economic contribution to the local economy.
3. Cultural Immersion
Bhaktapur Durbar Square affords some culturally immersive experiences, unlike others. From filming the urban frenzy and frenetic marketscapes to recording sacral rituals, community practice and daily life, filmmakers have the opportunity to portray the realness of Newar culture, offering options for enraptured audiences tremendous, thrilling glimpses into this fascinatingly profound world.
4. Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a package of video-worthy locations such as the 55-Window Palace, Golden Gate, and Nyatapola Temple. These beauties show Newari architecture at its best and provide filmmakers rich stories of the royal history of Nepal, making it ideal for culture documentaries as well.
5. Pottery Square
An equally vital spot in the Newari’s daily life is Pottery Square. It perfectly showcases traditional Newari art. This place gives a rare glimpse of Bhaktapur’s craftsmanship and the effort that goes into it, which makes it one of the many places worth filming. This style makes an effort to promote the Newari culture.
6. Taumadhi Square
My personal favorite, as it combines Newari culture with modern festivities, is Bisket Jatra. Fans all over the world celebrate its location, architectural beauty, and lively atmosphere, making it one of the best places to film and better understand Newari culture.
7. Dattatreya Square
Being one of the quieter squares, Dattatreya Square is known for the Dattatreya temple and the popular peacock window. It’s renowned for its elegant serenity wood carving which assists in the framing Newari art and architecture for cinema, perfect for reflection and complex storytelling.
8. Thimi: the Pottery Town
Thimi is famous for it’s mask making and pottery artwork. This village is a truly untouched piece of Newari civilization where potters still practice ancient techniques in breathtaking craftsmanship. It’s perfect for movies depicting Newari culture, celebrating the artistry and the unparalleled spirit of preserving tradition.
Cultural Highlight of Bhaktapur Durbar Square
1. Rituals and Celebrations
The festivals of Bhaktapur Durbar Square are perhaps the most diverse display of Newari culture. The Bisket Jatra is the most popular amongst the Newari’s, celebrated during the Nepali New Year with elaborate chariot wrestling and tug-of-war processions. Dashain and Tihar are also major Hindu festivities which is celebrated in a visually and culturally rich way. Gai Jatra, the festival of honoring the dead, is an un-missable spectacle filled with processions and captivating dances serving diverse emotional angles to film.
2. Traditional Newari Cuisine
Culinary delights such as Juju Dhau, known as the King Curd, Bara, Chatamari, and Yomari are other Newari Delicacies. These are from Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Newari culture is a unique culture in the world, to show unique culture they record and make documentaries . This narrates Bhaktapur’s cultural identity.
3. Art and Craftsmanship
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square wood carving, metalwork, and pottery artisans preserve traditional methods artistry. The workshops and markets around the city are perfect for witnessing the Newari artistry. The filmmakers can document the detailed steps of crafting these works of art, and showcase why Bhaktapur is a hub for cultural preservation.
Best Practical Suggestions for Passionate Film Makers and Travelers
1. Planning a Trip
From October to April is the dry season, which is the best time to film in Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Dashain and Tihar also captured, while filming during this time. Adding culture in your film is really important and filming such events adds to value through vibrant celebrations and rituals.
2. Required Permission and permits
All filmmakers need to receive permits from Bhaktapur Municipality and the Department of Archaeology. Without permits, filmmakers cannot capture footage in public places and contemporary historical buildings. It is better to have the right documents to avoid any legal trouble in the future, such as a project proposal or mapping document. Attaining the correct permissions will allow smooth production of your film without delays or fines. Please read our article about Budgeting while Shooting a Documentary in Nepal.
3. Equipment and Logistics
The filming scope in Bhaktapur can be constrained due to the bulging squares and the narrow streets. Use portable gear which can be easily moved around to skirt crowded areas. Consider employing a local guide or fixer to help with logistics and provide translations which will greatly facilitate smoother production. They assist locals, supervise the crew, and take care of other hitches that pop up, making the overall shooting experience far smoother.
4. Where Not to Film
Do not film in restricted areas of rituals in private temples and shrines which have not been permitted in advance. Most religious and cultural landmarks are not allow permission to take photos and videos due to sensitive areas. It is essential to note that heritage sites have regulated no-fly zones marked for drone drones for the preservation of these important landmarks. Filmmakers should get proper permission to use drones by related oranizations.
5. Why Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a Filmmaker’s Dream
A filmmaker in search of traditions, resilience, and artistry is offered an unrivaled opportunity in Bhaktapur’s Newari culture. Its wonderful preserved heritage, richly colorful festivals, and hospitable people give it an exceptional feel for capture in most documentaries. Filmmakers are the witnessed, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the best in beauty for filming and documentaries.
Conclusion
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the best place for filming and documenting, it is a collection of culture, tradition, rituals. Automatically we get vibe of ancient story and culturals. Even Bhaktapur is small in size but it contain lots of cultural information, that’s why Bhaktapur is the best place for storytelling film or documentaries.
