“Just off this square hides the Peacock Window, considered the single finest piece of woodcarving in all of Nepal.”
About Dattatreya Square
Dattatreya Square dates from the early period of Bhaktapur's prominence, with the Dattatreya Temple traditionally attributed to the late 14th or early 15th century and said to have been built from the wood of one tree. The Peacock Window, of similar age, adorns a former monastery building nearby. The square preserves a wealth of temples, monasteries and carved houses from Bhaktapur's golden age.
Dattatreya Square is one of the historic squares of Bhaktapur, centred on the ancient Dattatreya Temple and home to the most famous piece of woodcarving in Nepal, the exquisite Peacock Window. Quieter and older than Bhaktapur's main Durbar Square, it is a treasury of Newar architecture, temples and carved facades.
Dattatreya Square is one of the historic squares of Bhaktapur, centred on the ancient Dattatreya Temple and home to the most famous piece of woodcarving in Nepal, the exquisite Peacock Window.
The Peacock Window
Tucked in a lane just off the square, the Peacock Window is a masterpiece of Newar woodcarving, a 15th-century latticed window in the shape of a peacock with its tail fanned out, regarded as the finest carved window in the country. The square's Dattatreya Temple, dedicated to a deity combining the Hindu trinity, is said by tradition to have been built from the timber of a single tree. Together they make the square a showcase of Bhaktapur's artistic heritage.
The Experience
You explore an atmospheric, less-crowded square of ancient temples and timber buildings, then seek out the Peacock Window in a narrow lane, marvelling at its intricate, fanned carving. The area is also known for traditional woodcarving workshops and small museums of brass, bronze and woodwork. The square offers a quieter, deeply historic counterpoint to Bhaktapur's busier Durbar Square.
Why It Matters
Dattatreya Square is a foundation of Bhaktapur's UNESCO-listed heritage and a showcase of the Newar woodcarving tradition that reached its height in the city. Home to the celebrated Peacock Window and ancient temples, it embodies the artistic and architectural genius for which Bhaktapur is renowned.
Dattatreya Square is a foundation of Bhaktapur's UNESCO-listed heritage and a showcase of the Newar woodcarving tradition that reached its height in the city.
Why Visit
A historic Bhaktapur square with ancient temples and the Peacock Window, the finest carved wooden window in Nepal, in the centre of the city's woodcarving tradition.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Seek out the Peacock Window in a lane just off the square.
- 2
Note the Dattatreya Temple, said built from a single tree.
- 3
Visit the local woodcarving workshops and small museums.
- 4
It is quieter than Bhaktapur's main Durbar Square.
