Bhaktapur - Dhobichaur

Renting a motorbike in Katmandu and afternoon city sightseeing

I have rented motorcycle from City Bikes
The bike is Xpulse 200 V4 - 2022 model

Small engine but decent and smooth ride

I picked the bike 8am. Took us about 1.5 to fit second phone charger, phone holder and audio system onto the helmet.
Daily rent for this bike is 3500 , but i was offered discounted rate 3000 due to online booking in advance.

I was considering taking Himalayan but ultimately as there is no roads to drive fast in the country and I am also planning to visit mustang this 150kg bike seams more adequate comparer to 200kg Himalayan.

Once bike was ready I went shopping

Visited Helmets and Gear shop, where I got few bike items
- knee and elbow protection
- waterproof gloves
- hoodie with mask
All included 4500

Later some more shopping
- tissues
- food
- water
- hot water bottle

And finally in the evening I got my waterproofing upgrades
- sea bag 20l as backpack
- sea bag 40l to be used as pillion bag
- Gore-Tex (lookalike) jacket
2900 for bags and 2800 for jacket

As soon as I dropped by shopping home and repacked and ready to explore town it started to rain.

Regardless i ventured out and initially got myself a little wet, but later on weather improved and eventually I visited quite a lot
- Durban Square Katmandu with it's mini museum of Nepal unification (history only from 1750). It's a nice square but felt a little bit messy due to multiple Police booths that completely didn't fit the architecture. Some blue hoardings of construction sites. The new-classicist eclectic building where museum is located doesn't fit to architecture of the city. Feels like a portly transplanted design from somewhere in Europe. (1000)
- Buddha Stupa - this place impressed me quite a bit. Size of the Buddha mould is indeed unprecedented. What i loved the most is visit to the small temple with viewing platform over the Buddha, where monks were chanting along rhythmic powerful sound of drums. (1000)
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square - much more authentic and grand in scale urban square compared to Katmandu Durbar Square. Some of the monuments are very impressive. Atmosphere is more peaceful and relaxing. (No one checked me)
- Pashupatinath Temple shocked me w little as I didn't expect to see open air cremations. Didn't expect such are still done and even more so, in such a densely populated area. (1000)

So ultimately regardless of rain I have managed to still see quite a lot.

Each of the historical sites charge 1000 fee to be able to walk the streets near the area. There are lots of guides available for hire at the spot asking for 1000 as standard. They are very polite and not too insisting. In the last spot I asked someone for direction who turned out to be a guide and eventually I ended up paying him 500 for a mini guidance. I don't regret as he this was the site of cremations and so I was glad I had short introduction of that practice.