Things to do · Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur Pottery Workshops
Spin the wheel with Newar potters at Pottery Square — how Bhaktapur's clay craft works and where to try it.
Bhaktapur is the best place in Nepal to try pottery at the source. At the city's working clay quarter, traditional Newar potters still throw pots by hand on spinning wheels, and many will happily guide a visitor through shaping a piece. It is a hands-on, unstaged way to connect with one of the Kathmandu Valley's oldest living crafts — the same craft that makes the clay pots juju dhau is set in.
The short answer
Head to Pottery Square in the old town, where potters welcome visitors to sit at the wheel for a small fee. There is no formal booking — you arrange it directly with a potter on the day. Come on a dry day, late morning to afternoon, when the square is busiest and pots are out drying in the sun.
What a pottery experience involves
- At the wheel: A potter centres a lump of clay and lets you shape it under guidance, hands often steadying yours.
- Watching the craft: Around you, others throw bowls, vases and figurines, while finished pieces dry in long rows across the open square.
- Firing: The dried pots are fired in traditional kilns nearby — ask and a potter may show you the process.
- Buying: Many sell finished pieces straight from the wheel, so you can take home a souvenir made by the same hands.
For more on where these pieces fit in the country's craft tradition, see our guide to Nepali handicrafts and souvenirs.
Why Bhaktapur, and why these potters
Pottery is one of Bhaktapur's defining trades, passed down through generations of the city's potter community. The clay pots made here are not just souvenirs — they are woven into daily life and ritual, from oil lamps at festivals to the porous bowls that give the city's famous juju dhau curd its thick, custard-like set. That direct link between craft and cuisine is part of what makes Bhaktapur unique; you can read more in our Bhaktapur crafts and festivals collection.
Practical tips
- Agree the fee first with the potter, and carry small change in Nepali rupees.
- Wear clothes you don't mind getting clay on — it washes out, but the wheel is messy.
- Be patient and respectful — this is a working livelihood, not a staged attraction.
- Buy a piece as well as trying the wheel; it directly supports the makers.
- Combine it with the wider pottery quarter at Pottery Square and lunch nearby.
Fitting it into your visit
A pottery session slots neatly into a day in the old town, between the temple squares and a Newari lunch. If you want the calm of an early start before the crowds, consider staying over — see where to stay in Bhaktapur. For the whole plan, browse the Bhaktapur food, stay and visiting collection and the Bhaktapur destination hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can you try pottery in Bhaktapur?+
Yes. At Pottery Square several traditional potters welcome visitors to sit at the wheel and shape clay for a small fee, often guiding your hands. It is one of the few places in the Kathmandu Valley where you can watch and join the whole craft, from raw clay to finished pot.
Where are the pottery workshops in Bhaktapur?+
The main pottery quarter is Pottery Square in the old town, a short walk from Durbar and Taumadhi squares. This open square is the working heart of the craft, where potters throw clay on hand-spun wheels and rows of pots dry in the sun before firing.
How much does a pottery experience in Bhaktapur cost?+
Costs are modest and arranged directly with the potter on the day, so prices vary. Carry small change in Nepali rupees, agree on the fee before you start, and consider buying a finished piece from the maker as well to support the craft.
When is the best time to see the potters working?+
Come on a dry day from late morning to afternoon, when the most potters are at the wheel and pots are laid out to dry. Activity slows during the monsoon, when pieces cannot dry outdoors, so the dry months show the craft at its busiest.
