Peacock Guest House, Bhaktapur

Peacock Guest House is a friendly, good-value place to stay set in a traditional Newar building by Dattatreya Square — the quieter, more local end of Bhaktapur's old town. Rooms are simple and full of character, with carved wooden windows and a courtyard calm that the busier corners of the city lack.

Why stay here

• A calm, local setting away from the heaviest tourist crowds.
• Walking distance to the woodcarving workshops, the Peacock Window and the temples of the eastern old town.
• A genuine traditional building with character rather than a modern box.
• A handy base for seeing the squares early and late, once the day-trippers have gone.

The Dattatreya Square setting

Dattatreya Square sits at the eastern edge of the old town and feels noticeably more lived-in than Durbar Square. It takes its name from the Dattatreya Temple that anchors it, and the surrounding lanes are still a working neighbourhood of woodcarvers, small shrines and everyday Newar life. The area's most celebrated sight is the intricately carved Peacock Window, tucked down a side alley a short walk away — worth hunting out even if you're only passing through.

Basing yourself here means you can wander these streets in the early morning and the evening, when Bhaktapur is at its most atmospheric and the tour groups have thinned out.

Getting there and getting around

Most visitors reach Bhaktapur from Kathmandu by taxi or local bus, arriving at the edge of the old town; from there the heritage core is best explored on foot, as the narrow lanes and squares are largely closed to through traffic. There is a ticketed entry system for the protected old town, so keep your pass to hand while you are staying inside it. For the full run-down on routes and timings, see how to get to Bhaktapur.

Once you have settled in, everything worth seeing is within a comfortable walk, so you won't need transport to move between the main squares.

Who it suits

This is a stay for travellers who value location and character over polish. If you want to be inside the old town rather than out on its ring road, to catch the temples at dawn, and to keep costs sensible, it fits well. Budget and mid-range travellers, culture-first visitors, and anyone planning an overnight rather than a rushed day trip will get the most from it. If you would prefer something more upmarket closer to the main square, the Heritage Hotel Grand is the obvious alternative.

What's nearby

From Dattatreya Square it's an easy stroll west to Bhaktapur's headline sights: Durbar Square with the Fifty-Five Window Palace, Taumadhi Square beneath the towering Nyatapola Temple, and Pottery Square, where you can still watch clay being thrown and left to dry in the sun. Look out for the city's famous juju dhau, the sweet "king curd" that Bhaktapur is known for. For a full itinerary of temples, squares and workshops, see the best things to do in Bhaktapur.