Pottery Square (Talako)

Walk a few minutes south from Durbar Square and the lanes open into a broad square covered with rows of drying clay pots. This is Pottery Square, known locally as Talako, where Bhaktapur's Prajapati potters have worked for generations.

What you will see

On a sunny day the square is a working studio in the open air. Potters sit at wheels, some spun by hand with a wooden stick, others by electric motor, shaping water jars, flower pots, lamps, piggy banks and the small bowls used for juju dhau. Finished pieces are laid out in neat rows to dry. Nearby, you may see straw-covered mounds smoking gently — these are open kilns, where pots are fired for a day or more under layers of straw and ash.

Around the square, shops sell finished pottery: plain and painted pots, animal figures, elephants and Ganesh images, candle holders and small souvenirs. Many potters are happy to let visitors try the wheel for a small fee.

Temples in the square

In the middle of the square stands a small temple to Jeth Ganesh, said to have been built by a wealthy potter. A Vishnu temple stands nearby. As everywhere in Bhaktapur, craft and worship are closely woven together: potters offer their first pot of the day, and clay vessels are used in almost every ritual.

After the earthquake

The area around Pottery Square was badly hit in 2015, and many buildings were damaged. Much has since been rebuilt, and the square is again one of the busiest craft spots in the city.

Tip

Come in the morning and bring small change if you want to buy souvenirs. Please do not walk among drying pots or touch them — they are fragile and represent a family's income. Always ask before photographing a potter up close.