Siddha Pokhari

Most visitors arriving in Bhaktapur by bus from Kathmandu or Sanothimi get off near a large rectangular pond, lined with stone walls and small shrines. This is Siddha Pokhari, called Ta Pukhu — the big pond — in Nepal Bhasa. Many people walk past it in their hurry to reach Durbar Square, but it is worth a slow circuit.

History and purpose

Tradition credits the pond to King Yaksha Malla in the 15th century, though some historians date Ta Pukhu as early as the 12th century, making it one of the oldest ponds in Bhaktapur. Like many ponds in the valley, it was part of a clever water management system: it collected monsoon rain and fed the groundwater that supplied the city's wells and stone spouts during the dry season. It also served for washing, fishing and rituals, and as a reservoir for fighting fires.

Legend of the serpent

A well-known legend says a giant serpent once lived in the pond. A holy man (siddha) decided to kill it: he took the form of a snake himself and entered the water, telling his students to throw a magic powder on him if he did not return in time. The disciples panicked and fled, and the holy man never came out. Some versions say this is why the pond is named Siddha Pokhari. Local elders still tell children not to swim in it.

Today

Paths around the pond make a pleasant walk. Look for the small stone shrines of Shiva, Vishnu and other deities along its banks, and the ducks and fish in the water. In the early morning, residents jog and walk here, and on festival days people bathe or perform rituals at the water's edge. The pond has been cleaned and restored several times in recent decades.

Tip

Buy a snack from one of the nearby stalls and sit on the stone steps before entering the old city. From the pond, walk east up the main street to Durbar Square — about ten to fifteen minutes.