Why there is less number of tourist in Bhaktapur?
Bhaktapur is a living museum; no doubt about it. It is very close to Kathmandu and International Airport plus reaching Bhaktapur is very easy. Yet the number of tourist in Bhaktapur is very less compared to Thamel area or Pokhara.
Most tourist who visits Bhaktapur doesn’t spend the night here and rather go to Nagarkot or Thamel or Jhamsikhel to spend their night.
The main reason, in my opinion, is because of radical conservatives of Bhaktapur. They did their part of conserving heritage very well but failed to promote it and create a proper market for tourists.
There was a time when Thamel had foxes running around and Jhamsikhel was nothing but a field. Now, if you go and visit these places at night you will see more tourist in these places than in Bhaktapur.
After 8 PM, streets of Bhaktapur becomes silent and you will see only a few of the people walking around. Almost all business closes their door. Restaurant and local hotels open their gate till 10 PM if police don’t come and force them to close the door.
The main reason tourist don’t stay in Bhaktapur is; there is no night life here. The tourist doesn’t come just to see heritage area. Most of them are here to spend a holiday, they need night life. It is logical they get bored by 8 pm curfew. And rather spend the night in Thamel area or Jhamsikhel.
Even good amount of local in Bhaktapur spend their weekend or festival like new year in these areas. Who goes to Pokhara just to see the lake and return to their room at 8 PM and sleep?

