Experience Water Cycling in Bhaktapur: A Unique Adventure at Na Pukhu Pond

Bhaktapur is a city rich in history, culture, and ancient architecture. Thousands of tourists flock to Bhaktapur every day to enjoy the majestic Bhaktapur Durbar Square and admire the beautiful surroundings. An already rich list of exciting things to see and do has now been updated with the recent addition of an unusual adventure in the Na Pukhu pond: Water Cycling in Bhaktapur.

Water Cycling is basically cycling in the water. What makes it exciting is that the cycles float on the water and can be directed left or right with the help of pedals. This innovative tourist activity not only provides something unique for tourists to experience but also utilizes an otherwise neglected pond in the heart of the city, shining some light on its historical significance.

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Getting to Na Pukhu Pond

Na Pukhu pond is only a 10-minute walk from Bhaktapur Durbar Square. You can follow this location labeled as “Na Pukhu” on Google Maps to reach the destination. If you feel confused, you can ask the locals for “Na Pukhu,” and they can guide you as it is quite well-known among the residents.

As an alternative, you can also take a short ride in a taxi or a rickshaw to reach the pond.

water cycling in bhaktapur two people cycling — Photos provided by Watercycle Nepal

two watercycles in bhaktapur napukhu pond — Photos provided by Watercycle Nepal

What to Expect While Water Cycling

There are three types of cycles that you can choose from: single seat, double seat, and triple seat. I tried a double-seat cycle, and the pedaling technique was quite simple, though it took us some time to fully align.

When you are on a double-seat cycle, you have to pedal in sync with each other. If both cyclists pedal forward, the cycle goes forward, and if pedaled backward, the cycle moves back. To go left, the person on the right has to pedal forward while the person on the left does nothing, and vice versa. It seems confusing, but you’ll get the hang of it once you’re there. The bottom line is that it’s so easy, and you don’t have to know how to cycle to do this.

Practical Information on Water Cycling in Bhaktapur

It will cost you NPR 200 per person to cycle for 15 minutes. The time will be enough to complete two rounds of the pond. If you’re a Bhaktapur local, then you can use the services for only NPR 100, except on Saturdays and public holidays.

The water cycling is open every day from 11 AM to 6 PM. The place was quite busy on a Saturday, so I would advise you to arrive 30 minutes before the closing time, at the latest.

Safety is highly prioritized by the staff, as they do not allow anyone to cycle without wearing a life jacket. Additionally, there is a rescue cycle with a dedicated rescue team on standby at all times in case anything unexpected happens.

two boys water cycling together in a pond — Photos by Watercycle Nepal

a boy and a girl watercycling together in bhaktapur napukhu pond — Photos by Watercycle Nepal

I enjoyed my experience of water cycling in the pond. It was something that I had never done before. I could relate it somewhat to boating, but the feeling of riding a cycle on water gave it an interesting twist. I think this is an activity that visitors should try out if they are visiting Bhaktapur.