Bisket Jatra 2027: Bhaktapur's New Year Festival, Dates, What Happens and How to See It

Updated 21 October 2026. New Year date checked on Hamropatro.

Short answer: Bisket Jatra is Bhaktapur's nine-day New Year festival, held around the Nepali New Year, which in 2027 is Wednesday 14 April. Its centre is the giant chariot of the god Bhairav at Taumadhi Square, pulled in a tug of war between the upper and lower halves of the old city, and the raising and felling of a tall wooden pole. In 2027 the New Year (Baisakh 1, 2084) is Wednesday 14 April, so I expect the festival to run from about 10 to 18 April. The New Year date is on the Hamropatro calendar; the other days are expected from the 2026 pattern until the Bhaktapur committee publishes its schedule. A Bhaktapur day tour with us costs USD 120 Budget, USD 165 Standard and USD 205 Luxury per person for two to four people.

I am Shreejan. Of all the festivals in Nepal, this is the one I tell visitors to plan a trip around if they can. It is loud, crowded, a bit chaotic and completely real. It is not a show for tourists. It is Bhaktapur's own New Year, and you are a guest. This page tells you what happens, when to go, how to avoid the worst of the crowds and what it costs to see it properly with a guide.

What is Bisket Jatra?

Bisket Jatra (also spelt Biska Jatra) is a festival of the old kingdom of Bhaktapur, in the Kathmandu Valley. It follows the solar calendar, unlike most Nepali festivals, which follow the moon, so its date is almost fixed each year. The New Year falls on 13 or 14 April, and on 14 April in 2027. Two folk stories explain it, both ending with two serpents killed and shown on a pole, one involving a king and a tantric priest and one a cursed princess and the goddess Bhadrakali. Historians say the oldest part of the festival is the pair of red banners shown at the New Year, which are not tied to the serpent stories. I do not choose between the legends. I tell you what I see.

Distances and timings are approximate. Roads around the old city are closed or slow on the big days.

What happens during the nine days?

The order below follows the published accounts of the 2026 festival. Only the New Year date, Wednesday 14 April 2027, is confirmed. The other days are expected, counting back and forward from it, and I will confirm the schedule with the local committee before your trip.

The festival is a religious event for the families who live in Bhaktapur. Dress modestly, keep clear of the ropes, ask before you photograph a person, and do not climb the temple platforms unless you are asked up.

What should I know before going?

Three things. First, book your hotel early. Mid April is also good trekking weather, so rooms in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur fill. Second, do not plan a single tight day. Crowds and closed roads make a one-hour drive into two. Third, bring a hat and water. April is hot in the valley. I plan Bisket days with a guide who knows the side streets and the places where you can see the chariot without being crushed. If you also want a trek, April is a fine month for Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill. See the Nepal festival calendar for the other dates.

How do I see Bisket Jatra with The Everest Holiday?

We do not run a special festival package. We run Bhaktapur day tours, and I time one to match the chariot days. Entrance fees to Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Changunarayan are included on the day tour. Choose from two:

• Bhaktapur and Changunarayan day tour, the old city plus the hilltop temple
• Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Square day tour, two royal squares in one day

These are the prices on the trip pages today, in US dollars per person. The price falls as the group grows. On festival days I may need to adjust the route or the pick-up time because of road closures, and I will tell you before you pay. Kathmandu hotels are not included in the day tours. For how an ordinary Bhaktapur day runs, read the Bhaktapur day trip guide and Bhaktapur and Patan in one day.

When is the best time to visit Bhaktapur?

Frequently asked questions

When is Bisket Jatra in 2027? The Nepali New Year, Baisakh 1, 2084, is Wednesday 14 April 2027. The festival runs nine days, so I expect it from about 10 to 18 April, with the pole raised around 13 April and lowered on the evening of 14 April. Only the New Year date is confirmed. I will confirm the other days with the Bhaktapur committee before you book flights.

What is Bisket Jatra? Bhaktapur's New Year festival, built around a huge chariot of Bhairav, a tug of war between two halves of the city and a tall wooden pole.

Where is Bisket Jatra held? Mainly in Bhaktapur, at Taumadhi Square, Gahiti and Lyasinkhel. Thimi and Bode have their own events.

Is it safe for tourists? Yes, but it is crowded and there is pushing at the chariot. Keep valuables close, stay away from the ropes and stay with your guide.

Is it good for children? Children enjoy it, but the crowds and the noise can be too much. Choose a side street and a quieter day.

How far is Bhaktapur from Kathmandu? About 13 km east. On festival days allow much more time than usual.

Do I need to buy a ticket? The festival itself is free in the streets. The entrance fees to Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Changunarayan are included on our day tours.

Can I combine Bisket Jatra with a trek? Yes. April is a good month for Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill. Start with the festival and trek afterwards.

How do payment and cancellation work?

You pay a deposit of 10 per cent to book and the balance when you meet us in Kathmandu, in US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. Cash carries no fee, and card carries a 3.5 per cent bank charge. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.

The deposit is non-refundable, and there is no refund if you cancel yourself. I can move your trip free of charge to any date within one year, with at least 72 hours notice. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent on your behalf.

What is the next step?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with the dates you are thinking of and the size of your group. I will tell you which days of the festival fall in your window, and whether I would book the tour for the chariot or for a quieter day.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.