Page 4Bhaktapur's old townsquare unfolds as a web of brick-lined gullies-narrow alleys known locally as galli-threading between tiered temples, courtyards and centuries-old Newar townhouses. Sunlight filters in slivers, catching the deep red of fired brick and the dark sheen of carved wooden lattices. Each lane bends around a shrine or a dabali (ritual platform), linking neighborhood squares like the Durbar and Pottery Square into a walkable, living museum. E
Page 8hese gullies are as functional as they are beautiful. Subtle street gradients and shallow runnels guide monsoon rain toward stone spouts (dhunge dhara or hiti) and communal ponds, an ecological design refined over generations to ease flooding and replenish water sources. Raised thresholds, stepped entries and tight building lines channel water and people with equal care, blending urban craft with hydrology.
Page 11Life animates the alleys from dawn to dusk. Sweepers sprinkle water to settle dust; incense curls from wayside shrines; the tap-tap of woodcarvers and the low thrum of potters' wheels drift from courtyards. Processions for festivals like Bisket Jatra thread through the gullies, drums echoing off brick walls, turning everyday passageways into ceremonial routes. In Bhaktapur, the gully is not just a shortcut-it is the city's memory, infrastructure and stage.