Siddha Pokhari

Of the many ponds in Bhaktapur, SiddhaPokhari is the largest, rectangular pond located near the main city gate. It is called "Ta-Pukhu" in the local tongue which is Newari(Nepal) Bhasa. It is considered as the most ancient pond in Bhaktapur which is known to have many myths associated to it. This 275m×92m pond was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in the early fifteenth century and had undergone many repairs and reconstructions. Nowadays, the pond is of both religious and archeological importance. From this spot a wide range of snowy peaks are visible on clear days.

Out of many myths this one is quite popular. The story goes like : the tantric(person with magical power) upon insistence of his wife showed his power by transforming himself into a snake. The tantric had given some rice grains to his wife and advised her to throw them on his serpent form to bring him back to his original form. The tantric wife, however, got terrified seeing her husband morph into a snake and ran away. Trapped inside a snake's body, the tantric entered the Siddhipokhari fearing that the villagers would kill him. Many believe the tantric still reside in the pond as a snake.