Submit your Article

As a child, I spent countless hours playing with friends on open fields and bare ground. Growing up in Bhaktapur felt like growing up in one big open space, where I could wander freely without restrictions. My parents often warned me not to stay outside too long because they worried about my safety. Today, the situation has completely reversed: we have to encourage children to go outside and take a break from their mobile phones. Bhaktapur once had many open spaces, and even now a few grounds and resting areas remain, though far and few in between. Sita aunty, my neighbor who has known me since childhood, grew up in Suryabinayak. She recalls roaming Bhaktapur’s alleys every day. Children were usually sent to school at the age of five, and they explored the city more freely than today. “Nowadays, parents are so busy with their work that giving a mobile phone to their children feels convenient and reliable,” she said. “They feel at least their children are indoors and not wandering wherever they please.” She added, “I had more friends outside my school than inside. But now children stay indoors and don’t learn how to make friends or communicate.” While talking, she recalled places where she once played, many of which have now turned into concrete buildings. Only one space remains, now divided between a playground and a cremation area. Deepak Byanju, another local from Bhaktapur in his 40s who grew up in Golmadhi, also misses his old neighborhood. There were fewer vehicles back then, he said, and children could move around freely without disturbance. Today, the area has become crowded, mainly due to the influx of domestic and international tourists who shop there. “I miss my old home environment where I played with my neighborhood friends,” he said. “But I feel sad for my child, who barely goes outside. The only places he steps out to are the veranda or the roof, and even then he’s on his phone.” Byanju added that rapid construction and infrastructure expansion have swallowed play areas. At the same time, everything children need is now available on a phone, making outdoor exploration feel unnecessary to them. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) has developed new resource materials to support the government’s goal of declaring all 753 local levels as ‘child-friendly zones’ by 2030. To achieve this, MoFAGA has set out a comprehensive strategy, mainstreaming child rights, policy advocacy, institutional strengthening, partnerships, community mobilisation, social accountability, equitable programming, behavioural change initiatives, and strong monitoring and evaluation. Local governments must meet several indicators to achieve child-friendly status, including building playgrounds and ensuring access to open spaces. Bhaktapur’s urban structure reflects its Newar heritage, with attached houses and narrow alleys. But because it is also a city of festivals, the main roads remain comparatively wide to accommodate celebrations. When it comes to children’s play spaces, Bhaktapur still relies heavily on its traditional environment: small alleys, chowks, temple premises, pati/phalcha (communal resting shelters), and, most prominently, Bhaktapur Durbar Square. These are the places where children gather safely and spend their time. The narrow alleys are so interconnected that no matter which one you take, you will eventually end up at the same familiar place. Chowks, small courtyards surrounded by houses, provide safe spaces for play in the city’s core. Pati and phalcha (traditional public shelters near temples and crossroads) serve as lively social hubs where children often gather. And then there is Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a large open area free of traffic, where children can run, play, and relax after school or on weekends. But the population has grown and the generation has changed. Bhaktapur District’s population rose from 304,651 in 2011 to 432,132 in 2021. Bhaktapur Municipality itself grew between 2001 and 2011 but saw a slight decline by 2021, possibly due to saturation of the old urban core. Changunarayan’s population jumped from 58,006 in 2011 to 88,083 in 2021. Madhyapur Thimi steadily expanded from 47,751 in 2001 to 119,756 in 2021, emerging as a major residential and commercial hub. Suryabinayak grew fastest—from 55,744 in 2001 to 140,085 in 2021—likely driven by urbanisation, new housing, and migration. Rabindra Sapkota, spokesperson for Suryabinayak Municipality, said, “As part of being a child-friendly municipality, we are institutionalizing at least one playground in each ward.” For a proper playground, government land is needed, which is difficult to secure. As a result, the municipality has built football courts, badminton courts, and open spaces across many wards. “We plan to declare child-friendly wards by 2026, guided by standards that include education, playgrounds, and more,” he said. According to Sapkota, Ward 7 has two to three open parks; Ward 6 has football courts with weekly training; Ward 8 has both football and badminton courts. Similar facilities are coming up in other wards. Each ward has contributed Rs 1 million, and the municipality has allocated Rs 10m. He estimates that around Rs 20m will be spent on the initiative this year. Damodar Suwal, spokesperson of Bhaktapur Municipality, said, “Bhaktapur is built in a way that we must consider everyone. Our infrastructure reflects this, as do our heritage sites, festivals, and celebrations.” He added that the municipality has built pati pauwa, chowks, and dabali (open stages for rituals, theatre, and festivals) where people can gather and rest. Children continue to enjoy playing in these culturally rich surroundings. Bhaktapur still has several open spaces, including Mahiswori playground, Kamalbinayak, Libali, and Sahid Smriti grounds, open to all age groups. “Most chowks,” Suwal added, “include wells, pati, dhunge dhara (stone taps), and dyo chhen (temples). Every ward has its own space meant for people of all types.” The Bagmati Province Child-Friendly Local Governance (CFLG) Monitoring Team visited Changunarayan Municipality on 6 Nov 2025 to assess its progress as the first CFLG-declared municipality in the Kathmandu Valley. Since securing the designation in 2021 by meeting rigorous MoFAGA guidelines and 51 indicators, Changunarayan has strengthened child clubs, improved infrastructure, eliminated child labor in 52 brick kilns, and built inclusive governance mechanisms such as child networks. Mayor Khatri said the nearly Rs 3m allocated annually for children is “an investment in future citizens and leaders.” Krishna Hari Acharya, a ward chairperson from Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, added, “We already have four playgrounds, parks, and open spaces near ponds, and even more are coming. At dawn, children as young as six run across the football fields. We’ve started sports training through a local club to nurture young talent. Slides and swings brighten the open spaces, and new play areas are rising one after another as we work to create a truly child-friendly environment.”