Patan
Nepal · Bagmati · 1350 m
Description
Patan (पाटन), officially Lalitpur, faces Kathmandu across the Bagmati and is the oldest of the valley's three royal cities. Its Durbar Square is the densest of the three, a compact stage of Newar palaces and stone temples where the 17th-century Krishna Mandir stands out for being carved entirely from stone rather than brick and timber. The Golden Temple, a Buddhist courtyard monastery properly called Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, hides behind an unremarkable lane and is still tended by its own priests. Patan has been the valley's metalworking centre for centuries, and its workshops still cast bronze and repoussé statues that are sold across the Himalaya. The Patan Museum, housed in a restored palace wing, is widely held to be the best museum in Nepal.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: March – April or October – November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Patan Durbar Square
- Krishna Mandir
- Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar)
- Patan Museum
- Sundari Chowk with Tusha Hiti
- Mul Chowk
- Keshav Narayan Chowk
- Mahabouddha Temple
- Kumbheshwar Temple
- Vishwanath Temple
- Bhimsen Temple
- Yog Narendra Malla Column
- Taleju Bell
- Rudravarna Mahavihar (Uku Bahal)
- Rato Machhendranath Temple
- Kumari House of Patan
- Mangal Bazaar
- Ashoka Stupas of Patan
- Pim Bahal Pokhari
- Kirtipur Old Town(Day trip)
- Central Zoo Jawalakhel
- Jawalakhel Tibetan Handicraft Centre
- Godavari Botanical Garden(Day trip)
- Bishwakarma Temple
- Balkumari Temple
- Rato Machhendranath Jatra (April - June)
- Bungamati Village(Day trip)
- Khokana Village(Day trip)
- Phulchowki Hill(Day trip)