Kathmandu Patan Tour

Patan Durbar Square
Mul Chowk (royal court yard and verandah)
Sundari Chowk
Keshav Narayan Chowk
Krishna Mandir
Mahaboudha
Kumbheshwor
Jagat narayan Temple
Rudra Varna Mahavihar
The Ashoka Stupas
Patan Industrial Estate
Tibetan Refugee Camp

The Patan Durbar Square lies in the heart of Patan city. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lalitupur. Houses in the center of Lalitpur showcase ancient Newari architecture. You can see traditional paintings and wood, metal, and stone carvings. The palace has three main courtyards: Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Mul Chowk is the oldest courtyard at the center of Patan Durbar Square.

The western part of the complex is home to several multi-sized and multi-styled temples, the main ones being the Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple, and Golden Temple of Hiranya. Moreover, the square houses hundreds of antiques dating back to the 15th century.

Mul Chowk is one of the most famous and largest courtyards among the three main chowks. There is the Bidya Temple in the center of the royal courtyard. Similarly, the Taleju Temple stands in the north direction while overlooking Patan Durbar Square. In the northeastern corner of the square sits the Degutalle Temple, with an octagonal triple-roofed tower. Yantaju, one of the goddess Durga’s avatars, is the courtyard’s central deity. Fire destroyed the original buildings in 1662, but Srinivasa Malla restored it three years later.

Sundari Chowk is south of Mul Chowk and has a carved sunken water tank. It is the smallest courtyard in Patan. It sits at the complex’s south end. It was built by Siddhi Narasimha Malla in 1628. The elaborately carved hiti (fountain) is at the center—72 carved stone plaques depicting tantric deities on the water tank. Three exquisite statues of Hanuman, Ganesh, and Vishnu, such as Narsingha, exist at the gateway of the Chowk.

Keshav Narayan Chowk primarily serves as the Patan Museum, which has a magnificent collection of ancient artifacts and is the site of the earliest Malla palace. Similarly, the Chowk sits on the older foundations of a Buddhist monastery. The northern wing of the Chowk houses the museum. The east wing houses an administrative office, while the south hosts various cultural events and exhibitions. The west wing hosts multiple workshops and seminars. The center courtyard of the Keshav Narayan Chowk has a space for gathering and other activities.

The Krishna Temple (Mandir) is dedicated to the Hindu God, Lord Krishna. King Siddhi Narsing Malla built the temple in the 17th century. It is considered the first temple built in Shikara architecture and commands a vital position around the square. It is the gem of Patan Durbar Square. The mandir is regarded as a holy abode of Lord Krishna and has three stories with 21 golden pinnacles. The mandir’s first floor enshrines Lord Krishna, the second enshrines Lord Shiva, and the third enshrines God Lokeshwor.

To the east of Square lies Mahaboudha, the Buddhist temple. The temple’s history dates back to 1585. The temple has a Shikara style and is loosely modeled on the Mahaboudha Temple at Bodhgaya in India. Hundreds of Buddha images are engraved on the bricks of the temple. Hence, Mahaboudha is also famously known as “the temple of a thousand Buddhas.” The temple has some of the finest terra cotta work. A small shrine in the corner of the courtyard enshrines Lord Buddha’s mother, Maya Devi.

Just at the rim of Square lies the five-storied pagoda temple of Lord Shiva, built by King Jayasthiti Malla. Inside the temple premises is a natural spring, its source believed to be the famous glacial lake of Gosainkunda around Langtang Himal of Rasuwa district. The golden work on the temple was added later in 1422 A.D. On the festival of Janai Purnima (month of August), ritual bathing and a fair take place at Khumbheshwor.

Jagat Narayan temple is a tall shikhara-style temple devoted to Lord Vishnu. Jagat Sumshere constructed it in 1855 AD using red bricks. The temple also holds a fine metal statue of Hindu deities Garuda, Ganesh, and Hanuman.

Rudra Varna Mahavihar is a Buddhist monastery with an exquisite collection of images and idols in metal, stone, and wood. The temple is in the southern part of Patan Durbar Square. Legend holds that Kings were crowned in this monastery in ancient times. Many of the treasures the people offered back then are displayed at the monastery for visitors. The monastery complex has three courtyards, each with unique features.

The Indian Emperor Asoka visited Nepal in 250 B.C. and constructed four ancient stupas around four corners of Patan. The southern stupa is the Lagan Tharu Stupa, the largest among the four Ashoka Stupas. Located east of Patan’s Tyagal Tole is the Teta Thura, or eastern stupa. It is the second-largest Ashoka Stupa. Pucho Thura is the western stupa in the Pulchowk area of Patan. The fourth and final Ashoka Stupa is the Ibahi Thura or northern stupa. It is the smallest yet the most complex Ashoka Stupa.

Located outside the city suburb near the Stupa at Lagankhel, Patan Industrial Estate is an exciting place to visit. You can also shop for souvenirs here, as there are numerous handicraft workshops around the area. The handicrafts are hand-made from metal, wood, and stone artwork. The authentic Nepali carpets and pashmina shawls are woven here, as Patan / Lalitpur is the city of beauty and arts. Visiting the estate will allow one to observe artisans’ work and skills and purchase some items to return home.

Many Tibetan nationals fled their home country and took refuge in Nepal during the 1960s. Hence, the Tibetan Refugee Camp of Patan was set up. The camp lies on the outskirts of Patan. The Tibetan people brought with them their beautiful carpet-weaving skills in Nepal. It soon became the carpet industry hub and a tourist attraction. Aside from carpets, the shops around the area sell handicrafts like wooden prayer wheels, wooden bowls, silver/ bronze crafts, jewelry, etc. There are also small shrines and a stupa inside the refugee camp.