Patan
This unique Buddhist monastery is just north of Durbar Sq. It was allegedly founded in the 12th century, and it has existed in its current form since 1409…
Must-see attractions in Patan
Patan
South of the Patan Museum, a gateway opens onto the stately Mul Chowk, the largest and oldest of the Royal Palace’s three main chowk (squares). The…
Patan
Formerly the residence of the Malla kings, the section of the Royal Palace surrounding Keshav Narayan Chowk now houses one of the finest collections of…
Patan
Heading into Durbar Sq, you can’t miss the splendid Krishna Mandir built by King Siddhinarsingh Malla in 1637. Constructed from carved stone – in…
Patan
South of Mul Chowk is the smaller Sundari Chowk, arranged around a superbly carved sunken water tank known as the Tusha Hiti. The chowk was restored in…
Patan
Forming the entire eastern side of Durbar Sq, the Royal Palace of Patan was originally built in the 14th century, and expanded during the 17th and 18th…
Patan
Almost directly across the road from the Minnath Temple, down an alley, a white-columned gateway leads to the wide, open square containing the revered…
Patan
The ancient royal palace of Patan faces on to magnificent Durbar Sq. This concentrated mass of temples is perhaps the most visually stunning display of…
Patan
The entry to Patan Museum is through the Royal Palace's superb Golden Gate. Installed in 1734, this finely engraved and gilded gateway is topped by a…
Patan
As you step through the entryway of this hard-to-find courtyard in the southeast of Patan, the temple suddenly looms above you, crammed in like a plant…
Patan
Due north of Durbar Sq is the eye-catching Kumbeshwar Temple, one of the valley’s three five-storey temples. This tall, thin mandir (temple) features some…
King Yoganarendra Malla’s Statue
Patan
South of the Jagannarayan Temple is a tall column topped by a striking brass statue of King Yoganarendra Malla (r 1684–1705) and his queens. Installed in…
Patan
Nepal's decade-long civil war has been marked by a photo exhibition that brings the conflict poignantly to life. Based on the book A People War by Nepali…
Patan
At the northern end of Durbar Sq, the Bhimsen Temple is dedicated to the god of trade and business, which may explain its prosperous appearance. One of…
Patan
South of the Mahabouddha Temple, this ancient Buddhist monastery is one of the best known in Patan. The main courtyard is jam-packed with statuary and…
Patan
Just 200m south of I Baha Bahi, a large water tank marks the entrance to a courtyard strewn with wooden beams. In the centre is the brightly painted, two…
Patan
South of the Bhimsen Temple stands the Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Shiva. This elaborately decorated two-tiered pagoda was built in 1627 and it…
Patan
Immediately across from Bhimsen Temple is the sunken Manga Hiti, one of the water conduits with which Patan is liberally endowed. The tank contains a…
Patan
This temple is dedicated to Hari Shankar, a curious hybrid deity that has half the attributes of Vishnu and half the attributes of Shiva. Although it…
Patan
The highlight of Sundari Chowk is the superbly carved sunken water tank known as the Tusha Hiti. Built in 1647, the renovated tank has 72 carved stone…
Patan
Fronted by a pair of barrel-chested lions, dedicated to Vishnu as Narayan, the creator of the universe, and dating from 1565, this was the oldest temple…
Patan
Facing the Royal Palace is a huge, ancient bell, hanging between two stout pillars, erected by King Vishnu Malla in 1736. Petitioners could ring the bell…
Patan
On the south side of Mul Chowk is the Taleju Bhawani Temple, flanked by statues of the river goddesses Ganga, on a tortoise, and Jamuna, on a makara. The…
Patan
This attractive, octagonal stone temple completes the ‘front line’ of temples in Durbar Sq. It has strong architectural similarities to the Krishna temple…
Patan
Just a one-minute walk south of Durbar Sq, a large doorway flanked by black lions with Cheshire-cat grins leads to a quiet bahal containing the I Baha…
Patan
Nepal’s only zoo is in southwestern Patan by the Jawalakhel roundabout. The animals live in better conditions than you might expect and there are always…
Patan
West of the Royal Palace, behind the statue of King Yoganarendra Malla are three smaller Vishnu temples, including a brick-and-plaster shikhara temple,…
Patan
This large pond is a hidden gem centred around a charming lakeshore pavilion. On the north side is three-tiered Chandeswari Temple built in 1663. Walk…
Patan
Overlooking the Manga Hiti tank, the two wooden pavilions known as the Mani Mandap were built in 1700 for use in the elaborate ceremonies at royal…
Patan
Northeast of the Pim Bahal Pokhari is Sulima Sq, a crumbling brick-lined space with a 17th-century Mahadev (Shiva) shrine. On the east side of the square…
Patan
Mul Chowk houses the small, gilded, central Bidyapith Temple, beside a wooden post used to secure animals for sacrifices. The central deity is Yantaju, a…
Patan
One of four Ashoka stupas marking the old city limits of Patan. Located beyond the Kumbeshwar Temple, on the way to the Sankhamul Ghats.
Patan
Peer inside this temple to see a very beautiful black-stone relief of Shiva and Parvati in the pose known as Uma Maheshwar – the god sitting cross-legged…
Patan
To the east of Sundari Chowk is the recently restored Bhandarkhal water tank, once the main water supply for the palace and featuring a charming…
Patan
One of four Ashoka stupas marking the old city limits of Patan. Located south of the Lagankhel bus stand, crowning a hilltop and offering good views over…
Patan
This Buddhist stupa is on the eastern approach to Durbar Sq, and one of four Ashoka stupas showing Patan's old city limits.
Patan
This small Tibetan Buddhist monastery is across the road from the Tibetan-refugee Jawalakhel Handicraft Centre.
Patan
This courtyard-style Buddhist monastery is located behind the grass-covered Western Ashoka Stupa in Pulchowk.
Patan
One of four Ashoka stupas marking the old city limits of Patan. Covered in grass beside the main road at Pulchowk.