Impressive tour in the city of fine arts and crafts with age-old pagodas and palace
Patan-Lalitpur Tour is an exciting city to explore the ancient heritage cultures of the Newar, the indigenous tribes of Kathmandu Valley.
Patan is also known as Lalitpur, which means city of arts and masterpiece works of handicrafts. Patan-Lalitpur is the adjoining city of Kathmandu, located south across the Baghmati River. Patan or Lalitpur city and its lovely area offer various historical and religious sites. To explore its most important sites, visit the Durbar Square, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The history of Patan / Lalitpur dates back to the hundreds of centuries till the sixth century.
The most beautiful temples and palaces were built from the 6th to 12th Century during the Malla kingdom regime. The main place for the tour is within its colorful Mangal Bazaar, right next to the ancient palace and royal courtyard.
The Durbar Square of Patan is steeped with historical and religious monuments to enjoy the tour. The main place of interest is the Durbar Square complex, situated in the center of Patan city, which houses the residence of the former Patan Royal Family.
Its square and surroundings are good examples of ancient Newari architecture. There are three main courtyards around the palaces to explore Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk.
The Mul Chowk is the oldest one and is at the center of Patan squares. Several multi-sized and multi-styled temple houses the western part of the complex.
Main among these are Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, and the Golden Temple of Hiranya. The Patan-Lalitpur then completes, after an exciting and impressive moment in the city of arts and crafts.
Places of interest around Patan / Lalitpur city:
- Patan Durbar Square
- MulChowk (royal court yard and verandah)
- SundariChowk)
- Keshav Narayan Chowk
- Krishna Temple
- Mahaboudha
- Kumbheshwor
- Jagatnarayan Temple
- Rudra Varna Mahavihar
- The AshokaStupas
- Patan Industrial Estate
- Tibetan Refugee Camp
Patan Durbar Square:
Right in the center of Lalitpur, houses are of ancient Newari architecture. There are three main courtyards in the palace: Mulchowk, Sundarichowk and Keshav Narayan chowk. Mulchowk is the oldest one and is at the centre of Patan square.
Several multi sized and a multi-styled temple houses the western part of the complex. Main among these is Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple and the Golden Temple of Hiranya.
Mul Chowk (royal court yard and verandah:
One of famous and largest courtyards among three main chowks, the Bidya Temple is located at the center of the courtyard and the Taleju temples stand around the courtyard.
Sundari Chowk:
SundariChowk is to the south of the MulChowk with a sunken tank known as TushaHitiMulChowkTaleju Temple.
Keshav Narayan Chowk:
Keshav Narayan Chowk on the northern part with Degutale temple, it is the site of the earliest Malla palace in Patan, the Chowk sits on the older foundations of a Buddhist monastery.
Krishna Temple:
This temple dedicated to Hindu Lord Krishna was erected in the 17th century, considered to be the first one to be built in Shikara architecture, it commands a vital position around durbar square. The elegant shikhara-style temple is ranked as one of the gems of Durbar Square. The temple is compared with sacred Mount Meru, which is abode of the god Shiva according to Hindu scriptures.
Mahaboudha:
A Buddhist temple of Mahaboudha, which is made of clay bricks, lies to the east of the Durbar Square. Hundreds of Buddha images are engraved in the bricks. The temple is known for its fine terra cotta work.
Kumbheshwor:
Just at rim of Drubar square lies five-storied pagoda temple of Lord Siva built by King Jayasthiti Malla, inside the temple premises a natural spring, its source the belief is from 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 JanaiPurnima (month of August), ritual bathing and fair takes place.
Jagatnarayan Temple:
Jagatnarayan temple is a tall shikhara style temple devoted to Lord Vishnu, red bricks are used for the construction. The temple also holds a fine metal statue of Garuda, Ganesh and Hanuman, all related to Hindu religion and mythology.
Rudra Varna Mahavihar:
This Buddhist monastery holds amazing collection of images and idols in metal, stone and wood. Legend holds that the Kings in the ancient times were crowned in this monastery. Many of the treasures offered by the people can be seen here even today.
The Asoka Stupas:
The Indian Emperor Asoka visited Nepal in 250 B.C and constructed four ancient stupa around four corners of Patan. The four stupas are located in Pulchowk, Lagankhel, Imatole and in Teta (way to Sano Gaon) respectively.
Patan Industrial Estate:
Located outside the city suburb near the Stupa at Lagankhel, an interesting place to visit and shopping for souvenirs, where all the handicrafts are hand made from metal, wood to stone art work includes carpet, pashmina shawl are woven here, as Patan / Lalitpur is city of beauty and arts, it will be an opportunity to observe the work and skill of craftsman and to purchase some items from this place.
Tibetan Refugee Camp:
Tibetan Refugee camp located on the south of Patan area near the only Nepal Zoo, where one can observe the happy-cheerful workers weaving carpets.
This place was established in the early 1970s after the Chinese invasion in Tibet where a great number of Tibetan migrated here, and the Nepal Government established this place as a permanent camp or settlement for the Tibetan Refugees here you can shop souvenirs as well.
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