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Patan is one of the oldest Buddhist cities in the world. This is also the oldest city in Nepal. Known as Lalitpur or “Yala” among the Newars.Patan has one of the 3 palaces located in UNESCO Palace Sites in Kathmandu Valley. Panta is surrounded by four stupa in four corners of its cardinal points. They are Gwarko (East), Pulchowk (West),Kumbeshwor (North) and LaganKhel ( South). They were built by Emperor Ashoka of the Indian Subcontinent. Patan is full of different carvings, architectures, temples, stupa for many buddhist and hindu temples. It is full of different unique mixtures of styles of architecture and beauty.
It is not sure who built these palaces. Some give credit to The Malla Dynasty, some to Pradhanas who settled before them, and some inclined that it was the Thakuri Dynasty who built those palaces. Though many of the current architecture present today are attributed to the Malla Dynasty.
Though many tourists just travel to the durbar square in Patan, there are many places in Patan that are suitable to travel.
Patan Museum
Patan museum includes many heritage sites of Patan and Nepal. Patan museum consists of many cast bronze and Gilded copper works od hindu and buddhist deities. They also have many ancient metal works, woodcrafts and much information about Patan. They have many photos of Patan in the 19th to 20th centuries.
Krishna Temple
Krishna Temple is the only temple in Nepal made with 21 shrines and made with stones. It was built by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla in 1637. It is said that one night King Siddhi Narshingh Malla saw Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna in the Palace. He built the temple in the same spot.
Bhimsen Temple
Bhimsen Temple is famous for their interconnected golden windows but no tourists are allowed in this temple. Bhimsen was the god of business and wealth. This temple was built during the reign of King Srinivasa Malla. This temple has gone through major reconstructions through many disasters in 1692,1934,1967 and the earthquake in April 2015.
VishwaNath Temple
Vishwa Nath temple is the temple of Shiva with 2 elephants made of stone in the entrance. This temple was made in the reign of King Siddhi Narshingha Malla . Though it was destroyed by the Earthquake in April 2015, it has been completely restored.
Taleju Bell
Taleju Bell was placed by King Vishnu Malla in 1736 and was donated to Rato Machindranath Temple in 1703. This was made by the ancient King for his citizens to solve their grievances to the King.The buildings below the bells include coffee shops, bookshops and many small shops.
Chyasin Dewal (Krishna Temple)
Chyasin Dewal was built by Yoghamati, daughter of King Yoghendra Malla in the honor of 32 wives who gave sati in his death. Sati was an evil custom in Hindu Religion where wives give up their lives in the pyre of their husband’s death. It was abolished by Chandra Sumsher Rana.
Hari Shanker Temple
Hari Shanker Temple was built by Princess Yogamati, the daughter of King Yogendra Malla. This temple was built to worship Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
It was destroyed in the April 2015 earthquake and restored in 2019.
King Yogendra Malla’s Column
Near the Hari Shankar temple, you’ll find the statue of King Yoganarendra Malla sitting atop a pillar with his two wives, a cobra next to them and a bird on the head of the cobra.
The legend says that as long as the bird is on the statue, the King Yoganarendra Malla will eventually return to his Kingdom.
That is why a window of the Palace is always kept open. The King shortly disappeared after this proclamation, and the people of Patan still believe in his return.
Char Narayan Temple
Char Narayan Temple is the oldest temple in the Durbar. It was built by Pundarashima. This temple was dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple was destroyed by April 2015 earthquake and rebuilt in 2020.
Main Chowks in the Patan Durbar Square
Mul Chowk
Mul Chowk is the largest of three main Chowk of the Royal Palace. You can find the temple of Yantaju, a personal deity of the Malla Kings in the middle of the chowk. You can also find the famous Taleju Bawani Temple and Delgute Temple in this Chowk. This Chowk was rebuilt by Srinivasa Malla in 1666.
Sundari Chowk
Sundari Chowk is the smallest of the 3 main Chowk. It is well known for being the prettiest among the 3 chowk and the royal bath ‘Tusha Hiti’, built in 1647 by King Siddhi Narasimha Malla.
Kesav Narayan Chowk
Kesav Narayan Chowk was the residential courtyard of Malla Kings. This Chowk is famous for its stunning Golden Gate and its two lions (one female and one male) guarding the entrance. Keshav Narayan Chowk also houses the Patan museum. It was built in 1734.
Bhandarkhal Garden
Bandarkhan Garden was the Royal Water Supply station. It was built in 1647.
