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Favorite thing: The largest and the oldest courtyard of the former royal palace let’s you discover exquisite sculptures on the surrounding buildings, together with good views over the palace’s three Taleju temples. The entrance is guarded by two stone lions, and there is s small gilded temple in the middle of the courtyard.
Written Jan 28, 2007
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Favorite thing: The tall column in front of the Taleju Temple and the royal palace is topped by a golden figure of King Yoganarendra Malla (1684 – 1705). The king is in kneeling position over a lotus bud and is protected by a cobra. A small bird rests on the head of the cobra.
The kings’ statue faces his palace since 1700, and legend says that as long as the bird remains on the head of the cobra, the king may still return to his palace. For this purpose, a door and a window of the former royal palace are always kept open.
Written Jan 28, 2007
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Favorite thing: Another temple dedicated to Krishna, bearing the same Indian design with its Shikhara style spire on top, completes the front line of temples in the Durbar square of Patan. The stairway to it, which faces the palace’s Sundari Chowk, is guarded by two stone lions, another vehicles of Vishnu.
The temple was built in the early 18th century.
Written Jan 28, 2007
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Favorite thing: This temple of Lord Krishna built in the 17th century by King Siddhi Nardingh Malla holds a commanding position in the Durbar square of Patan. Its Indian design, with Shikhara style spire, contrasts the nearby brick and timber, multiroof Newari temples, standing evidence for the stronger Mughal influence in the Valley in the 17th century.
It is the only temple in Nepal having 21 golden pinnacles. Most of the important scenes from the ancient Hindu epics have been engraved on its freezes: Mahabharata scenes engraved on the 1st floor and Ramayana ones on the 2nd.
The column facing the temple has the statue of the mythical man-bird Garuda on its top, on a kneeling position and with folded arms. The explanation is as simple as it gets: Krishna is one of the incarnations of Vishnu, and Garuda is one of the vehicles of Vishnu. One big happy family :-)
Written Jan 28, 2007
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Favorite thing: Elaborately decorated two-roofed temple built in the first half of the 17th century, with two large stone elephants guarding the front entrance. The pillars are particularly ornate. Shiva’s vehicle, the bull, is on the other side of the temple, while inside is a large lingam. Restored in recent years.
Written Jan 28, 2007
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Favorite thing: Bhimsen was a super-strong hero of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and was later included in the Pantheon of Hindu deities as the god of trade and business. This can possibly explain the well-kept and prosperous look of this temple north of Durbar sq., as well as its “expensive upgrades” - an artificial marble façade.
The temple has three stories and was rebuilt towards the end of the 17th century. Restored after the earthquake of 1934 as well as in 1967.
Written Jan 28, 2007
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Bhimsen was a super-strong hero of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and was later included in the Pantheon of Hindu deities as the god of trade and business. This can...
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The nicest place in Kathmandu Valley
Beetween Kathmandu and Patan there is only the holy River “Bagmati”, a.k.a. the “Mother Gange” in India. Patan is maybe the most beautifull, interesting, amazing city in the whole area of Kathmandu......
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PATAN (Lalitpur in Sanskrit, or Yala in Newari)
....as long as the bird remains on the head of the cobra, the king may still return to his palace....hence, a door and a window of the former royal palace have been kept open during the last 100...
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Patan the Ancient Capital of Nepal.
Lalitpur is believed to have been founded in the third century B.C. by the Kirat dynasty and later expanded by Lichhavis in the sixth century. It was further expanded by the Mallas during the medieval...
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Patan is the second largest city in Nepal, after Kathmandu. It is separated from Kathmandu by Bagmati river. In ancient times, it was named Lalitpur, the city of the beauty. Its map is a mandala: in...
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Some eight kilometers south of central Kathmandu situated on a plateau across the Bagmati river is the lovely little city called Latipur, also known as Patan, the city of fine arts. Of the three Royal...
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