Patan, Nepal

The Golden Temple is a Tibetan Buddhist temple located right north of Patan's Durbar Square, just a 2-minute walk away. The entrance is something like 20 N.Rs. and goes to benefit the temple. There are many interesting images inside the temple, as well as some turtles and rats. Upstairs there is a monastery that you can visit. If you are lucky you may get to hear the monks chant.

The Kumbeshwar Mandir in Patan is a popular Hindu temple and is an interesting place to see undisturbed Hindu culture at its best. It was built in 1392 and has remained quite the same ever since (one more level was added to the temple though). It is a little further past the Golden temple, north of Patan's Durbar Square. There is no entrance fee, but note that non-Hindus are not allowed inside the actual temple buildings (but we can go around the temples). There is a holy water tank here that attracts Hindu pilgrims.

Pataan is the one-time city state which lies directly south of Kathmandu. The two cities have grown together now, but Pataan maintains its Newari individuality a bit more. The Durbar Square feels smaller than that at Bhaktapur because a large earthquake knocked down many of the buildings in Bhaktapur, giving more space. Pataan's durbar square revels in the intricacies of Newari architecture. Temples and palaces intermingled with the bustling of the city. There are several other quite outstanding temples in the city as well both Hindu and Buddhist.

It is located across the Bagmati River, facing the Kathmandu, but quieter than Kathmandu. A city renowned for its fine craftmanship. It gives me the impression that the women are more educated as many of them are working group, dressed smartly and looked more confident.

Entrance fee for foreigners starts from Np Rp200.

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"The most picturesque collection of buildings that have been set up in so small a place by the piety of oriental man" as per Percival London, or, in modern terms, "temple overload", as per LP, Patan boasts some of the finest examples of Newari architecture in Nepal, as well as the highest concentration of monuments within the entire Kathmandu valley – over 1200 temples, stupas, bahals of various shapes and sizes scattered throughout the squares and the fascinating backstreets in and outside the old city.

The most important and visited monument of the city is Patan Durbar Square, which has been listed by UNESCO, but the other monuments such as Hiranya Varna Mahavihar (the Golden Temple) and Kumbeshwor temple definitely worth a visit.

Allow a full long summer day for Patan…or be sorry!

And...do not even think of going to Patan and miss “one of the finest museum’s in the subcontinent”, as per LP - they are 100% true.

Can visit my Patan pages for more info, pics and tips.

There are a lot of squares in the center of Kat. You cannot miss it! They are two ways to visit it : you can stop at each temple to try to understand about who this temple is dedicated (be brave!), or you can just walk around them, just to enjoy the architecture and the activity of the crowd around.

Patan is now called the twin city of Kathmandu. A long time ago there were three rivaling kingdoms in the Kathmandu valley; Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu. The architecture of the Durbar square in the three cities was a way of competing; a reason for the stunning buildings found in the three squares.
I never saw Bhaktapur which is one of the reasons I have to go back :))

There are Durbar squares in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktpur. This one is located at the heart of Kathmandu city.

Durbar square is historical center of religious and cultural life. The square is filled with ancient buildings and stupas covered with intricate carvings.

Palace of Kumari, the living goddess, is also located here.