Introduction: Patan City Day Tour
The Lalitpur city center is where you'll find this city square. One of the three main Durbar squares in and around the Kathmandu Valley is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This location offers a chance to appreciate the architecture, culture, grandeur, and history of the era. This area is home to several buildings, including temples, palaces, homes, and many others.
The Patan Durbar Square, situated in Lalitpur city, is a marvel of Newari architecture. The Newar community are the local inhabitants of the area who have established and preserved this heritage for a long time. The main attraction of Durbar Square is the royal palace situated in the center, where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur reside.
Lalitpur comes from a Sanskrit word that means “City of Beauty.” There are other names given to this city, like Yala and Manigal, and various backstories are found behind the names. Similarly, there are other stories behind the name Patan.
It is believed that Patan has been a rich and prosperous city since pre-historic times. The Kirat dynasty is thought to have founded Patan, followed by the Lichhavi dynasty's expansion and the Malla monarchs' additional expansion and modifications. In addition, the establishment of Patan's royal square palace is attributed to Malla monarchs.
History of Patan Durbar Square
The history of Durbar Square is not clear, but it is believed to have begun during the Licchivi period. It is said that the Malla kings of Lalitpur were the ones responsible for the establishment of the royal square; however, it is found that the Pradhan, who settled in the area before the Mallas, also had a connection with the establishment of the Durbar square. The Lalitpur district was founded in 299 A.D. by King Veer Deva.
Similarly, the premise of Patan Durbar Square is bounded by 250 BC-old Buddhist stupas that were built by King Ashoka while he visited the valley. There are more than 600 stupas, 136 courtyards, and 55 major temples located around the durbar.
Some popular temples and monuments are around Patan Durbar Square:
- Taleju Bell
- Hari Shankar Temple
- Yoga Narendra’s Statue
- Jaggannarayan temple
- Krishna Mandir
- Vishwanath Temple
- Bhimsen Temple
- Golden Temple
- Khumbeshwor
The three courtyards around Patan Durbar Square:
- Keshab Narayan Chowk
- Sundari Chowk
- Mul Chowk
- Patan Museum
Major temples and monuments of Patan Durbar Square with description
Taleju Bell: The giant bell was made by King Vishnu Malla in the 17th century. One can see this bell hanging between two pillars while entering from the south side of the durbar, where the ticket counter lies. Below the bell, one can see local shops and vendors with books, coffee shops, and other small shops. Over the bell is a small lotus-shaped pool with a water fountain.
Hari Shankar Temple: The Harishankar temple is a three-story structure dedicated to Hari Shankar, who is believed to be a half-Vishnu and half-Shiva deity. The temple was constructed by Rudramati, the sister of King Yoga Narendra Malla.
Jaggannarayan Temple: The Jaggannarayan temple is built in the Shikhara style, which is also known as Char Narayan Temple. The temple was built in 1565 and is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, portrayed as Narayan. The temple consists of idols of God and Goddess along with intricate carvings of positions of the Kama Sutra.
Krishna Mandir: The Krishna Mandir is one of the prominent temples in Patan. The temple is octagonal-shaped and was built by King Siddhinarshing Malla in 1637. The temple is believed to have been constructed from a single stone. Similarly, there are 21 golden pinnacles on the top of the temple. The myth behind the construction of the temple is that King Siddhinarshing Malla saw Lord Krishna and his wife Radha in front of the palace in his dream. Thus, many pilgrims from all over the world visit this temple on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami.
Vishwanath Temple: The Vishwanath temple is located in front of Manga Hiti, which is guarded by two large stone elephants at the base of the temple, followed by a bull’s idol on the other side. The temple was built during the reign of Siddhinarshing Malla and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Bhimsen Temple: The temple is located on the northwestern side of Patan Durbar Square. The temple was built by King Srinivasa Malla in 1680. The temple is rectangular in structure and is dedicated to Bhimsen. Bhimsen is one of the five pandas of the Mahabharata and is regarded as the god of trade and business.
Golden Temple: This is one of the many Buddhist temples located in Patan Durbar Square. The temple is on the northern side and is also popular as Hiranya Varna Mahavihara. The temple is believed to have been founded in the 12th century. The temple is a masterpiece of courtyard architecture, where two elephants carved from stone are placed in the entry point with a beautiful statue of Sakyamuni on the inside.
Khumbeshwor: Khumbeshwor is the five-storey temple located just five to six minutes’ walk from the golden temple. The Khumbeshwor temple, also known as Bangalamukhi, is a two-storey temple built by King Jayasthiti Malla in the 14th century. Later in the 17th century, King Srinivasa Malla added three more storeys, making it a five-storey temple. This is also the oldest temple in Patan. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his wife, Parvati. There is also a bull idol placed facing the temple. This temple complex has two ponds, the water of which is purported to be drawn directly from the sacred Gosaikunda Lake. On Janai Purnima, only the water source is opened.
The three courtyards of Patan Durbar Square
Keshav Narayan Chowk: The Keshav Narayan Chowk is a northern courtyard of the royal palace, which is entered by a magnificent golden gate. The Chowk is located in the Patan Museum to the north of the Mul Chowk. The courtyard was constructed in 1734, making it the youngest courtyard among the three.
Sundari Chowk: This is the smallest courtyard and the first one to reach while entering from the southern side. The construction of the chowk was completed in 1647, during the reign of King Siddhi Narasingha Malla. The entrance consists of three idols of Hanuman, Narasinga and Ganesh. Inside the Sundari chowk is a professionally carved sunken water tank known as Tusha Hiti. The royal Bhandarkahal Garden and Kamal Pokhari water tank are located behind Sundari Chowk.
Mul Chowk: The courtyard is the central courtyard situated between Sundari and Keshav Narayan Chowk. This is the oldest and largest courtyard among the three chowks. The Chowk was built during the reign of King Siddhi Narasingha Malla. The Mul Chowk is home to Taleju Temple, and Vidhya Temple is located at the center of the courtyard. The five-storey Degutale Temple lies in the northeastern corner of the square and the triple-roofed Taleju Temple is on the northern side. The Taleju was the personal deity of the Malla Kings.
What to Expect During the Patan City Tour?
Patan is a neighboring city of the closest and most distinct region of Nepal, the Kathmandu Valley. Patan, often referred to as Lalitpur is a city that is divided from the capital by a bridge that spans the revered Bagmati River.
The Patan day tour takes you around impressive sites full of historical and religious wonders from the Malla Regime. It’s a fascinating full-day tour offered by Holiday Tours Nepal that includes the chance to see artisans at work. Locations brimming with regional goods can be explored as we travel south of Patan to the historic farm towns and villages of Bungmati and Khokana.
Ancient Bungmati and Khokana, founded in the 7th century, are well-known for their handcrafted ethnic clothing as well as for manufacturing pure mustard oil along with other farm products. Due to their distinctively traditional manner of modest farm life, these old historical towns were named world heritage sites. They still practice their ancient, splendorous arts and customs now.
Additionally, a unique excursion to less-traveled regions of the Kathmandu valley that are only occasionally visited by Western tour groups can be done. It’s a wonderful way to see rural Nepalese life as it has existed for centuries. After having a lovely day exploring the picturesque areas of the Kathmandu Valley, you may complete this delightful journey by taking the Patan city tour before returning to your accommodation.
