Patan

Patan may refer to places in Afghanistan, India and Nepal. The City contains many Hindu and Jain temples as well as few mosques, dargahs and rojas. The city has many historical places also.

Patan, now often know by its original Sanscrit name of Lalitpur, is one of the major cities of Nepal and is generally considered to be the oldest and most beautiful of the three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley (the others being Bhaktapur and Kathmandu itself).


Lying on high ground on the south side of the Bagmati River, it was originally built on a layer of deposited clay in the centre of an ancient dried lake called Nagdaha in the 3rd century BC by Emperor Ashoka of the Kirat Dynasty.

The city was first formed in the shape of the Buddhist Dharma Chakra (Wheel of Righteousness) and legend has it that Emperor Ashoka erected four thurs (mounds) or stupas on the perimeter and one in the centre: their size and shape giving the city a true sense and feeling of antiquity, enhanced by the more than 1,200 Buddhist monuments of different types that are scattered throughout the city.

Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city, contains the Royal Palace which consists of three main chowks (places where paths intersect), the Central Mul Chowk, Keshav Narayan Chowk and Sundaru Chowk, holding in its centre a masterpiece of stone architecture, the Royal Bath called Tushahity.

The fountain in the north of the square, Mani Dhari, is its oldest structure probably dating from the 10th century, being vast and sunken with its first gallery still 2 m (6.5 ft) below street level and descending a further 2 m (6.5 ft) to where water springs from three makara-(half animal, half fish) shaped spouts, all presided over by the goddess Lakshmi and two mythical beings, called barumes.

There are many festivals in Patan - and throughout Nepal during July and August, including Janai Purnima, a time of ritual bathing and changing of the sacred Janai threads, and Gaijatra, the Festival of the Holy Cows, when people parade wearing many kinds of hats, all with a picture of a cow pinned on them.

There are many Toursist Attractions including Forts, Vavs (Step Wells), Talavs(Lakes) and places of worships.

The Only Remain of Old City of Patan in the form of a very small portion of Old Fort near Kalka on the outskiets of the New City is of historical and archeological importance. So is the case with the remains of the walls of new fort and the Darwajas (Gates) of the new fort which are fast disappearing. Unfortunately Administration as well as a Majority of local People show little interest in preserving these heritage places which are shrinking at a rapid pace. Fortunately the inner fort of Bhadra with its Darwajas (Gates) is preserved well. However, with the transfer of all Government and Administrative machinery from Bhadra how long it will be preserved is unclear.

Step wells include Rani-ki-Vav and Trikam Barot ni Vav. Lakes include historically and acrheologically important Sahstraling Sarovar, Anand Sarovar (Khan Sarovar) and now revamped Gungadi Sarovar. There are many a Religious places of significance on religious, historical or architerctural grounds. These include Old Kalka Mandir, Panchmukhi Hanuman, Jasma Odan ni Deri, Old Mahalaxmi Mandir, Hingaraj Mandir, Panchasar Derasar and Sheikh Farid no Rojo.

Salvivad, a Place where Patolas are woven along with places where traditional Clay Toys are made are also worth visiting. Many annual religious fairs also act as tourist destination.