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A view of some shops at Durbar Square in Patan, Nepal
  Patan has a very different ambience from its sister cities in the valley. The city grew outwards from Durbar Square. The main streets leading to it are wide and the buildings lining them a jumble of old brick Rana-era pseudo-European columns and plaster nymphs and, unfortunately, ugly modern concrete. Every morning and evening, rush-hour traffic crosses the Bagmati Bridge between Patan and Kathmandu. Today, Patan is more like an extension of the capital, but for centuries it rivaled Kathmandu for control of the valley. Its close proximity to Kathmandu has drawn some of the capital's wealth and industry to it. The Patan Industrial Estate and several cottage industries are located within the city. Patan does not have the frozen-in-time feel of Bhaktapur. Commuters, factory workers and students all have one foot in the modern age and the other firmly set in tradition.Today, television antennas and satellite dishes appear on the roofs of the "City of Golden Roofs." And Patan's architectural gems are increasingly elbowed by modern concrete buildings. Culture and Life The people of Patan have been living and working together for generations, and there is a strong bond of community and common history. On Saturdays, neighborhood folk sit on grass, listening to a Buddhist priest espouse teachings on a platform sheltered by a pipal tree. The community of Nag Bahal is a perfect example of this. Attractions Patan is particularly known for its Nepalese deity art found in many of its temples, palaces, and monuments. Patan’s main attraction is its Durbar Square, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Patan Durbar Square used to serve as the residence of the Malla rulers of Patan but has now been converted into the Patan Museum. The square is located at the heart of the city where most of Patan’s tourist attractions are found. Around the square, you’ll find many ancient temples, shrines, and palaces noted for their impressive carvings. Most of the palace complex was constructed in a very busy 17th century under the rule of Siddhi Narasingha Malla and Shrinivasa Malla. The square also consists of three main chowks or courtyards: the Keshav Narayan Chowk, the Central Mul Cowk, and the Sundaru Chowk. These palace courtyards are not connected and seem to have been built with no consideration for the style of their neighbors. The Sundaru Chowk courtyard in particular holds in its center the Tusha Hiti, a royal bathing pool considered a masterpiece of stone architecture. It was built in 1627 and is lined with carvings of dozens of stone deities. Among the square’s magnificent temples includes the 17th century Krishna Mandir. This temple is the most prominent in the palace complex and the first example of Shikhara style architecture in Nepal. It has a dizzying 21 spires, all completely made of stone. Another point of interest is the Hiranya Varna Mahaa Vihar, which is a Buddhist temple known locally as the Golden temple. It is located north of the Durbar Square and one of the most beautiful and vibrant bahals in the valley. The entire front of the main shrine is covered with detailed metal work, including panels of the Gautama Buddha. The temple is still supported, cared for, and maintained by the community as it has been for the last 500 years. Just a few blocks further north, you’ll find a five-story pagoda temple called the Kumbheswar Temple worth visiting as well. It is the oldest temple in Patan, built in 1392. Inside, you’ll find a large silver lingam and shrines in the compound that date back to Licchavi times (around 600 BC). Shopping Patan has been a traditional center of arts and crafts for centuries. Even today, it is famous for its handicrafts and a great place to buy jewelry, Buddha statues, and masks. | |
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Article Contributors Anonymous user updated 1 year ago |
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