PATAN DURBAR SQUARE : -
Patan City embraces yet another world heritage site of Nepal popular for excellent curio materials, ancient sculptures, fine arts and crafts, fabulous culture and amazing architecture. Patan city is also known as Lalitpur, which means “city of fine arts”. “Lalit” in Newari means art and “pur” means place or city. Patan city from its very ancient days is very popular for its influencing arts and crafts. The ancient name of Lalitpur is “Yupgram”. “Yup” means the big and tall wooden pillars, which are placed inside the big stupas. Therefore Patan is also called as “Yalansi” but its is mispronounced as Yala. Lalitpur was trade center in ancient days and the trade center city was called Patan in those days. Patan is also the birth place of the great and famous architect and artist “Araniko”. The Chinese Emperor was very much impressed with Araniko’s artistic talent so he called him to China to build the monasteries in “Pagoda style”.

Patan was the city of Buddhists particularly the center of Bajrayani Buddhist religion so we can see the influence of Buddhist religion in numerous temples of Patan. This city was designed keeping in mind the circle of Buddhist religion. Malla Kings in a form of a “Lotus flower” designed Patan some 1600 years ago. This city too has a major community of Newars and others of Chhettri, Bahun and Shudra.

Walking down towards the Patan Durbar Square, you can first visit the Ratna Vihar. It is a beautiful monastery designed in a rectangular base and Pagoda style. The majestic statue of Gautam Buddha is installed inside the monastery. This monastery is designed in a form of a courtyard, which is the center of knowledge. At the entrance there are two stone statues of Lions, which are the temple guardians. Just after the entry gate two shelters are built at two sides of the passage. At the precincts of the monastery there are Mandalas and a big Bajra. The Mandalas stand for the comas – the sanctified area of the great mystery in the center of which the domain of the gods is to be found. It also represents the circle of life.

Mandala is a round peak mounted on a square base column. Bajra also known as thunderbolt is the enlightenment or the sign of knowledge. It is installed on a small column. After strolling around the precincts of this monastery, take a 7-8 minutes walk from the Ratna Vihar and then you will reach the main attraction of Patan city – “The Patan Durbar Square”.

The majestic Patan Durbar Square is yet another example of the extraordinary ingenuity of the Nepalese artists and architects. The precinct of the Durbar Square is not spacious but is crowded with beautiful temples and monuments. The main attraction of the square is the “Royal Palace of Malla Kings”. As there was the system of courtyards in the ancient days, Patan Durbar Square too have three impressive courtyards viz; Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Mani Keshav Narayan Chowk. The Mul Chowk is the oldest courtyard where the shrine of the secret family deity of Mallas, King’s prayer room and Vidya Mandir are housed. At the corner of the Mul Chowk, there is a three storied, octagonal, pagoda styled temple of Taleju Bhawani also known as Degu Talle. It is the patron goddess of Malla dynasty. The other courtyard, Sundari Chowk is very famous for Tusha Hiti, which was the Royal Bath. The Royal Bath lies below the ground level i.e. it is sunken and is decorated beautifully with carved stones.

The majestic Patan Durbar Square is yet another example of the extraordinary ingenuity of the Nepalese artists and architects. The precinct of the Durbar Square is not spacious but is crowded with beautiful temples and monuments. The main attraction of the square is the “Royal Palace of Malla Kings”. As there was the system of courtyards in the ancient days, Patan Durbar Square too have three impressive courtyards viz; Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Mani Keshav Narayan Chowk. The Mul Chowk is the oldest courtyard where the shrine of the secret family deity of Mallas, King’s prayer room and Vidya Mandir are housed. At the corner of the Mul Chowk, there is a three storied, octagonal, pagoda styled temple of Taleju Bhawani also known as Degu Talle. It is the patron goddess of Malla dynasty.

The other courtyard, Sundari Chowk is very famous for Tusha Hiti, which was the Royal Bath. The Royal Bath lies below the ground level i.e. it is sunken and is decorated beautifully with carved stones. In ancient days or medieval times, there were four gates in this city at four different poles. In order to make the city more beautiful the city was segmented in four different parts; Dipawali Nagar (Guitel) in the east corner, Shilapur Dangiri (Pulchowk) in the west side, Lalitaranya (Kumbheshwore) at the north side and Matinagar (Lagankhel) at the south side.

Five different shrines were installed at four different geometrical corners of the city for the divine protection. They were Balkumari temple at east, Khadgayogini at west, Chamunda devi at north and Batuk Bhairav and Mahalaxmi at south. And the Royal Palace with golden gate is situated in the center of the city. The palace is very popular for its tremendous carved struts and wooden pillars and windows.

In front of the Sundari Chowk of the Royal Palace, there lies an octagonal edifice. This is the temple of Lord Krishna known as Krishna Mandir. This temple is completely made up of granite. Behind this temple, there is a beautiful waterspout with a statue of the Queen installed in the center of the spout. Water comes out from the fourth finger of the Queen as it is said that the Queen was of lower caste and in ancient days people did not drink water touched by the lower caste people. So to make people realize that even she was pure and normal like others, this waterspout was built. Beside Krishna Mandir or just infront of the waterspout, there is a big bell called the “Taleju Bell”. This bell was rung whenever a visitor especially a subject wanted to visit or appeal to the King. Just after the Taleju Bell there is a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known as “Hari Shanker Temple”. The wooden beams supporting the roofs of the temple are carved beautifully. It is a three It is a three storied, pagoda styled temple where the edges of the roofs are filled with small bells. Just after this temple, there is a small white temple of Lord Vishnu. In front of Vishnu temple, there is a gilded statue of King Siddhi Narsingha Malla in worshipping posture. The statue is affixed on top of a stone column facing the Royal Palace. The statue is protected by the hood of the Naag – King cobra and at the top of the cobra’s hood there is a sculpture of small bird. You can even see a statue of Hanuman – Monkey God on the roof of the Royal Palace as in a walking position. It is a three storied, pagoda styled temple where the edges of the roofs are filled with small bells. Just after this temple, there is a small white temple of Lord Vishnu. In front of Vishnu temple, there is a gilded statue of King Siddhi Narsingha Malla in worshipping posture. The statue is affixed on top of a stone column facing the Royal Palace. The statue is protected by the hood of the Naag – King cobra and at the top of the cobra’s hood there is a sculpture of small bird. You can even see a statue of Hanuman – Monkey God on the roof of the Royal Palace as in a walking position. Then comes the huge edifice of Jagat Narayan or Char Narayan beside the Vishnu temple built on bricked plinth in a pagoda style. This two storied temple has wooden carved struts carrying the beautiful portrays of Gods and Goddesses. It is believed to be the oldest temple of the Durbar Square bearing a high historical importance. Then after this temple there comes the temple with unique design and magnificent architecture, Krishna Mandir. This temple is also dedicated to Lord Krishna, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. This temple was built during the reign of King Siddhi Narsingha Malla in the 17th century and is made completely only out of stones. This temple is simply extraordinary and is another major attraction of the square beside the Royal Palace. The carved pillars, walls and the balconies of the temple are stupendous bearing the scenes of the great epics, the Mahabharat and the Ramayan that make the temple very unique and majestic. Along the stairway there are two big statues of Lions as temple guardians. Krishna Mandir is the principle venue on Krishnastami – the birth date of Lord Krishna, when people even from distant places pay a visit to the deity. Krishna Mandir is a masterpiece of the ingenuity of Nepalese artists and architects. In front of the temple, there is a gilded statue of the Garuda, vehicle of Lord Vishnu, in a praying posture facing the temple, which is mounted on a stone pillar.

After Krishna Mandir, there is a big and beautiful temple known as Vishwanath Mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva. The entrance of the temple is guarded by two stone elephants and a Shiva Linga is placed inside the temple. A column is raised facing the temple with a stone statue Taleju Bhawani on top. The struts of the temple are surmounted with erotic carvings. It is a two storied, pagoda styled temple, where small bells are affixed at the edges of the roofs that tinkle when a gentle breeze flows Just infront of the Vishwanath temple or next to the Royal Palace is Manga Hiti, a water conduit, which lies below the ground level of the temples or the palace or it is sunken. Here we can see three gargoyies. Above Manga Hiti i.e. just next to the Palace there lies a pavilion, which is known as Mani Mandap. This was used for the Royal Coronation. But these days we can find vendors with their curio showpieces and accessories and the Royal palace has been transformed into a Museum. Next to Vishwanath temple is Bhimsen temple. This temple is also built in Pagoda style, yet another creation of Next to Vishwanath temple is Bhimsen temple. This temple is also built in Pagoda style, yet another creation of the Nepalese architecture. It is a three-storied edifice, which has an artificial marble facade. Here also numbers of bells are hung on the edges of the temple’s roofs.

The other main attractions of Patan are the Golden temple – the most attractive Buddhist Temple which is also known as the Hiranyavarna Mahavihar, Kumbheshwore temple, a five storied temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Mahabouddha, a stone carved temple with hundreds of Buddha’s portrays, Uma Maheshwore temple, Bishwakarma temple (God of craftsmanship), Rato Macchindranath temple, Mimnath temple, Rudra Varna Mahavihar, yet another exemplary monastery for fine art, architecture and beautiful carvings and Ashoka stupas located in different places of the city which was built by the Emperor Ashoka to commemorate his visit.

KRISHNA MANDIR :-
Krishna Temple: The temple of Lord Krishna holds a commanding position in Patan's Palace complex. Though its style is not wholly native, it is one of the most perfect specimens of Nepalese temple craft. The three storey stone temple continues to elicit high praise from lovers of art and beauty. It was built by King Siddhi Narasingha Malla in the sixteenth century A. U Important scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics have been carved in bas-relief. The minute details of this relief work clearly show the high level that the art of stone carving attained in the sixteenth century.

MAHABOUDHA :-
The temple of Mahaboudha is a masterpiece of terra cotta. Like the Krishna Mandir, it reveals an artistic tradition which evolved outside of Nepal yet shows how native Nepalese craftsmen have been able to do justice to an unfamiliar art form. This temple was built by Abhaya Raj, a priest of Patan and is sometimes referred to as the temple of a million Buddhas because every single brick bears a small image of Buddha. There is an astonishing total of nine thousand bricks. It was leveled to the ground in the great earthquake of 1933 but was rebuilt exactly to the original specifications-proving the temple craft is still one of the living arts of Nepal.

RUDRA VARNA MAHAVIHAR :-
This is one of Patan's oldest Buddhist monasteries. Adjacent to the monastery there is a temple that contains a fine image of Lord Buddha. The courtyard of this temple is a gallery of exquisite bronze and stone art work.