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The first time I visited Patan Durbar Square was during my Epic Indo-Nepal road trip. The Nepal part of my trip took me through the famous Pashupatinath temple, the Swayambhunath Stupa, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and allowed me to experience the delights of the Nepal culture and cuisines with you. However, the visit to Nepal Patan Durbar Square was left incomplete and as fate had it, I returned back to finish what I had left unseen. The royal heritage center in Kathmandu, a UNESCO heritage site – the Patan Durbar Square delighted me, even more.
Both my visits to the Patan Durbar Square Kathmandu had me equally frenzied. Even though I had seen some of the attractions of Patan Durbar Square earlier, they still had me in awe. Walking through this square is a senses’ overload with the various sights and sounds. A lot of the monuments are in ruins owing to the Earthquake of April 2015. There are structures that are being restored and some which have been lost forever. However, the one thing that is certain – the beauty of the Patan Durbar Square still remains.
I am pretty sure that from the first time you walk into Square, you will feel as if you are lost. Just so that you don’t, let me share the best things to see in Patan Durbar Square. In a lot of ways, this post is going to be your virtual journey of Patan Durbar Square.
Contents
- 1 Introduction of the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu
- 2 History of Patan Durbar Square
- 3 Things to see in Patan Durbar Square
- 4 Temples of Patan Durbar Square
- 5 The Giant statue of the Yogendra Malla
- 6 The Royal residence of Patan Durbar Square
- 7 The Newari Houses in Patan Durbar Square
- 8 How to get to Patan Durbar Square Kathmandu?
- 9 Travel Tips
- 10 Booking Resources:
Introduction of the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu
Essentially, Durbar Squares was a generic name given to the royal areas in Nepal. In Kathmandu, there used to be three smaller kingdoms and thus, there are three Durbar Squares that you can visit now. These are namely –
- Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Patan Durbar Square
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
All these are now UNESCO World Heritage sites and Patan Durbar Square is the smallest and the oldest of all these. Frankly, this is also, according to me, the prettiest of the three and hence, my favorite. I am pretty sure that by the end of this travel guide to Patan Durbar Square, you might agree with my choice. So, let’s get started.
History of Patan Durbar Square
A large part of what exists now in this Square is credited to the Malla kings. The kingdom then was popularly referred to as Lalitpur. The Malla dynasty was considered to be a Kshatriya or a Warrior Dynasty. The King Siddhinarasimha Malla is considered to be the foremost in terms of the contribution to the current monuments of this square. However, there is this theory that the structures here may be older than what evidence points to. And it is on these older structures that the Malla kings added their own legacy. It is believed that before the Mallas, were the Pradhanas and even before them – the Thakuri Dynasty.
Patan Durbar Square is considered to be one of the oldest Buddhist cities in the world. However, it is not just Buddhism that as practiced here. There is a fair bit of Hinduism that you will find here. The subjects in this area were popularly called as Newar people or Newari. The tribe was known for its skilled craftsmen, the proof of which still stands strong in the Patan Durbar Square. From the temples to the Royal Palace and even the homes of people here, everything about this square will leave you wide-eyed and open-mouthed. And if not, you will find the shutterbug in you incessantly troubling you to capture it all!. I sure had that happening to me!
Things to see in Patan Durbar Square
This was the view that I was treated to from a rooftop right opposite the entrance to the Patan Durbar Square. Our guide for the day explained the basic layout of the place starting with the left that was full of various temples of this square. The right side of Patan Square was all about the royal residences. Further behind were the Newari houses. What seems simple enough is really not. When you start walking down that road, there are just tons of things trying to grab your attention. The Patan Durbar Square is a true test of your skill of staying focused. I know I failed miserably. 🙁
Temples of Patan Durbar Square
The temples of the Patan Durbar Square are largely Hindu ones. There are a few Buddhist ones but they are comparatively smaller. They say there are over 50 Hindu temples here – some that are still standing tall, some that are lost forever, some active and some undergoing restoration! Sharing the key ones from both my Patan Durbar Square Tour.
Chyasin Dewal
I consider this as the landmark of the Patan Durbar Square. It sets your awe-levels to a scale with is impressive octagonal structure and the high roof that stands out against the clouds. I must have taken umpteen pictures of this while waiting for our guide to start his tour. The temple was built by King Siddhi Narsimha in the 1630s and has an idol of Lord Krishna on it. The 2nd floor of this gives a view of the surrounding Patan Square. It is one of the few structures that has survived the earthquake.
Taleju Bell of Kathmandu Patan Square
The impressive bell is said to be a warning beacon for the King when enemies approached. Even people with grievances rang this to get the attention of the King. Taleju was considered to be the family goddess or Kuldevi of the royal family. She is supposed to be an incarnation of Mother Durga. And if you have heard of the Living Goddess of Nepal Kumari – she is said to be an incarnation of Taleju Bhawani. The temple stands opposite to the Taleju Bell inside Mul Chowk.
The destroyed temples of Patan
Soon after the Taleju Bell are two temples that are now just rubble. These are the HariShankar temple and the Jagan Narayan temple. What they looked liked can only be seen from the picture that hangs at the gates. The only significant thing left in the Harishankar Temple is the stone elephants that are said to be the guardians of this temple.
Krishna Temple at Patan Square
Our guide told us that this was one of the most impressive temples of Patan Durbar Square. The same was damaged considerably during the earthquake but there is a fair bit of restoration that is in progress. A golden Garuda on a pillar faces this temple. The story behind the Krishna temple is quite interesting. It is said that the King Siddhinarasimha Malla dreamt of Lord Krishna and his consort standing at the very place that the temple was built. Following this, he ordered the construction of a huge temple with beautiful carvings of Lord Krishna, his consort Radha and his wife Rukmini.
The temple has three storeys of which level two is dedicated to Lord Shiva and level three to Lord Avalokiteshvara. Lord Krishna is the main deity on Level one. Another unique feature that I discovered on my 2nd visit is that level two had carvings from the epic tale of Mahabharata while the 3rd level carvings told the story of Ramayana. Hopefully, after the temple is restored, we will be able to witness this for ourselves but for now, I was content with the story and the efforts to revive this place.
Viswanath Temple
Another partially destroyed temple but with an impressive Elephant and his mahout still standing tall. There was a fair bit of work going on but I managed to snap a quick picture of the guardian of this temple. The temple as you might have guessed from its name is devoted to Lord Shiva and is said to have a stone linga within in with the characteristic Nandi facing it.
Bhimsen Temple
This is still a functional temple and is considered auspicious for the start of any good work or business. The deity within is none other than the famous Pandava – Bhima. Being a Hindu, I was privy to the insides, which is not very large but you can see evidence of the devotion that it experiences. The outsides of the temple, especially the roof and the carvings are quite impressive. Another proof of the infamous Newari art!
Don’t miss the giant Lion pillar opposite this temple.
The Giant statue of the Yogendra Malla
One of the key Patan Durbar Square attractions is this huge pillar with a statue of a king. This is outside the destroyed Jagan Narayan temple. The statue is that of King Yogendra Malla and is said to face the Taleju temple. The statue was said to be partially damaged but has now been restored to its current form. It is quite impressive to look at, especially if you have had a clear day like me. 🙂
The Royal residence of Patan Durbar Square
Remember that right opposite the temples were the quarters and the courts of the ruling family. There are three distinct squares within this Royal structure – each with their own characteristic. Let’s start with the first one that you will encounter if you are still near the Chyasin Dewal – Sundari Chowk.
Sundari Chowk in Patan
This is the first one that you encounter with an impressive gate that has huge carved deities outside it. One of the key deities here is that of Lord Narasimha killing the demon Hiranyakashyap, The gates are generally closed but what I did not realize is that there is a way in from Mul Chowk (which I describe below). It was during my 2nd visit that I found this entrance and managed to get through to see what these pretty doors hid within.
Next to this are statues of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha. The Ganesha statue caught my attention as typically in India, he is represented alone. Here he was with one of his twin wives – Riddhi. His wife Siddhi was conspicuously absent.
Tushahiti – the centerpiece of Sundari Chowk
PROTIP: To visit the Tushahiti in Sundari Chowk, you have to enter through Mul Chowk. So make a note of the same, else you might miss it like I did the first time around.
The carved courtyard that lies behind the closed doors of Sundari Chowk is home to a stunning stepwell. This is called the Tusha Hiti. It was built in the late 1640s by King Siddhanarsimha Malla. The place was used for ceremonial baths by the royal family. There are two pillars in front of the stepwell that I presume were erected to hold a curtain. What makes it so gorgeous are its carved walls with statues of various deities (they say there are 72 of them). A golden tap with a statue of Vishnu and Garuda allows water into the stepwell. The water for the well is said to come from the Bhandarkhal tank behind this very complex.
As luck might have it, the back door was open for me to see the Bhandarkhal tank. The tank served as a water resource for the entire Patan area. It is built like a stepwell with various levels but is not as intricately carved as the royal Tushahiti. It is nonetheless, pretty with its green overgrowth of hydrophilic plants and a central shrine along its walls.
Don’t miss the restoration work that happens around the Tushahiti. You might spot gorgeous door frames and other woodwork being restored here.
Mul Chowk in Patan Square Kathmandu
Mul Chowk is akin to the common area square of a palace. It was rebuilt by King Srinivasa Malla in 1666 – 3 years after it got destroyed by a fire. At the center, you will be able to see Bidya Mandir Temple. This is dedicated to a form of Goddess Durga. The temple has seen plenty of animal sacrifices on the wooden pillar outside it.
The main attraction of the Mul Chowk is the Taleju Temple. It is the biggest structure here and is conspicuous with two golden deities guarding its entrance. These are Ganga and Jamuna. To identify the two – Ganga rides on a tortoise while Jamuna has a crocodile under her feet.
Keshav Narayan Chowk
Guarded by these huge male and female lions, you are ushered into a lovely space that is accentuated by its numerous carved pillars – the exemplary example of Newari art. The art that you see is carved onto wooden pillars that have stayed this way for years together.
Right in the center of the square is the Keshav Narayan temple while around it are the royal residences. Again, the doors and windows are just stunning.
Patan Durbar Square Museum
The Patan Museum can be accessed through here.The place has some gorgeous displays of bronze statues and artifacts. From coins to wooden frames and broken body parts of statues dating back to 7th century, the museum is one place in Patan Durbar Square that will keep you engaged for a while. Here are some interesting exhibits that I found.
Walking through the museum also gives you a good feel of life in a palace. After all, this was the palace of the Malla Kings. The low wooden roofs, the open corridors and the beautiful Newari windows make excellent photo opportunities in Patan Square. Upon my second visit, we had a blast discovering the play of light and shadow created by these windows.
Here is a fun thing, rather a naughty thing for you guys to figure. Remember the lion couple guarding the Keshav Narayan doorway. How do you think you figure their gender? It is kind of obvious, isn’t it? And if you have finished being naughty as I was, then spare a few glances at the impressive wall art of Kali behind the guardians. Street art did exist back then!
Well, in terms of the key places to see in Patan Durbar Square, these are the main ones. If you have the time, see if you can head to the Mahaboudha Temple, the Golden Temple and the small stepwell around there. Hey! It’s not easy keeping to the frenzy of seeing it all.
The Newari Houses in Patan Durbar Square
The Newari houses were a pleasant discovery and made this whole square more realistic. These homes are now either converted to Thangka art schools or shops while some of them are still homes. The artistic details of the windows and doors had me spell-bound and this wasn’t just the case with me. Anyone who visits here gets a bug attack – the Shutterbug attack!
Seemed to me as if each home was trying to outdo the other with its artistic details. Or possibly, it showcased the status of the homeowner. Whatever being the case, they sure left a legacy behind for us to enjoy.
As I walked along these lanes, I discovered more temples, hidden stepwells, quirky cafes and forgotten doors. Over the two visits that I made here, I chose different lanes to get lost. I am sure if I get another chance, I will be discovering more of these treasures. However, for now, I am sparing your senses and allowing it to absorb all that I have shared in this Patan Durbar Square Guide. Pin this up on your board so that you have it as a ready reckoner on what to see in Patan Durbar Square. Message me and let me know which was the most impressive of these monuments. I bet you cannot pick just one!
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How to get to Patan Durbar Square Kathmandu?
- Try a road trip from India as I managed from India
- If that is not possible, fly into Kathmandu from anywhere in the world.
- Patan Durbar Square is around 30 minutes from the city center. You can reach here by a public bus from any of the main depots or just take a taxi to and fro from the destination. You can even hire a cab online (refer to the Booking resources below)
Travel Tips
- The entrance tickets for the Patan Durbar Square is Nepali Rupees 250 for residents of SAARC countries while it is Nepali Rupees 1000 for others. Charges for the guide vary between Nepali Rupees 1000 to 2000
- There is a lot of walking to be done here. Flat shoes and comfortable cotton wear are advised.
- If you are allergic to dust, please carry a face mask as there is plenty of it in the air.
- There is a fair amount of shopping that can be done here. From curios to singing bowl and Thangka art, you can buy it all here. Remember to bargain hard.
- The guides tend to insist on you visiting their favorite shop. They also, tend to waste your time getting you to visit these. Please decline the same politely if you find that it is not of your interest.
- There are plenty of restaurants and public restrooms available for your use.
Booking Resources:
Please note that the links below help me earn a commission that helps me to keep my website running. Clicking and booking through these will not cost you anything additional but will benefit me.
- Booking.com has some amazing properties in Patan square listed on this link.
- Klook.com offers a tour of Patan Durbar Square and the same can be booked online. The same website offers numerous other Kathmandu tours and even, cab services.
- GetYourGuide is another option for walking tours and cab services in Nepal. They have a few tours of Patan as well ,
- Consider buying your travel and home needs online through Amazon. Please use this link to get to the site or the app – it will help me get some affiliate income to keep this site going.
Popularly referred to as a Restless Ball of Energy. My Mom refuses to entertain my complaints about my equally restless daughter & assures my husband that I was born with a travel bug.
I am a Post-Graduate in Marketing by qualification and a travel blogger by passion. Besides travel, I enjoy photography and if you don’t find me at my desk, I would be out playing badminton or swimming or just running. I believe in planning for every long weekend through the year. And when I cannot travel physically, I travel virtually through this travel blog. My travel stories have also, got published on various websites and magazines including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet India and Jetwings. I have recently published my first book – When Places Come Alive – a collection of stories that are based on legends, landscapes, art and culture of a place which is available in both ebook and paperback format.
Pictures are awesome in the blog.
Thank you 🙂
I never knew about the three kingdoms located just in Kathmandu. I loved it so much when I visited it almost 10 years ago! So unbelievable
It must have been lovely then…when it was completely intact. Sigh! Glad that at least I got to see it now.
I truly admire you for posting such a detailed description of these beautiful place and temples. I like how they all look like and the intricate design is something that enticed me to come and traipse my feet here. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and for touring us around through your blog.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed this virtual tour with me. This place is so worth visiting in Kathmandu.
Oh, thats a place I always wanted to visit. Your post makes me wanna go even more! Love the photoes. The nature and those temples looks amazing. Thanks for sharing from what seems to be an awesome trip:-)
Thank you. This place is un-missable when in Kathmandu. Would highly recommend it.
From your snippet title on FB, I thought the post was about our Patan in Gujarat! Interesting to know the existence of another Patan in the opposite direction! And the co-incidence – both are UNESCO sites!!! The carved pillars look fantabulous. I guess they’re made of wood, right?
I know…I was also, surprised with this name. Goes to show how close together these things are. Yes, those pillars are wooden. And amazing right?
That is quite an informative post! I’ve been to Nepal in my childhood and I have vague memory of the place. I don’t remember most of it 😛 Looks like, I need to put it in my travel list!
Cheers
Thanks Geetika. Pretty sure you will find it interesting!
Really love the architecture of the temples .It’s sad to see some of them destroyed during the earthquake.But good to know they’re being restored!
Thanks Karie. There is a fair bit of work going on to restore some of these and I hope when you go you get to see them.
I love how you’re the expert of these temples 😀 I always feel like I’m in a fairytale when I read about these sites. I’m happy to hear about your insider tips like the pushy sales guides – always good to know these things in advance 🙂 I feel like I could spend the entire day walking around Patan Durbar Square and not even see all of it! I find the history of these places alluring too — let me open those doors!!
Thank you Chantae. I assure you that I am no expert but I sure am a wanderer. Loved figuring some of this stuff . Am sure you will love it too.
I will probably never get to Nepal but thanks to the magic of the Internet and your blog, I feel like I’ve been there. I’ve pinned this to my “Places I’d like to go” board on Pinterest. I love places of history!
I hope you do go there Alana. Glad that my blog helped you get a tour of the place but you must see it in real. It is amazing!
The images of parts of the Durbar Square being devastated in the earthquake that shook Nepal some years back, still haunt me. I know that the place has moved on from that nightmare. Happy to see that it still retains its magnificence.
Yes, it does pain you to see what is lost but am glad that a few of them can be restored. Thanks Sandy and Vyjay for stopping by
Beautiful pictures Ami. Particularly the birds eye view of Patan Durbar. I was so saddened when many historical and beautiful heritage buildings in Nepal got destroyed in the cruel earthquake. Happy to see a lot of restoration work in progress!!
Thanks Neha. This was still an amazing place despite the devastation. Hoping to go back there again.
No wonder this place is very spiritual and very precious. I love the sculptures and the designs. Yet it is sad that some of the old buildings are affected by the eathquake. Hope they could still restore them.
The ones that are there are just magnificent and worth the visit Blair. While they do restore the others, you should head over and check it out.
Wow this is such a mesmerizing place. Nepal road trip is in my wishlist!
Thanks Mariyam. Am sure you will have a blast!
You just took me down to a trip to Nepal. Thank Ami:)
Glad you enjoyed it Natasha. Cheers
Amazing place to visit .
Thanks Yogi
I savoured this post. Slowly. Such beauty!! No wonder you remembered me! the doors are just my kind:) Intricate and so so beautiful! Thanks for documenting it Ami. In love with the facades and the stunning architecture!
Cannot say more Divsi. I hope you get down to visit this place sometime and see it for yourself. 🙂
I basically know nothing about Kathmandu so it’s really cool to be able to read posts like this and experience it virtually. Hope to get there one day!
Thank you Danielle. I do hope you manage a visit there. It is amazing. Till then, of course, enjoy the posts.
आपका यह लेख देखकर, खासकर फोटो और विववरण, मन कह रहा है कि अबकी बार नेपाल जाना ही पडेगा।
Dhanyawad. Glad you enjoyed it Sandeep.
I think I’ve visited all these places with my parents as a kid. Though I have a very little memory of it but I got a virtual tour from your eyes! Hope to see these magnificent architectures some day again!
I hope so too Anamika. These are lovely. Thanks for stopping by
Your photos are amazing! You make me want to visit!!!! How long do you think is a good time to stay in Kathmandu? Is it safe? Did you book trips on your own?
Thank you. This trip was courtesy ScoutMyTrip.com and they did all the arrangements. But from what I experienced, it is not difficult to do one on your own and it is perfectly safe here. I would say at least 3 days in Kathmandu is required. There is just so much to do and see here.
I just visited all three Durbar Squares and they are all unique and grand – I do think this one was more interesting since I was there during the twilight hour and also walked the various historic streets in the area
I envy you for having done the one that I missed. Lucky you. But yes, each one is special. Thanks for stopping by.
Those temples are amazing. I love the photos you included.
Thank you Tanya
Your post reminded me of the severe devastation by earthquake. I really wish i could have visited Kathmandu prior that. Still the place has retained its beauty and the remains tell so much that existed. I hope that tourism industry will help the place to flourish again soon. Your pictures are awesome and I loved your descriptive post. The carvings on pillars, doors, windows, sculptures all are amazing,
I know what you mean. I too, wish I had seen it earlier. But am glad that I did it now at least. It is a lovely place even with what remains. You should definitely go Suruchi.
I’m feeling inspired and so excited to be heading to Nepal at some point! We simply cannot wait to explore these intricate temples and go trekking!
Am sure you will enjoy it. Cheers
Hi Ami,
LOVED our time in this square. Fabulous pictures! Weirdly enough, a wild man punched me in the arm, in this square. He was high on something. Saw it in his eyes, as he grinned like the Cheshire Cat while he punched me LOL.
Ryan
Eeks…how horrible. Now that you mention, there were a few people that seemed off their rockers.
Ami! Gorgeous and awe inspiring pictures with history that I ignored so far. Love the bird’s views. Magic and impressive country Nepal is.
Thanks Vishal. Glad you liked it and found it interesting. It sure is a lovely place.
Patan Darbar square looks amazing. You have taken some brilliant pics to describe the experience! Thanks for an enlightening post.
Thanks Ambuj. This place has to be explored again by me…I missed out on so much 🙂
I hope and wish you explore it again!
Me too
Great pictures! I loved the Patan Darbar 🙂
Thanks Maitreni.
Amazing pics! Love how you’ve taken us, the readers through a virtual journey through Patan Darbar. It’s as if we were right there with you!
Felt good to be the guide. Glad you enjoyed it all. Cheers
Kathmandu is a beautiful place. I have been there before. I love the temples and really simple people with very simple living. It is a great run away from the city life.
Yes, the simplicity of the people here is quite endearing. Glad you felt the same too Sona.
Nepal has been on my mind from quite sometime. Looks like I have all the reasons to visit this country now. Closely followed your posts and travels of Nepal.
Thanks Saakshi. Hope you are booking a ticket soon…its a lovely place indeed!
Stunning shots! I can’t believe there are more than 50 temples in this square – I last visited Kathmandu more than a decade ago and I’d love to go back soon!
Am sure you will find it changed a lot but it is still amazing! You should go!
I love your photos! So beautiful. I also had NO idea there were three Durbar squares. That is so interesting to me!
Thanks Cali. Each square seems so unique and lovely.
Thank you.
This is a spectacular place, Ami! The pictures you provided are stunning!
Thank you.
your photos are gorgeous! And I love the vibe of this place.. I’ve never heard of it before!
It sure is an amazing place to visit. Glad I was able to. Thanks for stopping by.
What an amazing adventure you are on. So many temples. We have thought about going to Nepal. So much culture and history to explore.
Would say thumbs up for this trip… And I hope you do it soon. It’s gorgeous. Cheers
This post is a true virtual fairytale tour. While reading it, I was transported to another time and space. Congrats for the amazing post, Ami!
Thank you Milijana. Glad you enjoyed it
I really enjoy this Kathmandu series of yours! As always, your photos are great. Love those Newari homes, just lovely! 🙂
Thank you so much. I am glad that my enthusiasm during the trip shows in my post.:) Cheers
I absolutely love the history and architecture here, thank you so much for sharing! Looks like i have yet another MUST VISIT location to add to my list 🙂
Thank you Bruce and am pretty sure you will love the same.
Your blog is always taking me to somewhere completely new, and this post is a great example of that! I’ve heard all about Kathmandu from popular culture, but never knew anything about it outside of songs or knowing celebrities used to visit there in the 1960s from the US. To get to learn about the actual history and culture was a great way to spend my afternoon! It’s a shame that some of the monuments are destroyed permanently from the Earthquake. Considering the state of the world, I always feel like I should get to places like this sooner rather than later.
Despite the destruction, the place still has so much to share. I do hope you can get to it once this lockdown is done. Thanks a bunch for the compliment on the blog 😀
So glad you got to go back to finish your visit to Patan Durbar Square in Kathmandu. I am sure it would have been even more stunning before the earthquake. So great to see the efforts to restore the buildings. The buildings that remained standing are beautiful and intricate. I am sure it would be impressive to hear the Taleju Bell ring. So good that there is a museum for some of the smaller pieces that have been preserved. Thanks for the travel tips. I can understand why you would want to visit more than once.
It is fascinating as you walk down the whole square and hear the stories behind those monuments. I would definitely like to see it again – hopefully there has been a lot repaired now.
This whole place of Patan Durbar Square is truly majestic, and I reckon that word isn’t enough to describe it. If I was there, I would be speechless admiring all the sculptures, wall carvings, it is unbelievable. I saw that devastating earthquake back in 2015, where thousands of years of history was shattered. This place deserved more restoration that the old church in France!
You can go into raptures when you see the stuff here. I agree – a lot more needs to be done.
I love Nepal. I was there in 2008, and I dream of coming back. Kathmandu is one of the most beautiful cities on the earth; it has incredible architecture and climate. Thanks to your article, beautiful memories came back. I was in the places you describe. I know that the condition of lots of temples is poor after this terrible earthquake. Some of them are in ruins. I was lucky to see them in better conditions. Thanks to your detailed description, I am moving in time, and I have the impression that I am walking through these narrows streets again! Thank you!
I am so glad that this virtual tour has been good for you. I wish I had seen some of these in its better state but am glad to have got – not one but two chances to see at least what is left of them
I have so many fond memories from Nepal and Patan. My hotel was some hundred meters from the Burbar Square in Patan and I stayed there for quite a while. Unfortunately, i was there one year after the big earthquake, so many of the wood temples were still under restoration. Do you know that close to the square lives the Devi Kumar in Patan? I have a photo of her on my blog. 😉
The Kumari house is actually in another Durbar Square – Kathmandu Durbar Square. I have been there and was lucky to have seen her too (that is the one before the current one)
We love Nepal and were absolutely dazzled by Patan Durbar Square. After reading your post, we clearly still had a lot to learn. There is so much history and symbolism in a every given temples so this was a big help. We truly hope to return someday!
Thank you Michael and when you get there next time, do keep this guide handy 😀
Thank you for taking me on such a lovely journey! When I was little, I considered Kathmandu a far away place (I live in Romania, Europe!), a destination that I would never reach. Well, I am certain, one step of that race to reach Kathmandu has been taken, by reading this post and seeing your beautiful pictures. A few years ago, I have added Kathmandu to the list of “places to visit in a lifetime” and you have just proven me that I made a wise decision. I can’t wait for this madness to be over and me to get back to my travel! It is so nice to hear (and see) that the authorities recognize the importance of renovating the structures impacted by the earthquake. It is truly important to keep safe and take care of our heritage. I will absolutely photograph all the buildings, just like you – I am an architecture hunter and can’t help it 🙂 Thank you, once again!
There are so many details here that you will go crazy capturing them all. I know so….from my experience. But it is a good frenzy to have. Thanks for the lovely comment.
I’m so glad you had a wonderful time here
Oh yes I did and loved it