Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square is an ancient royal palace in the Kathmandu Valley. It was not a proper palace until the 14th century, when the Kathmandu Valley was a single kingdom. The Patan royal palace had no permanent king, so sometimes kings from Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, and Gorkha ruled from it. Our Bhaktapur and Patan day tour packages include a visit to this palace.

Patan's real name is Lalitpur. Lalitpur means the city of fine arts, and Patan means flat land. The first inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley lived in this city. It is one of Nepal's ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

History of Patan

Patan was established during the Kirat dynasty, and the place was known as Thal in the Kirat language. Some monuments were built here during the Lichchhavi period. Patan was under the king of Kathmandu when Ratna Malla ruled. Around 1580, Shiva Singha Malla (King of Kathmandu) was succeeded by Siddhi Narasimha Malla, making Patan an independent country. Shriniwas Malla (Son of Siddhi Narasimha Malla) tried to oppose his father in 1658; Siddhi Narasimha Malla knew and made his son Shriniwas Malla king. Several kings ruled the country, including Bhaskar Malla, who came from Kathmandu and became king in this palace. King Prithvi Narayan Shaha's brother from Gorkha was also king of Patan in 1763. Prithvi Narayan Shaha won Patan in 1768 and merged it with his country. UNESCO registered this place as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Things to See in Patan Durbar Square

Golden Temple (12th Century)
Kumbheshwar Mahadeva Temple (15th Century)
The Patan royal palace (Museum)
Beautiful Yards and a Garden
Fine arts and carvings
Pagoda temples and more

Golden Temple is also known as Hiranya Varna Mahabihar. Bhaskar Varma is an old Buddhist Monastery and temple built in the 12th Century. Krishna Mandir, a big stone temple with many pinnacles, is one of the famous temples where Hindus celebrate Krishna Janma Asthami in August. Several old Pagoda temples and wooden carvings are phenomenally decorated in this place.