Patan, also called Lalitpur, the “city of beauty”, is one of the oldest cities in the Kathmandu Valley and was a royal Malla capital until the 18th century. Its Durbar Square is a monument zone of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for Newar craftsmanship in wood, stone and metal that local workshops still practise today.
Facing the old royal palace is a dense line of temples, including the stone Krishna Mandir, built in the 17th century in the shikhara style. Inside the palace, the Patan Museum is widely regarded as the best museum in Nepal for Hindu and Buddhist art. Nearby lanes lead to the Golden Temple, a 12th-century Buddhist monastery, and to metalworkers’ studios.
Foreign visitors pay an entry fee of around NPR 1,000 for the square; the Patan Museum is ticketed separately. Allow at least two to three hours, longer if you visit the museum and the Golden Temple. Late afternoon light on the temples is lovely, and the museum café makes a peaceful break. Remove shoes and leather before entering temples.
