Being one of the 3 durbar squares situated in Lalitpur, Kathmandu valley, Patan Durbar Square is one of the greatest attractions of Kathmandu. Being the oldest Buddhist city in the world, Lalitpur also known as Patan or Yala, is extremely popular for its artistic heritage. On its own, Patan Durbar Square consists of 3 main stupas out of the 4 stupas in Patan. Patan has about 136 bahals or courtyards and 55 major temples and most of these structures are in the vicinity of the Durbar Square. The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newari architecture. The square floor is tiled with red bricks. There are many temples and idols in the area. The main temples are aligned opposite of the western face of the palace. The entrance of the temples faces east, towards the palace. There is also a bell situated in alignment beside the main temples.
One of the major attractions of Patan Durbar Square includes the Patan museum, which is filled with bronze statues and religious objects. Other major temples that attract the eyes of everyone are as follows:
•KRISHNA MANDIR
Krishna temple is the most important temple in Patan Durbar Square. It was built in the local variety of Shikhara style called Granthakuta. The stone carvings along the beam above the first and second-floor pillar are most notable. The first-floor pillar carvings narrate the events of the Mahabharata, while on the second floor there are visual carvings from Ramayana. King Siddhi Narsingh Malla built the temple in 1667. It is said that one night the King saw Lord Krishna and his consort Srimati Radha standing in front
of the royal palace. He ordered a temple to be built on the same spot.
•BHIMSEN MANDIR
Srinivasa Malla built Bhimsen temple in 1680. It is renowned for its three interconnected golden windows. Bhimsen is a great personality in Mahabharata. He was known to be brave and strong. In Newari culture, he is traditionally worshiped as a god of business and trade. Tourists are not allowed inside the temple.
•VISHWANATH MANDIR
Vishwanath Temple is dedicated to God Shiva. It was built in 1627 during the reign of Siddhi Narsingh Malla. The roof supports are decorated with erotic carvings similar to imagery widespread in Shiva temples in India. Two stone elephants in the front entrance guard the temple. On the other side of the temple is the sculpture of a bull, Shiva’s vehicle. A stone linga is enshrined inside the temple.
•TALEJU BHAWANI MANDIR
Taleju temple was built by Siddhi Narsingh Malla in 1640 and rebuilt by Srinivasa Malla
in 1667 after a fire. Taleju Bhawani was the patron deity of the Malla kings. It is a five-storey temple with triple-roofs. Other than the local treasures, one of the things that is notable about Patan Durbar Square is its ambiance. There are a lot of hang out places and restaurants in the area that have helped in appealing the youths and visitors. The place exudes a different vibe than the one you’ll get in the Kathmandu city just a couple of minutes away. The afternoon time is especially the most favorable time to roam the streets of Patan Durbar Square. The light during sunset gleams through the structures of the monuments and gives mesmerizing view.
When it comes to food, there are plenty of Newari eateries near Patan Durbar Square serving ethnic cuisines. Patan is also considered the heaven for Newari cuisines. Apparently, you can find Newari eateries on every alley or galley of the city largely known to locals only. Beside food, you can also find local drinks Aila (liquor) and Thwon (beer) in those eateries. Patan Durbar Square is indeed a must-visit place if you want to soak in the cultural richness of the Valley.
