Patan-Lalitpur Heritage Tour

Trip Profile:

Tour Mode: On Hotels and Guest House or Resorts.

Tour Grade: Leisure to moderate with short walks.

Activities: Exciting drive and cultural tour walk.

Tour Duration: Half-Day to Full Day (9 a.m. to 01 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Seasons: Nearly all months of the year except wet monsoon season of June to mid-September.

Introduction:

Patan also is known as Lalitpur means great city full of arts and crafts which you can witness during the half day to full day around impressive world heritage sites that Patan and Lalitpur have to offer. Patan –Lalitpur located south of Kathmandu city which is one its sub-metropolitan adjoining district within Kathmandu valley, Patan - Lalitpur tour a city of both blend with semi-modern and age-old heritage city full of lively culture and traditional life.

Places of interest to visit around Patan-Lalitpur city:

Patan Durbar Square:

Center of Patan-Lalitpur, houses ancient Newari architecture with three main courtyards of the palace: 

Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Mul Chowk the oldest one and is at the center of Patan square. Several multi-sized and a multi-styled temple houses the western part of the complex. Main among these is Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple and the Golden Temple of Hiranya.

Mul Chowk (royal courtyard and verandah:

One of the famous and largest courtyards among three main chowks, the Bidya Temple is located at the center of the courtyard and the Taleju temples stand around the courtyard.

Sundari Chowk:

Sundari Chowk is to the south of the Mul Chowk with a sunken tank known as Tusha Hiti Mul Chowk & Taleju Temple. 

Keshav Narayan Chowk:

Keshav Narayan Chowk on the northern part with Degutale temple, it is the site of the earliest Malla palace in Patan, the Chowk sits on the older foundations of a Buddhist monastery.

Krishna Temple:

This temple dedicated to Hindu Lord Krishna was erected in the 17th century, considered to be the first one to be built in Shikara architecture, it commands a vital position around durbar square. The elegant shikhara-style temple is ranked as one of the gems of Durbar Square. The temple is compared with sacred Mount Meru, which is the abode of the god Shiva according to Hindu scriptures. 

Mahaboudha:

A Buddhist temple of Mahaboudha, which is made of clay bricks, lies to the east of the Durbar Square. Hundreds of Buddha images are engraved in the bricks. The temple is known for its fine terra cotta work. 

Kumbheshwor:

Just at the rim of Durbar square lies five-storied pagoda temple of Lord Siva built by King Jayasthiti Malla, inside the temple premises a natural spring, its source the belief is from the famous glacial lake of Gosainkunda around Langtang Himal of Rasuwa district. The golden work on the temple was added later in 1422 A.D.  On the festival of Janai Purnima (month of August), ritual bathing and fair take place.

Jagat Narayan Temple: 

The Jagat Narayan temple is a tall shikhara-style temple devoted to Lord Vishnu, red bricks are used for the construction. The temple also holds a fine metal statue of Garuda, Ganesh, and Hanuman, all related to Hindu religion and mythology.

Rudra Varna Mahavihar: 

This Buddhist monastery holds an amazing collection of images and idols in metal, stone, and wood. Legend holds that the Kings in the ancient times were crowned in this monastery. Many of the treasures offered by the people can be seen here even today.

The Asoka Stupas:

The Indian Emperor Asoka visited Nepal in 250 B.C and constructed four ancient stupas around four corners of Patan. The four stupas are located in Pulchowk, Lagankhel, Imatole and in Teta (way to Sano Gaon) respectively.

Patan Industrial Estate:

Located outside the city suburb near the Stupa at Lagankhel, an interesting place to visit and shopping for souvenirs, where all the handicrafts are hand made from metal, wood to stone artwork includes carpet, pashmina shawl are woven here, as Patan / Lalitpur is the city of beauty and arts, it will be an opportunity to observe the work and skill of craftsman and to purchase some items from this place. 

EXTENSION ON FULL DAY from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m:

Tibetan Refugee Camp:

Tibetan Refugee camp located south-west of Patan area near the only Nepal Zoo, where one can observe the happy-cheerful workers weaving carpets.  This place was established in the early 1970s after the Chinese invasion in Tibet where a great number of Tibetan migrated here, and the Nepal Government established this place as a permanent camp or settlement for the Tibetan Refugees here you can shop souvenirs as well.

Bungmati and Kokana villages:

A short drive to Bungmati and Kokana villages located on the very edge of Kathmandu valley around Lalitpur district, where the way of life villagers still Exists at it was for many past centuries, and old Newari village with some Tamang and another tribe as minority, here visit the local old houses and famous temples, this place famous for handmade garments and mustard oils..