Top Things to Do in the Patan | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Patan

Places To Visit In Patan

Bhimsen Temple

Bhimsen temple is situated in the northern part of Patan Durbar Square. The temple consists of three storeys and is dedicated to Bheema, one of the five Pandavas from Mahabharata, who was known for his strength and bravery. In Newar, he is traditionally worshipped as the god of business and trade. There are many temples in Nepal dedicated to Bhimsen but the one in the Patan Durbar Square attracts people the most because of the draws and carvings of the temple which describes Bhimsen as the man with super strength who is crushing an elephant with a knee or lifting a horse in the air. The non-Hindus are not allowed to go inside the temple but can view the wild-eyed statue of Bhimsen by climbing up to the top level of this temple. Source The architecture of this temple is slightly unusual which makes it different from the other temples in Patan. The temple was built by Srinivasa Malla in 1680 but it had to be rebuilt in 1682 due to the destruction of the temple caused by a fire. The temple went through renovations again after the earthquake that took place in 1934 and again in 1967. And again, major damage was caused to the Bhimsen Temple by the 2015 earthquake. Read More

Patan Durbar Square

This UNESCO heritage site, located in the centre of Lalitpur is one of the most visited places in Nepal. The architecture and history can be seen in the temples, palaces and houses and best reflect the culture of this country. Located just a few kilometres from Kathmandu City, the Durbar Square Patan is one of the three main Durbar Squares in Kathmandu Valley and offers a perfect blend between ancient history and culture along with modern local street food. The best time to visit Durbar Square Patan is from October to December in order to have the best outdoor experience. It is often overcrowded during the weekends so it is best to visit during the weekdays. Unfortunately, a lot of this area was destroyed during the 2015 earthquake, leading to it being seen as an unattractive place to visit. However, over the years, the government, as well as the community, have been putting in their efforts to rebuild this area, making Patan one of the most artistic Buddhist cities in the world and the Durbar Square a must-visit attraction in Nepal. Read More

Krishna Mandir

Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur, Nepal was a cultural stronghold of the Malla kings of Kathmandu valley. Most of the buildings present here reflect the history and evolution of Nepal’s culture over the years, especially the temples and shrines. The courtyard has both Hindu and Buddhist establishment scattered all over its vast expanse. One of the major Hindu temples present here is the Krishna Mandir. Built by one of the great Malla kings, Siddhi Narsingh, the temple holds an extraordinary and revered place in the Hindu community of Nepal. Carved entirely in dark stone, the beautiful structure of the Krishna Mandir consists of several significant sculptures and carvings on its outside walls as well as on the interior walls. Inside, there are shrines of Lord Krishna with his consorts and Lord Shiva too, which draw a large number of Hindu devotees to the temple every day.Whether you are religious or spiritual beliefs or interested in old architectural marvels or both, the Krishna Mandir of Patan Square will leave your heart content. Read More

Kumbeshwar Temple

The Kumbeshwar Temple, also known as the Kumbeshwar Mahadev Mandir, one of the three five-storey temples in patan is quite often ignored due to its neighbouring Golden Temple. Even though Patan is known for having only Hindu Temples, the Kumbeshwar temple is quite famous for being one of the most sacred ones in Nepal. For those who are visiting Patan, this temple dedicated to lord Shiva should definitely be a stop. The temple is the oldest one in the region and was built by the King Jayasthiti Malla in the 14th Century. It is believed that a dip into the holy ponds of the temple is especially purifying as the water comes naturally all the way from Gosaikunda , which is almost 42km away. There is also a legend that says that the town of Patan, which is also known as 'Lalitpur' gets its name from the temple. Read More

Newari Kitchen

The Newari Kitchen in Patan is the best place to go when you want to explore Newari food. It features in International, Nepalese, and Asian cuisines. This restaurant is known for its austenitic, flavour and its ambient environment as well. This vegetarian-friendly restaurant also has terrace seating, which is entirely covered by trees. When it comes to the menu, the restaurant offers a wide range of food collection for meat-eaters and vegetarians. If it's your first time eating Newari food and you're confused about what is right, the staff would help by suggesting the best and popular dishes. Read More

Rato Machhendranath Temple

It is believed that Rato Machhendranath Temple is the place where the patron of God, Rato Macchendranath or Matsyendranath spent most of his life. Rato Machhendranath was said to have been moved from Bungamati to Patan several times, which is central to the most famous rituals in Kathmandu. The place where the deity resided, Shikhara, was unfortunately destroyed during the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Nevertheless, this attraction is a must-visit for tourists since it truly represents the culture of Bungamati. The most famous festival here is the Machhendranath festival which takes place during April and May. This temple, created in 1673, has a protected metal fence with 4 doorways that are protected by stone lions on the ground floor. Yeti like demons can be found carved in the corners of the temple. In front of the temple premises, one can also find metal structures of animals such as a Garuda, a snake, fish, a lion, a horse and a buffalo. Read More

Royal Palace Patan

The Royal Palace in Patan covers up the Durbar Square in the city and is one of the most famous attractions there. Built in the 14th century under the rule of the Malla King, the palace was restored after the Kathmandu earthquake in 2015. The palace includes a number of temples in its complex and it is almost impossible to take a trip to Durbar Square without having a look at the Royal Palace. The palace has a series of connecting courtyards behind the windows, overhanging eaves and delicate wooden screens. The northern gateway has been engraved with golden Toranas showing Parvati, Shiva, Ganesha and Kumar. Above the gateway, there is a window that is gilded foil wrapped around a timber frame where the king used to make his public appearances. This place also leads to the Patan Museum. Read More

Sundari Chowk

In the Patan Durbar Square of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal is the beautiful courtyard of Sundari Chowk with an entrance guarded by the three impressive statues of Hindu deities Hanuman, Ganesh and Narsingha. It is one of the three main courtyards in Patan Durbar Square and is located south of its more famous neighbour, Mul Chowk. Relatively smaller than Mul Chowk, this area is arranged around a carved sunken water tank known as Tusha Hiti and has the Bhandarkhal water tank which was once the main supply tank royal palace. Built in 1647, this Chowk had been under reconstruction as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the north, south and west wings here were near completion when Nepal was struck by a massive earthquake in 2015. It was however the east wing which was severely destroyed, owing to its old architecture. After restoration work which lasted for almost 3 years, Sundari Chowk was reopened in 2018 and made available for exhibitions and to the public. Read More

Uku Bahal

Uku Bahal is a Buddhist monastery located in South of Patan Durbar Square in Nepal. It is also called Rudra Varna Mahavir and is definitely worth a stop in Patan City. Filled with sacred images and shrines, this place consists of three courtyards. When you enter, you will see the outer courtyard with two flag-bearing British style lion statues and an impressive gate. They can find splendid items such as brass bells, winged horses, statues of peacocks, elephants Garudas and thunderbolts called Dorjes. Along with that, a statue of Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher, as well as paintworks and preserved roof struts, are a few things that people can see. Read More

The beautiful hand-woven Patola Sarees are famous worldwide and Patan is said to be the home of Patola artists. It is one of the most sought after possession for women. It takes a lot of time from start to finish a patola saree. A lot of time, intricate work, hand-woven, all of this together contribute to raising the price of a Patola which mostly starts from 20,000 and goes up to several lakhs depending on the work done and thread used. It would be an interesting experience to visit the unit and see how work is done, maybe have a word with the artists and buy a couple of sarees. Read More