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Patan Attractions, Nepal |
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Tourist Attractions in Patan
There are about 55 temples and 136 monasteries in Patan. It is
believed that these monasteries were first built by the king
Mandev of Lichchhavi dynasty. Patan also has a zoo that houses
various specimens of Himalayan and Terai wildlife including
deer and the Bengal tiger. The main tourist attractions in
Patan are Durbar Square, Mahaboudha Temple, Hiranyavarna
Mahavihara or Golden Temple or Kwa Bahal and Kumbheshwar
Temple. |
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Hiranyavarna Mahavihara
The Hiranyavarna Mahavihara is the most important
monastery in Patan. Hiranyavarna Mahavihara, also known
as the Golden Temple and Kwa Bahal, was established by
King Bhaskardev Verma in 1018. This monastery takes its
name from the gold-plated roof which was dedicated by a
rich merchant. This monastery is visited by various
devotees and tourists. This monastery is very unique as
it preserves the traditions of the Vajrayana sect of
Buddhism. This monastery is a lively, vibrant and open
museum full of the Newar Buddhist pantheon, in
masterpieces of art and sculpture reflecting Buddhist
thought and way of |
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life. Inside
the shrine is a frieze that depicts the life of the Buddha,
prayer wheels and the strong Hindu component of some images
that indicate the extent of religious cross-fertilization in
the valley. The courtyard has a richly decorated three-storey
temple with a golden image of Lord Buddha.
Kumbheshwar Temple
The Kumbheshwar Temple is situated nearby Durbar Square. This
5-storeyed temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the oldest
temple in Patan. There is a tank in the courtyard and it is
said that water comes directly from the holy lake, the Gosainkunda. It is finely proportioned with numerous carvings
including the figures of Ganesh, Narayan and other deities.
There are small Bhairab and Baglamukhi temples around the main
structure.
Mahaboudha Temple
The Mahaboudha Temple, also known as the temple of one
thousand Buddhas is located at the south of Durbar Square.
This temple was built in the 16th century and severely damaged
by an earthquake in 1934. This temple of terracotta and tile
is tightly secured by the surrounding buildings. This temple
looks like the Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya in Bihar. Each
brick used in the temple contains an image of the Buddha. From
the top, you can have a good look of the Patan town. |
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Durbar Square
Durbar Square is located in the centre of the city. It
has ancient palaces, Hindu temples, Buddhist shrines and
many fascinating sculptures. Most of the buildings were
built during the 13th century by the Malla king Siddhi
Narsingh. In Durbar Square, the ancient Royal palace and
temple are situated on the right side. Towards the west
are Krishna Temple and various other temples. Patan’s
biggest marketplace, the Mangal Bazar, is also a part of
the Durbar Square. The first temple to the right of the
square is the three-storey Bhimsen Temple. This temple
has a lion pillar in front of it and was built in 1682.
Near this temple is the Vishwanath Temple. This
two-storey |
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temple is
dedicated to the Lord Shiva and has a linga. The two stone
elephants guard the entrance and Nandi, the Bull guards the
rear. The Krishna Temple is set further back from the main
temple. This temple is built using the stone and a combination
of the early Mughal and Nagara styles of temple architecture.
The Garuda kneels atop a pillar and faces the temple. The
carvings on its pillars have the various fine scenes from the
Mahabharata on the first floor and the Ramayana on the second
floor. Also set on a high pillar is the statue of King
Yoganarendra Malla who ruled Patan in the 18th century. A bird
sits on top of the statue and according to the legends, as
long as the bird remains on the statue, the king may return to
its palace. The Royal Palace is a fine three-storey structure
marked by its golden gate and bronze windows. It is believed
that the spirits of the Malla kings still reside there. This
palace has the carved roof struts and the gilded metal window
over the entrance is flanked by carved ivory windows. |
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Rato Machendranath Temple
The Rato (Red) Machendranath Temple is situated a little
away from the centre of Patan. This temple is considered
by the Buddhists as the home of the god Avalokiteshwara
in his Tantric form. This temple belongs to 1673 and
stands in a courtyard filled with sculptures of horses,
lions and bulls, symbols of the Tibetan calendar. There
are four richly adorned entrances that leads to the
shrine which houses the large-eyed clay image of
Avalokiteshwara, decorated
with jewellery and garlands.
Tibetan Refugee Camp
The Tibetan Refugee Camp is located at Jawalakhel. In
1959, following the flight of Dalai Lama and other
Tibetans, various refugees were accommodated in the
Tibetan Refugee Camp. This camp was set up with the
Swiss assistance and now, a permanent settlement. This
place also has a handicrafts centre that sell carpets,
blankets, jackets and pullovers made by the refugees
there and here, you can also see these things being made
by them. |
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