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Patan, Nepal
The ancient city of Patan is situated on the southern
bank of the river Bagmati and is about five kilometers southeast of
Kathmandu. The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments with
bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings. Noted for its
craftsmen and metal workers, it is known as the city of artists. The major
visitor attractions of Patan are:

DURBAR
SQUARE: Patan Durbar Square, situated in the heart of the city, is
the main tourist attraction. The square is full of ancient palaces, temples,
and shrines noted for their exquisite carvings. One can rummage for
treasures and souvenirs in the various shops around the square.
The main attraction of Patan Durbar Square is the ancient
Royal Palace itself. It consists of three main chowks, or courtyards: the
central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Main Keshab Narayan Chowk. In the
northeastern corner of the courtyard is a triple-roofed octagonal tower,
Teleju Bhawani Temple, built by King Shree Niwas Malla in 1667. Between the
central Mul Chowk and Main Keshab Narayan Chowk there is the temple of Degu
Taleju.
KRISHNA
MANDIR: Built in the seventeenth century by King Siddhi Narsingh
Malla, the temple of Lord Krishna holds a commanding position in the palace
complex of Patan. It is the only temple in Nepal to have 21 shrines and is
completely made of stone. Most of the important scenes from the ancient
Hindu epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, have been engraved on its
friezes.
MAHABOUDDHA :
A little further from Patan Durbar Square lies this Buddhist temple made of
clay bricks in which thousands of images of the Lord Buddha are engraved.
The Terra-cotta structure is a fourteenth-century Nepalese architectural
masterpiece. It was constructed by an architect named Avay Raj.
HIRANYA VARNA MAHAVIHAR :
This three-story golden pagoda of Lokeshwor (Lord Buddha) was built in the
twelfth century by King Bhaskar Verma. It is located in the courtyard of
Kwabahal. Inside the upper story of the pagoda, placed on a pedestal, are
golden images of Lord Buddha and a large prayer wheel. There are a wealth of
gem-like carvings on its walls and a complete life history of Buddha in gold
relief.
KUMBHESHWOR :
Kumbeshwor temple in Patan and Nyatapol temple in Bhaktapur are the only
five- storied temples in the Valley, with the exception of the round
five-tiered Pancha Mukhi Hanuman of Kathmandu's Hanuman Dhoka Palace. This
temple for Lord Shiva was expanded during the reign of King Jayasthiti Malla
but originally constructed in 1392. A fair is held here on the Janal Purnima
day in August.

JAGAT NARAYAN TEMPLE :
This is a tall imposing temple of Lord Vishnu in red brick. Situated on the
bank of the Bagmati River, the temple has many fine images of stone and an
artistic metal statue of Garuda on a stone pillar.
RUDRA VARNA MAHAVIHAR :
This unique Buddhist monastery contains a collection of images and statues
in metal, stone, and wood. In ancient times, kings were crowned in this
monastery. Many of the treasures offered by kings' devotees can be seen here
even today.
THE ASHOKAN STUPAS :
There are four ancient stupas, popularly believed to have been built in 250
B. C. by Emperor Ashoka, at the four corners of Patan. The four stupas are
located in Pulchowk, Lagankhel, Ebahi (way to Shankhamul), and in Teat (way
to Sano Gaon) respectively. These stupa give evidence to the city's ancient
religious importance.
ACCHESHWOR MAHAVIHAR :
This temple was established towards the beginning of the seventeenth century
by Accheshwor who built a temple to house an idol of Lord Buddha. The
Mahavihar has recently been reconstructed. It has 30 rooms including a
monastery, "Dhyankuti" research area, training area, library, review rooms,
and guest rooms. Situated behind the Ashokan Stupa at Pulchowk, the
Mahavihar commands a beautiful view of the Kathmandu Valley.
TEMPLES OF MACHCHHENDRA NATH AND MIN NATH :
The pagoda of Red Machchhendra Nath, also known as Avalokiteshwor and
Adinath Lokeshwor, is housed here for six months each year. For the
remaining six months, the idol is taken to its shrine in Bungmati. The
temple of Min Nath is situated in Tentgal, on the way to Tabahal. The temple
of Min Nath is thought to be older than the temple of Red Machchhendra Nath.
THE ZOO: The Zoo is located in Jawalakhel. In the zoo are
many animals, birds, and reptiles, mostly representing the Himalayan fauna.
It is the only zoo in Nepal. Inside is a pond built by King Siddhi Narsingh
Malla. It is open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
JAWALAKHEL HANDICRAFT CENTER :
This carpet factory is managed by Tibetan refugees and is a place where one
can see the entire process of spinning, dying, and weaving Tibetan designed
wool carpets. The center also has a well-stocked show room for carpet
purchasing.
PATAN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE :
The Patan Industrial Estate is situated at Lagankhel in the Lalitpur
District near Sat Dobato. This industrial estate is well known for Nepali
handicrafts such as wood carving, metal crafts, carpets, and thangka
paintings. It is very interesting to see how these goods are made in the
different workshops. For the visitors' convenience, there is a shopping
arcade within the premises of the industrial estate. Almost all the
handicraft products made in the estate are exhibited in the shopping arcade.
GODAVARI :
Situated at the foothills of Pulchowki, this place has splendid natural
beauty. The road from Patan city runs to Godavari to the southeast, passing
through the small, old towns of Harisiddhi, Thaiba, and Badegaon. A holy
place in Nepal, it is also a good picnic spot amid dense forests. It is the
site of the only Royal Botanical Garden in Nepal. A fish hatchery and a
marble quarry also are located here.
PULCHOWKI :
Located around ten kilometers southeast of Patan, this mountain, 2759 meters
high, is a good spot for hiking. Rhododendrons of different varieties and
colors from pure white to dark red are found here. A Buddhist shrine is
situated on the top of the hill which can be reached via a motorable road. |
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