Travel Nepa

About Patan
The ancient name of Patan is Lalitpur (the city of beauty).It is indeed a city of beauty and grace .Planned on a circular format with Buddhist Stupas on the four points of the compass, the city is three miles south-east of Kathmandu city across the southern bank of the river Bagmati . Its most photogenic centre of attraction is the Patan Durbar Square, which is situated right in the middle of the market place. It is a city full of Buddhist and Hindus shrines.The city is also noted for its craftmen like carpenters, masons and metal workers. The town is believed to have been bilt during the reign of Vera Deva in 299 AD.
Important Sightseeing Places in Patan
1. Durbar Square: The Palace complex of Patan is the focal point of the city’s attraction.The square is a cluster of fine pagoda temples and stone carved.It is at the same time the business hub of the city.At every step one comes across some pieces of art or some images of various deities testifying to the consummate skill of the anonymous artists.The ancient palace of the Malla Kings and stone water baths associated with various episodes of history and legend hold the attention of the visitors.The stone temple of Lord Krishna and the Royal Bath (Tushahity) with intricate stone and bronze carvings, pulsate with a life that is unique and distinct.
2. Hiranya Varna Mahavihar or Golden temple:It is a three storied pagoda styled golden temple of Lokeshwar (Lord Buddha) built in the 12th century AD.by King Bhaskar VArma .Located in the courtyard of Kwabahal, this temple belongs to a class by itself. A golden image of Lord Buddha and a big prayer wheel are placed on the pedestal of the upper part of the Vihar.Intricate decorative patterns worked out on its outer walls add charm to the mellow richness of the beauty of the shrine.
3. Kumbheshwor: This is a five storied gagoda styled temple of Lord Shiva .Inside the courtyard is a natural spring having its source, as it is said , in the famous glacial lake of Gosaikunda.This temple was built by king Jayasthiti Malla and the golden finial was added in 1422 AD .He also cleaned the tank near Kumbheshwar and installed various images of Narayan, Ganesh, Sitala,Basuki, Gauri, Kirtimukh and Agamadevata around the tanks and in the courtyard .Ritual bathing takes place here every year , on Janai Purnima (August –September).
4. Jagat Narayan: The Jagat Narayan temple is a tall Shikara styled temple consecrated to Lord Vishnu.The temple is built out of red brick on the bank of the bagmati at Sankhamul .It enshrines many images in stone.The fine metal statue of Garuda placed on a stone monolith is quite eye – catching .The images of Garuda,Ganesh and Hanuman seated on the stone pedestals are also worth seeing.
5. Krishna Mandir: The temple of Lord Krishna holds a commanding position in the palace complex of Patan .Though its style is not wholly native ,it has been reckoned as one of the perfect specimens of the Nepalese skill in templecraft. The three –storied stone temple continues to elicit high praise from lovers of art and beauty .It was built by king Siddhi Narasingha Malla in the 16th century AD. Most of the important scenes from the epics Mahabharat and Ramayan have been executed on the entablatures in bas-relief.

6. Mahabouddha: The temple of Mahabouddha is a masterpiece of terra-cotta.Like the Krishna Mandir it too reveals an art tradition which was not evolved in Nepal.Yet like Krishna Mandir it also does show that the native craftsmanship of the Nepalese can do proper justice to any art form.This temple was built by Abhaya Raj, apriest of Patan.It is sometimes described as the temple of million Buddhas because its every brick contains a fine figure of the Buddha. They add up to the astonishing total of nine thousand.It was leveled to the ground in the great earthquake of 1934 AD.and was exactly rebuilt to the original specification, proving thereby that templecraft is still one of the living art of Nepal.

7. Rudra Varna Mahavihar: This is one of the old Buddhist monasteries in Patan.Adjacent to the monastery there is a temple that contains a fine image of Lord Buddha.the Courtyard of the temple is like a gallery of different bronze and stone art works.

8. Ashoka Stupas: Popularly believed ,though not scholastically endorsed, to have been built by Ashoka, the Buddhist Emoeror of India , these stupas stand at four different corners of Patan giving the whole city a monastic character. All these Buddhist mounds were built in 250 AD.at the time when Buddhism was making its headway in the valley of Kathmandu.

9. Machhendranath: The temple of Machhendranath is another centre of attraction in Patan .The temples is in the middle of a wide spacious quadrangle just at the outer rim of the market place.A fine clay image of Avalokiteshwar or red Machhendranath is housed here for six months.This pagoda construction was built in 1408 AD.Many ancient art works and numerous bronze images are scattered around in the temple precincts.Machhendranath is taken round the city of Patna in a colourful chariot festival beginning in April – May and lasting sometimes for months.

10. Godavari : Situated at the lap of Phulchoki and at a distance of six miles south-east of Patan Godavari is a popular picnic spot of the holiday makers.It has a highly prized butterfly population including rare collector’s items. Amidst the dense woodland there is a fish hatchery.The Botanical Garden has a wide –ranging collection of high- altitude orchids and cacti. The whole area is quite fertile and rich In mines particularly marble.Godavari is one of the holiest places in Nepal and every twelve years a great religious fair is held there lasting the whole month.One this occasion thousands of people come here to have dip in the holy pond fed by a natural spring .The religious sanctity mixed up with an enchanting natural scenery and bracing climate makes it a palace full of serene restfulness.One the way to Godavari, there are two old villages –Harisiddhi and Thaiba, where the ancient waya of living have not been spoilt by the inroads of modern mechanized civilization.

11. Bajra Barahi: The temple of Bajra Barahi is situated near Chapagaon amidst a small woodland park about six miles south- east of Patan city. The temple is consecrated to the boar incarnation of Vishnu (Narayan) , the God of Creation.

12. Phulchoki: It is one of the prominent peaks surrounding the Kathmandu valley and lies to the south-east .It has an altitude of 9050 ft.This mountain , as its name suggests (Phul means flower), is a natural garden of wild roses, yellow jessamine, iris, and other native flowers.The summit is a rich grove of rhododendrons of various hues.A jeepable road leads to the top of the hill where there is a Buddhist shrine. A youthful hiker stands good chance of ‘scaling ‘ the peak in a little more than three hours.The place has many other good things to view like ,tower, himalays , birds and many more .During snowfall people from different places come here to play with snow.