Trip Overview
Patan is protected by UNESCO world heritage site. Patan is the second largest city in the valley. This ancient city of Patan also Known as Lalitpur or the city of fine arts is about five kilometers southeast of Kathmandu. It is fragmented from other cities due to its substantive architectural ancient masterpieces. Patan Durbar Square is a concentrated mass of temples, the most stunning display of Newari architecture to be seen in Nepal. Here are also many other famous Buddhist temples like Hiranya Verna Maha Vihar (the Golden temple) and Maha Boudha with ten thousand Buddha’s images. Most of the people of Patan city are Buddhists. The best place, however, to see metal sculpture is the Hiranya Varna Mahabihar, the “Golden Temple.”
The Bhaktapur city is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Bhaktapur is one of the most charming architecture showpieces of the valley as it highlights the ancient. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara style temples grouped around a fifty-five window palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights the ancient arts of Nepal. The Art Gallery contains ancient paintings belonging to the Hindu and Buddhist traditions of various periods and descriptions. Some of the most famous monuments golden gate, peacock window, 55 windows Palace, Nyatapola temple, Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, two stone images of Bhairav (the dreadful aspect of Shiva) and Ugrachandi are main attractions.
The temple of Changu Narayan is the oldest temple found to date in Nepal and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is an impressive temple situated on top of a small hill, which is approximately 16 km from Kathmandu. The temple now covers sixteen hundred years of Nepalese art history. The temple, built around the third century, is decorated by some of the best samples of stone, wood, and metal craft in the Valley. In the words of one tourist guide, “When you look upon Changu Narayan, you observe the complete cultural development of the Valley.”
