Heritage of Nepal - Patan Durbar Square

 The Patan Durbar Square is situated in the heart of the Patan city. Patan is believed to be one of the oldest Buddhist Cities as it was found in the 3rd century A.D. The square consists of enchanting mélange of palace / buildings, artistic courtyards and elegant pagoda temples. The former royal palace complex is the center of Patan’s religious and social life and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects. This city is known for its finest traditional crafts and rich artistic heritage.

• Krishna Temple:Built by Siddhi Narsingha Malla in 1637 this 3 storied temple is built in Shikhara style and scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics inside.
• Kwa Bahal /Golden Temple: Built in the 12th Century by King Bhaskar Verma this Temple is very famous among the Buddhists of Patan. We can find the three roofs of the temple with copper golden facades, two lions guarding the main entrance and images of Buddha and Boddisattvas inside.
• Mahabouddha : Built in 14th Century with clay bricks this temple is a good example of Terra-Cotta Art and has thousands of images of Lord Buddha engraved inside.
• Kumbeshwor: Built in 1392 as a two storied shrine this temple dedicated to Lord Shiva later in the 17th century by Srinivasa Malla was added with the upper three tiers of the temple.
• Banglamukhi Temple: The single storied temple of Goddess Baglamukhi with green painted woodwork is embodied in a tiny image beneath an elaborate silver torona and canopy of snakes.
• Ashokan Stupas: Built in 250 BC by Emperor Ashoka of India on his visit to Nepal, Ashokan Stupas is four ancient stupas situated at the four corners of Patan, Pulchowk, Lagankhel, Ebahi and in Teta.
• Achheswor Mahavihar: Founded in the 17th century Mahavihar  temple has recently been reconstructed and it gives a breathtaking scene of the Kathmandu Valley.
• Temple of Machhendranath and Minnath Built in 1408 AD is the pagoda style temple Red Machhendranath.  It is said that the God spends six months a year in a temple in Bungamati his birthplace and the other six months in the Rato Machhendranath Temple in Patanand the day of shifting is celebrated as a biggest festival of the year.
• Surya Binayak Temple: The temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh is located between Bungamati and Khakna.

Posted in: Temples of Nepal