Destinations Magazine

Patan, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

By Sonyaandtravis @sonyaandtravis

One particular highlight was the Patan Museum which detailed the different Buddhist and Hindu gods and their characteristics. For example, Ganesh, the Hindu God of Prosperity (with the head of an elephant) is often depicted with his vehicle, a rat (or mouse) and because of his love of sweets, holds a ladoo ball (Indian sweet).

Patan Durbar Square
Krishna Mandir stone temple with shikhara-style spire, a Garuda kneels with folded arms on top of a column in front
One of the pair of elephants at the front of the Vishwanath (Shiva) Temple

Sonya at the Vishwanath (Shiva) Temple with pair of elephants guarding the entrance
Intricate stone carving of monkey figure on Vishwanath (Shiva) Temple
Travis with the Vishwanath Temple stone carvings in the background

The man-bird Garuda kneels with folded arms on top of a column facing the Krishna Mandir Temple
The man-bird Garuda with the similar looking King Yoganarendra Malla statue in the background
Jagannarayan (Char Narayan) Temple reputed to be the oldest temple in Durbar Square

Sunken Manga Hiti with carved stone makara (mythological crocodiles) head waterspouts
Windows of the Keshav Narayan Chowk (the former residence of the Malla kings)
Mul Chowk with two stone lions guard the entrance to the courtyard

Travis inspecting the museum exhibit on the lost-wax (thajya) method of casting
Sunken Manga Hiti with three carved stone makara (mythological crocodiles) head waterspouts
Jagannarayan (Char Narayan) Temple with two large stone lions

Courtyard to Royal Palace entered through a magnificent gilded door topped by a golden torana showing Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh and Kumar
Standing river goddesses Ganga on a tortoise statue at Mul Chowk
Multi-armed carved wooden deity found on a temple

Degutalle Temple, with octagonal spire
Unknown bust possibly related to restoration of Patan, Durbar Square
View of Durbar Square facing north

King Yoganarendra Malla sitting on lotus protected by the hood of a cobra
View of Durbar Square facing north taken from a roof-top cafe
Sonya enjoying a cold drink and the view of Durbar Square

The transport of Ganesh, the rat, offering a ladoo ball
Stone temple in-between lush vegetation
A pair of stone cobras carved on a temple

Small shrines and thunderbolt in an open courtyard
Two lions guarding the entrance to a large courtyard with stupas and shrines
One of many small temple shrines in a courtyard

Metal snow lion at the entrance to a small Buddhist monastery
Gold Buddha statue sitting in the courtyard
The metal ribbon on a temple from the roof to the ground helps the gods descend to earth

A stone statue heavily painted with orange, a main color of Hindu religion
Square based triple story stone temple
Colourful string puppets for sale

Garuda of Narayan Mandir Temple
Stone lions guarding the entrance
A small side alley leads to the Swotha Tole with stupa visible

Sonya spinning a prayer wheel
Stone lions guarding the entrance to the Golden Temple
Monkeys holding out a jackfruit as an offering

Entrance to Golden Temple inner entrance is flanked by elephants with rider
Deity stone shrine
Stupa in the courtyard of the Naga Bahal

Sonya with the Purnachandi Pond in the background
The large stupa near Pim Bahal Pokhari pond at sunset
Entrance gate to historic Patan city

Patan Walking Tour

  1. Ganesh Shrine
  2. Sulima Square
  3. Pim Bahal Pokhari
  4. Chandeswari Temple
  5. Lokakirti Mahavihar
  6. Nyakachuka Courtyard
  7. Naga Bahal
  8. Golden Temple (Kwa Bahal)
  9. Manjushri Temple
  10. Megaliths
  11. Kumbeshwar Temple
  12. Uma Maheshwar Temple
  13. Rada Krishna Temple
  14. Krishna Mandir
  15. Narayan Mandir

Back to Featured Articles on Logo Paperblog
See the original article
Report spam/abuse

About the author


Sonyaandtravis 57 shares View profile
View Blog

The Author's profile is not complete.

Author's Latest Articles

See more

Magazines