Lalitpur

Lalitpur is a major city located southwest of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It is easy to travel here, being a few hours away from Kathmandu. Otherwise known as Patan, this city has been granted the status of World Heritage Site. Lalitpur means ‘City of Beauty’ and is known as the artistic and cultural focal point of Nepal. Temples, pagodas, sculptures can be seen here. The main attraction of Lalitpur is the Patan Durbar Square.

The Patan Durbar Square was once home to the Patan Royal Family. In it is a complex of nineteen monuments, all based on Newari architecture. There are three main courtyards that make up the Patan Durbar Square namely; the Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and the Keshan Narayan Chowk. Among these, the Mul Chowk is the oldest. One of the major attractions in Lalitpur is the Krishna Temple that was dedicated to Krishna, the Hindu Lord, and has twenty-one golden pinnacles.

Another famous temple is the Mahaboudha Temple that shows off exquisite terra cota work. The Lord Siva Temple, also known as Kumbeshwor, is another sight to behold in the Patan Durbar Square. It stands five storeys high and was built pagoda-style. A natural spring can be found inside, which is claimed to come from the famous glacial lake of Gosainkunda.

The Jagat Narayan Temple meanwhile is dedicated to Lord Vishnu which houses magnificent metal statues of Garuda and Hanuman that are related to Hindu mythology. Another major attraction is the Tusahity Royal Bath which can be seen in Sundari Chowk.

If you wish to bask in the rich culture and artistry of Nepal, then Lalitpur should be one of your target destinations.

Lalitpur