Travel

Patan, an artistic city in the Kathmandu Valley

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February 18, 2020196 views0

Despite being very close to the Nepalese capital (five kilometers from Kathmandu), the city of Patan preserves its century-old culture, with its streets full of ancient buildings, where artisans work in the same way as their ancestors. The wood or metal sculptors’ workshops also function as stores for these articles, characterized by the beauty and care with which they are made.

Patan has 55 large temples, 136 Buddhist monasteries and its artisans are known for their fine metal works. The city celebrates numerous Hindu and Buddhist festivals, such as the Rat Machhendranath Jatra and the display of the Dipanker Buddhas.

Patan is proud to produce great painters thangka and pauba, whose works are exported to many countries. These paintings can be seen in the small alleys of the city. Art still flourishes in this city of Newar artisans, who traditionally provide metal crafts to Buddhist monasteries across the country. The population is predominantly Newar, whose castes usually determine whether they are Hindus or Buddhists.

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Patan Durbar Square (in free translation, something like Patan’s Palace Square), is considered a World Heritage Site by Unesco. It houses the former royal palace and a series of temples, which are notable for their exquisite architectural lines and constructive technique.

Inside the palace, there is the Patan Museum, which has a beautiful collection of metal crafts, wooden sculptures and a precious throne from the Malla era.

In Durbar Square is the beautiful temple of Krishna, built entirely of stone – it is considered the most important Krishna sanctuary in the valley. On the other side of the square there are many restaurants and cafés, some with views of the roof.

Another interesting site is the Mahaboudha, a shikara-style temple with a thousand images of the Buddha.