Patan, also known as ‘Lalitpur’, the city of artisans, lies 5 km southeast of Kathmandu, and is home to the valley’s finest craftsmen who have preserved such ancient techniques as the repoussé and lost wax process used to produce exquisite sculptures. The city retains much of the old charm with its narrow streets, brick houses and multitude of well-preserved Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries (vihars) and monuments. The predominant sound in Patan is that of the tinkering of craftsmen bent over the statuettes they are shaping. As in Kathmandu, Hinduism and Buddhism have co-existed here for ages, influencing each other, and the religious harmony is exemplary.
Patan was founded during the 3rd Century BC by the Kirat dynasty and was later expanded in the sixth century. The city celebrates a chariot festival in honour of a local deity named Bunga Dyah Jatra. It is one of the essential festivals conducted in the country. As the festival lasts for a month, an image of Rato Machhendanath is placed on a chariot, and it is pulled throughout the city of Patan. Many historical records show that Patan is the oldest city in the Kathmandu Valley.
According to Kirat chronicle, Kirat rulers lay the foundation of Patan and later on, the Licchavi rulers came into the valley. The present capital of Kathmandu was removed from Thankot to Patan after a Kirat king named Yalamber came into power during the second century.
PATAN DURBAR SQUARE (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Like its counterpart in Kathmandu, Patan Durbar Square is located in the heart of the city and was once the palace of the kings of Patan. The square is an enchanting mélange of palace buildings, artistic courtyards and graceful pagoda temples – a display of Newari architecture that had reached its pinnacle during the reign of the Malla kings. Among its numerous courtyards, the renovated Keshav Narayan Chowk has been converted into a bronze artifact museum. The Sundari Chowk with the sunken bath of Tusha Hiti is a showcase of exquisite woodcarvings, and stone and metal sculptures.
The Krishna Temple, located at the Patan’s Durbar square is the main attraction of the Patan, was built in the year 1637. According to legend, this temple was created because of King Siddhi Narasigh Malla’s dream. He saw Hindu gods Radha and Krishna standing in front of his palace. While he was fighting against a neighbouring kingdom, Narasigh emerged victorious after offering prayers to defeat all his enemies. To offer his devotion, the king built a replica of the temple inside the courtyard.
MAHABOUDDHA: To the east of Patan Durbar Square is Mahabouddha, an exceptional Buddhist monument of exquisite terra cotta art form. On this 14th-century architectural masterpiece are engraved thousands of images of Lord Buddha.
The Kumbeshwar Temple – It is one of the most iconic pilgrimage sites in the ancient city of Nepal. It is one of the oldest temples in the city. There is a story according to the history of Hinduism that relates to the Kumbeshwar temple with Patan. The Hindu deity Shiva was poisoned to save the world. As a result, to come back to standard form, Shiva cast his trident at a mountain situated at Gosainkunda, Nepal. As a result of which water erupted, and a lake was formed. The lake thus forms the source of water at Kumbeshwar which is situated in present-day Patan.
The city of Patan consists of many iconic pilgrimage structures. The Ashoka stupa and the Kumbeshwar Temple present the historical image of the city. Without any doubt, the history of Patan is the kernel of the country’s heritage and tradition.