Palace
Patan Durbar Square has an excellent collection of fine pagoda temples, stone statues, water spouts, bronze gateways, images of guardian deities and intricate wood and metal carvings. Patan Durbar Square Complex houses the royal palace of the former royal family of Patan. The royal palace, also known as Chyasim Deval, is believed to have been built by Malla kings in the 17th and 18th centuries. Several of Patan’s finest temples are in a straight line down the left hand side of Durbar Square, facing the palace.

Temples
Some of the famous temples of Patan are the Krishna Mandir, Krishna Temple, Taleju Bhawani, Bhimsen Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Uma Maheshwar temple, Jagannarayan Temple (Char- Narayan Temple), Bhai Dega Temple and Hari Shankar Temple.

The three storied Krishna Mandir was built by King Siddhi Narsingha Malla in the 16th century. Krishna Mandir, which is devoted to Lord Krishna, is one of the best examples of stone architecture in Nepal. Scenes from Mahabharata and Ramayana (holy Hindu epics) are carved on the walls of the Krishna Mandir.

Jagannarayan Temple, which dates back to 1565, is reputed to be the oldest temple in the Patan Durbar Square. Jagannarayan Temple is dedicated to Narayan, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, which is also known as the ‘Golden Temple’, is a three storied Buddhist monastery, dedicated to Lokeswar (Lord Buddha). The monastery was built by King Bhaskar Malla in the 12th century.

Courtyards
Patan Durbar Square has three courtyards, namely – Mul Chowk, Keshav Narayan Chowk and Sundari Chowk. Mul Chowk, which is the central courtyard, is the oldest and the largest courtyard. At the center of the courtyard stands the small, gilded Bidya Temple. Sundari Chowk, which is to the south of Mul Chowk, has a sunken water tank (Tusha Hiti) which contains exquisite woodcarvings, stone, and metal sculpture. Keshav Narayan Chowk houses the Patan Museum.

Museum
Patan Museum, which was established in 1997, has a fine collection of cast bronzes and gilt copper repousse work and traditional crafts for which Patan is famous. The museum is open from 10.30 am to 4.30 am everyday, except on Tuesdays.

Place to Eat
Just nearby the museum is the Patan Museum Café. The Patan Museum café offers traditional Nepali cuisines as well as western delicacies. The cafe area can also be booked for special evening functions such as classical dance or music performances, receptions, banquets or theatre.

Heritages
Bhaktapur Durbar Square has one of the best collections of the finest medieval arts of Nepal. There are many beautiful temples, palaces and buildings in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square which are examples of superb architecture. These include The Lion Gate, The Golden Gate, the 55 window palace, the statue of Bhupatindra Malla, Nyatopola temple, Vatsala Temple, Dattatraya temple, The Art Gallery, Pujari Math, Bhairav Nath temple, The Shiva Parvati Temple and the Pashupatinath Temple. Dattatreya Temple, built by King Yaksha Malla, is the oldest temple structure in Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Temples
The Lion Gate was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in the 17th century. The Lion Gate is guarded on each side by huge statues of lions and by two stone statues of Lord Bhairab and Goddess Ugrachandi. It is said that the sculptor who made these statues had his hands cut off so that he could not duplicate these masterpieces. The Golden Temple, which was built by King Ranjit Malla, has an image of Goddess Kali and Garuda (the mythical man – bird) at the top. It is embellished with various mythical creatures and nymphs with marvelous intricacy. The Golden Gate is also the entrance of the 55 window palace and the Taleju Temple. A group of four temples at the western end of the Durbar Square, namely Rameshwar Temple, Badri Temple, Krishna Temple and Shiva Temple, are referred to as the Char Dham.

The Pashupatinath Temple in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, also known as the Yaksheswor Mahadev Temple, is a replica of the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Legend has it that a Bhaktapur king had a dream in which Lord Shiva asked him to build a temple for him. The king obeyed Lord Shiva’s command and built the Pashupatinath Temple. Nyatopola temple in Bhaktapur is 5 storied and is 30 meters high. Nyatopola Temple, dedicated to Goddess Siddhilaxmi, is one of the best examples of traditional Nepali architecture. In Newari, Nyatopole refers to the 5 basic elements – water, wind, fire, earth and sky.

Palaces
The Palace of 55 Windows was built by King Yaksha Malla in 1427 AD. The 55 Window Palace has a balcony of 55 windows and is considered a unique masterpiece of woodcarving. The palace was remodeled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the 17th century.

Bhakapur Royal Palace was constructed by King Yaksha Malla and was added to by many kings. The western end of the palace has been converted into an Art Gallery. The Art Gallery has a display of Hindu and Buddhist paintings, paubha (paintings on cloth) and metal, stone and woodcrafts. The Art Gallery is open everyday except on Tuesdays. Vatsala Temple in Bhaktapur which was built by King Jagat Prakash Malla, is a beautiful Shikhara style temple. This temple which is dedicated to the mother Goddess has a strong resemblance to the Krishna Mandir in Patan.

Hanuman Dhoka
Kathmandu Durbar Square, which covers a total area of 5 acres, has a number of temples, palaces, courtyards, ponds and quadrangles on display. Kathmandu Durbar Square is also referred to as ‘Hanuman Dhoka’. This is because a large statue of Hanuman, the Monkey God and a devotee of Lord Ram, is placed in front of the Royal Palace. The Royal Palace is believed to have been constructed by King Shankaradev. King Pratap Malla is said to have erected the statue of Lord Hanuman in front of the Royal Palace, in the belief that Hanuman would protect the Palace. The Royal Palace was home to the royalties of Nepal until the 19th century. Though Narayanhity Royal Palace is the present home of the royalties, important occasions like the coronation of the King still take place in the Nasal Chowk of the Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Museums
At present, the Royal Palace houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum. You can also visit the State Rooms inside the palace.

Temples
Some of the oldest temples of the Kathmandu Durbar Square are those built by Mahendra Malla (1560 to 1574). These include the temples of Jagannath, Kotilingeswara Mahadev, Mahendreswara and the Taleju Temple. Some of the other popular temples are that of Maru Ganesh, Indrapura, Trailokya Mohan, Maju Deval, Kageswara Mahadev and Shiva Parvati. Degutale and Indrapura temples were built by King Pratap Malla during his reign. Kasthamandap temple, also known as Maru Sattal, is believed to have been built from the timber of a single sal tree.

Kumari Bahal
Towards the south of the Kathmandu Durbar Square lies the Kumari Bahal. The Kumari Bahal is the house of the Living Goddess, Kumari. Goddess Kumari, who is a young girl who has not yet reached puberty, is believed to be the living incarnation of Goddess Taleju Bhawani. Goddess Kumari is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists.

Palaces
The Gaddi Durbar is a large palace complex covered in white plaster and with Greek columns. During festivals, members of the Royal family view the activities of the square below from the balcony of Gaddi Durbar. Another palace complex is the Basantapur Durbar, also known as Nautale. The Basantapur Durbar has four roofs and is situated at the end of Nasal Chowk.

Places to Buy Gifts
The area around Kathmandu Durbar Square is full of street vendors selling a variety of items from fruits, vegetables, shawls, blankets and sweaters to bedroom slippers. You will find more shops and shopping malls in Indra Chowk, which is nearby Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Heritages and Temples
The literary meaning of Lalitpur, also known as Patan, is ‘the city of fine arts’. There are a lot of temples, pagodas, stupas, monastries, maths, and chaityas in Patan. The most important monument is the Patan Durbar Square, which was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. The Patan Durbar Square Complex consists of 19 monuments in and around it. Some of the popular monuments are the Kumbeshwor temple, the Rato Machhendranath temple, Krishna Mandir, Banglamukhi temple and the Hiranya Varna Maha Vihar.

Handicrafts
Patan is renowned for producing the highest number of artists and finest craftsmen ever recorded in the Nepalese history. The most famous of these is Arniko, who spread the legacy of this city far and wide. Traditional handicrafts and small scale and cottage industries are still popular among the residents of Patan. The majority of people living in the Patan city are Newars.

Ashokan Stupas
According to a legend, Emperor Ashoka of India visited Patan with his daughter in 250 BC and erected 5 stupas, four around Patan (one in each of the corner) and one in the middle. The 4 Ashokan stupas are at Imadol in the east, Ibahi in the north, Pulchowk in the west and Lagankhlel in the south.

Museum
Patan Museum, which dates back to 1734, is situated in the Keshav Narayan Chowk. Most of the objects are cast bronzes and gilt copper repousse work, traditional crafts for which Patan is famous. There are about 1500 objects on display in the museum. There is also a café offering various delicacies right next to the museum. The museum is open from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm, except on Tuesdays.

Transportation
In order to go to Patan, you could board a safa tempo that leaves from Kathmandu main post office or a micro bus (route 14) that leaves from Shahid gate. You will reach Lagankhel from where you could walk ten minutes north to reach Patan Durbar Square. If you take a bus (route 26) then it will drop you in Patan Dhoka from where you can reach Patan Durbar Square in about fifteen minutes. If you take a taxi from Thamel, it will cost you about Rs. 200 (about 3 dollars). If you are in other areas of the valley, you could take a public vehicle to Lagankhel Bus Park and walk from the bus park.

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Kumbheshwor temple is the oldest temple and dates back to 1391. It was first constructed as a two storied temple in 1391 by King Jayasthiti Malla. Srinivas Malla later added three tiers to it making it a five storied temple. There is a large fair held in the temple at the occasion of Janai Purnima festival in July or August each year. Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple to worship the silver and gold lingam in Kumbheshwor temple. There are also a large number of water conduits, stone spots, Jaladroni (water spouts) and artistic gate ways here.

Specialty
Bhaktapur is referred to as the ‘Living Heritage’, ‘City of Culture’, ‘An Open Museum’ and ‘Nepal’s Cultural Gem’. Bhaktapur is renowned for its colorful festivals, craftsmanship of its locales, beautiful monuments and brilliant handicrafts. The handicrafts found in Bhaktapur include paubha scroll paintings, papier mache masks, jewelry, ceramic products, woodcarvings, and metalwork. Bhaktapur is best known for Bhaad Gaule Topi (a special type of cap), ju-ju dhau (yoghurt, ju-ju dhau literally means the king of all yoghurt varieties) and the home spun haku-patasi (black sari). Foreigners and SAARC nationals have to pay an entry fee to enter this city.

Heritages and Temples
Tachupal Tole is located in the older east end of Bhaktapur while Taumadhi Tole and Durbar Square dominate the west end. Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Changunarayan Temple of Bhaktapur district are the two monuments enlisted by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites

Some of the other important Hindu and Buddhist temples and shrines in Bhaktapur are the Nyatopola Temple, Bhairabnath Temple, Peacock Window, Big Bell, Lokeswor Mahavihar, Prassannasheel Mahavihar, Chattu Brahma Mahavihar, Jaya Kirti Mahavihar, Sukra – varna Mahavihar and Dipanker Mahavihar.

Festivals
Some of the important festivals of Bhaktapur are Gai Jatra (July or August), Bisket Jatra (April) and the tantrically inspired Nava Durga Dance during the Dasain festival (October or November).

Places to Eat
Some of the popular restaurants of Bhaktapur are Bhaktapur Gate Restaurant, Café de Peacock, Café Nyatopola, Durbar Square Restaurant, Marco Polo Restaurant, Nyatopola Restaurant and Rooftop Café.

Transportation
There are buses that leave for Bhaktapur from Bagbazaar. These buses will drop you off at Taumadhi Square. You can also board a Dhulikhel bound bus or a Nagarkot bound bus and get off at Thimi. There are minibuses that leave for Bhaktapur from the City Bus Park, Kathmandu. These minibuses drop you at Sidha Pokhari, which is a five minute walk west of Durbar Square.

Changu Narayan temple, Nyatopola Temple, Bhairabnath Temple, Peacock Window, Big Bell, Yaksheswor Mahadev Temple, Dattatreya Temple, Peacock Window, Wakupati Narayan Temple, Nava Durga Temple, Chandeswori Temple, Barahi Temple, Pujari Math and Taja Math are some of the important hindu temples.

Some of the important Buddhist shrines in Bhaktapur are Lokeswor Mahavihar, Prassannasheel Mahavihar, Chattu Brahma Mahavihar, Jaya Kirti Mahavihar, Sukra–varna Mahavihar and Dipanker Mahavihar.

Other notable monuments in Bhaktapur are the octagonal Chyasin Mandap, Shiva Temple (Fasi-dega), Vatsala Temple, Bhandarkhal Complex, Indrayani Temple, Balakhu Ganesh Temple, Tripura Sundari Temple and the Char Dham signifying four of the greatest Hindu pilgrimages.

The 55 Window Palace, the Golden Gate and the Taleju temple are situated in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The 55 window Palace was built by King Bhupatindra Malla and was the royal palace till 1769. The palace now houses the National Art Gallery. The National Art Gallery is known for its rich collection of paubha scroll paintings and magnificent stone works. Just nearby is the Golden Temple which leads to the temple of Taleju Bhawani. Taleju Temple is dedicated to the temple of Taleju Bhawani and contains shrines of both Kumari and Taleju Bhawani. Foreigners are not allowed to enter the temple or to take any photographs.

Temples
Kathmandu, also referred to as ‘Kantipur’, is the capital city of Nepal. Kathmandu is popularly known as the ‘City of Temples’. It is said that once there were more temples than houses and more statues than people in the Kathmandu Valley. Some of the most famous temples around the Kathmandu Valley are Pashupatinath Bodhnath and Swayambhunath stupa. Kathmandu Durbar Square in Basantapur has the medieval palaces and temples. Kathmandu valley has 7 of its heritages enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Offices and Business
Kathmandu is home to most of the government offices, embassies, consulates, corporate houses and banks. The Narayanhity Royal Palace is situated at the start of Durbar marg, next to Thamel. Thamel is the tourist hub of the country with various restaurants, lodges, shops, book stores, travel agencies, Internet cafés and massage centers. Some of the busiest centers of Kathmandu are New Road, Ason, Putalisadak and Durbar Marg.

Festivals
The people in Kathmandu celebrate festivals like Dasain, Tihar, Holi, Maghe Sankranti, Indra Jatra, Gai Jatra, Buddha Jayanti and Losar. Hinduism and Buddhism are the major religions. There are people who follow religions like Islam, Christianity and Jainism as well. Nepali and Nepal Bhasa are the major languages spoken in Kathmandu. Kshetris, Brahmins and Newars are the largest ethnic groups.

Transportation
Tribhuwan International Airport, the only international airport, is located about 6 kilometers from the city center. The various means of transportation available are rickshaws (pedicabs), buses, microbuses, tempos and taxis. There are buses that leave for various destinations in the Terai region and the Himalaya region from the City Bus Station and New Bus Park.

Food and Places to stay
The typical Nepali meal consists of bhat (rice), dal (lentils), tarkari (vegetable curry), masu (meat), chutney (pickle) and dahi (yoghurt).There are various accommodation options ranging from five star hotels to mid range and budget hotels. ISD and STD facilities are available in almost all Internet cafes.

When to Travel
The best time to travel to Kathmandu is October to November, the start of the dry season. There are several beautiful and interesting villages and towns surrounding the valley, which are ideal destinations for mini treks. The beautiful Himalayan peaks are visible from several points on the mountains around the valley.