Patan Durbar Square Tour
- 1
day
Explore the medieval kingdom of Patan and visit traditional Newari villages with our Patan Durbar Square Tour. Patan, also known as Lalitpur (City of Artisans), is one of the three medieval cities in Kathmandu Valley. Dotted with Buddhist and Hindu sites, Patan’s pride is the medieval Patan Durbar Square. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the durbar square was the royal seat of Malla Kings. It showcased the exquisite works of art and architecture crafted by Newari artisans of that period. Among the three medieval palace squares in the valley, Patan Durbar Square is the finest.
Walkthrough the palace square and discover a treasure trove of art in stone, wood, and metal during your Patan Durbar Square Tour. The Patan Palace Museum, Golden Temple, Krishna Temple, etc., are some of the ancient gems of this medieval city. Moreover, visits to some of the oldest Buddhist shrines in the valley on the periphery of Patan Durbar square will enrich your experience. Patan Durbar Square Tour also lets you discover more of the valley’s rich art and culture in the medieval villages of Khokana and Bungamati. Take a traditional village tour and stroll around these ancient Newari villages. Surrounded by green paddy fields, Khokana Village is famous for the production of mustard oil using traditional oil pressers. Nearby is another medieval village, Bungamati.
Bungamati is home to the city’s rain god, Rato Macchhindranath. This is where the idol of the rain god comes to rest after the Machhindranath Jatra (chariot festival) held in Patan every year. This picturesque village lies next to the Bagmati River and is filled with Newari traditional homes. Wood and stone carving workshops line the village streets. The artists at work are descendants of the unnamed artists whose works are showcased at the city’s heritage sites. Take pictures and interact with the villagers before you are finally driven back to your hotel.
If you are interested in visiting just the royal squares of the three medieval cities in the valley, you can choose our Kathmandu Ancient City Tour. If you have a long stay in Nepal awe, recommend you try out some of our popular trips - Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour - 9 days, Nepal Multi Adventure Holiday - 11 days, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek - 7 days, Everest Base Camp Trek - 14 days, Annapurna Base camp Trek - 11 days or Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour - 1 day.
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Departure Time |
9 am |
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Duration: |
1 day (6 hours approx.) |
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Starting & Ending Point |
Hotel to Hotel |
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Places covered |
Patan Durbar Square, the heritage villages of Khokana & Bungamati |
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Activities |
History and Cultural Tour |
Jeremiah Lane
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December 10, 2021
Mike Bosch
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December 24, 2019
Christopher Pugliese
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December 24, 2019
Katherine S
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August 20, 2018
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Patan Durbar Square, Traditional Village Khokana and Bungamati Village Tour - Day Tour |
Located in the heart of old Patan city, the Patan Durbar Square is a quadrangle filled with several temples, palaces, and courtyards. Most of the structures date back to the Malla era. Patan Palace, which now houses a museum, used to be the royal residence of the Malla kings ruling over Patan. Surrounding the royal palace are the octagonal Chyasin Dewal, Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple, Hiranyavarna Mahavihar (Golden Temple), etc. Inside the Patan Palace is courtyards (Keshav Narayan Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Mul Chowk) with gilded doorways and decorative stone baths and wells.
Lying just a few minute's drives from central Kathmandu, Khokana is one of the most ancient Newari villages. This sleepy village was once a thriving economic hub. Surrounded by acres of paddy fields, Khokana is filled with traditional Newari houses and Hindu and Buddhist shrines. The shrine of goddess Rudrayani (the patron goddess of Khokana) lies at the center of the village. Dey Pukhu Jatra and Shekali Mai Jatra are two important Khokana festivals. The village is known for the production of mustard oil using traditional methods. Stroll around and visit an ancient oil mill that is still in use. You may want to purchase a bottle or two of this pure oil to take back home.
Bungamati is known as the home of the valley’s Rain God, Machhindranath. The temple dedicated to the deity lies at the center of the village. Built-in a shikara style, traditional homes of the villagers surround the large temple. The village streets are lined with wood and stone carving workshops. Bungamati Culture Museum, De Punkha (sacred pond), Karya Binayak Temple, and Bhairab temple are other places of interest.
| No. of People | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 - 1 | USD 100 |
| 2 - 5 | USD 60 |
| 6 - 12 | USD 40 |
| 13 + | USD 20 |
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