Idea #754 – Visiting ancient Patan, the City of Beauty, in Nepal
Lalitpur, formerly known as Patan or “City of Beauty”, is a former royal city in Nepal. It was once a capital and a city of art, as well as a great center of Buddhist teaching, as evidenced by the many monasteries scattered around the city. Lalitpur was chosen by Emperor Ashoka, who would be, according to tradition, the founder of the city, to erect a stupa there. It would therefore be the oldest Buddhist city in Asia. The city center, consisting of the place of Darbâr, Durbar Square, would have the shape of a conch, symbol of Vishnu. In its center stands the statue of Raja Yoga Narendra Malla. The palace, comprising several inner courtyards, is attributed to Raja Siddhi Narasimha, who reigned from 1620 to 1661. A highly ornamented basin was dug there in 1681.
Apart from the palace and the Darbâr square, the city has a number of interesting buildings, such as the Krishna Mandir dating from 1630, the Hiranyavarma Vihâra, a former 12th century Buddhist monastery dedicated to Avalokiteshvara, the Machchendranâth built in 1408 and dedicated to Indra, the Minnath dedicated to Avalokiteshvara, and the Kumbeshvar temple built in 1392 and dedicated to Shiva. Patan is one of the most important handicraft centers in Nepal. It is one of the major Newar cities, along with Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, all included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Patan Durbar Square, Patan, Nepal
