Patan is located only 7.8 km (4.8 miles) south-east of Kathmandu city. It was originally called Lalitpur, City of Fine Arts. It is situated on a little plateau across the river Bagmati river. This city is considered one of the oldest among the three cities of Kathmandu Valley. The city was founded in the 3rd century by King Veera Dev and has the distinction of being the home of the finest Newari craft. The finest Hindu and Buddhist monuments are scattered around but the most important monuments are in the Durbar Square or close by.
One interesting part of the architecture around Patan are the temples with erotic statues. There was one that I visited in PatanDurbar Square.
View of PatanDurbar Square. (844k) Octagonal Krishna temple in PatanDurbar Square. (747k) Big Taleju Bell in PatanDurbar Square, rung only at festival time. (711k) Harishankar Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (647k) Vishnu Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (743k) Vishwanath Temple (left) and Bhimsen Temple (right). (832k)
Jagannarayan Temple
The Jagannarayan Temple is dedicated to Narayan, one of the incarnations of Vishnu. It is probably from 1565, supposedly the oldest temple in PatanDurbar Square.
Jagannarayan Temple, dedicated to Narayan, one of the incarnations of Vishnu. (746k) Erotic wood carvings on the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (844k) Erotic wood carvings on the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (816k) Erotic wood carvings on the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (777k) Erotic wood carvings on the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (889k) Erotic wood carvings on the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (934k) Erotic wood carvings on the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (834k) Erotic wood carvings on the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (795k) Erotic wood carvings on the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (958k) Colorful Shiva statue and fountain next to the Jagannarayan Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (920k)
Krishna Temple
The Krishna temple on the west side of Patan's Durbar square was built in 1637. Legend says that it was built because of a dream. One night, King Siddhi Narasimha Malla dreamed that the gods Krishna and Radha were standing in front of the palace. The King ordered a temple built on the same spot. During a war with a neighboring kingdom a decade later, the King emerged victorious after calling on Krishna to vanquish his enemies. In gratitude, the King built a replica of the temple inside the Sundari Chok courtyard.
The Krishna temple is built in the Shikhara style. Beneath its 21 golden pinnacles are three floors. The first floor enshrines Krishna, the second Shiva, and the third Lokeshwor. Scenes from the Ramayana narrated in Newari script decorate the interior of the temple.
Krishna Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (718k) Column with the Garuda in front of the Krishna Temple in PatanDurbar Square, with the Vishwanath temple behind it. (775k) Close-up of the Garuda in front of the Krishna Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (525k) Krishna Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (842k) Krishna Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (895k) Details of lintel carvings with a Garuda in the center in PatanDurbar Square. (946k) Close-up of the roof decoration with the ShivaTrident. (591k)
Vishwanath Temple
Vishwanath temple is dedicated to god Shiva. It was built in 1627 during the reign of Siddhinarasimha Malla. The roof supports are decorated with erotic carvings similar to imagery widespread in Shiva temples in India. The temple is guarded by two stone elephants in the front entrance. On the other side of the temple is the sculpture of a bull, Shiva's vehicle. A stone lingam is enshrined inside the temple.
Vishwanath Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (656k) Details of the Vishwanath Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (872k) Details of the wood carvings in the Vishwanath Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (943k) Details of the wood carvings in the Vishwanath Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (775k) Elephant statue in front of the Vishwanath Temple in PatanDurbar Square. (821k) Shiva shrine on the Vishwanath Temple. (1000k) Shiva shrine on the Vishwanath Temple. (971k)
Bhimsen Temple
Bhimsen temple was built by Srinivasa Malla in 1680. It is renowned for its three interconnected golden windows. Bhimsen is a great hero in Mahabharata. He was known to be very brave and strong. In Newa Tradition, he is worshiped as a god of business and trade.
Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (835k) Close-up of the statue of King Yoga Narendra Malla, in Namaste, worshiping the Goddess Taleju in front of the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (645k) The Taleju temple from inside the courtyard of the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (762k) Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (809k) Golden ornament over the entrance to the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square, with the Goddess Taleju in the center, Lord Shiva on the right and Lord Ganesha on the left. (996k) Stone-carved lion in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (867k) Gilded decoration in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (909k) Wood carved door in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (1033k) Details of the wood carved door in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (1111k) Wooden support column in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (891k) Detail of the wooden support column in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (972k) Decorated wooden roof support in PatanDurbar Square. (809k) Wood carved Ganesha on one of the wooden support column in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (847k) Gilded door in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (1093k) Gilded statue in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (918k) Gilded statue in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (969k) Blood stains on steps in the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square from animal sacrifices during the recent Dashain Festival. (737k) Manga Hiti, the well of the Royal Palace. in PatanDurbar Square. (879k)
Hiranya Varna Nahabihar (Golden Temple)
Also known as the Hiranya Varna or Suwarna Mahavihara, this unique Buddhist monastery is just north of Durbar Sq. Legends relate that the monastery was founded in the 12th century, although the earliest record of its existence is 1409. The doorway, flanked by gaudy painted guardian lions, gives no hint of the magnificent structure within.
In the courtyard is a small temple called Swayambhunath (literally self created God), which is a replica of the original Swayambhunath Stupa of Kathmandu.
The main priest in the Golden Temple is always a boy age 12 year or younger. He serves for one month, and is then replaced by a new boy.
One of the symbols in the temple is the Vajra, the Thunderbolt, the symbol of male power. It sits on top of a Lotus flower, the symbol of wisdom and purity. Close by is the large bell, the symbol of female power.
The small temple has bronze figures around it, one for each month.
Entrance to the Golden Temple in Patan, flanked by a male and a female lion sculpture. (902k) A Kalachakra mandala carved into the ceiling in the Golden Temple in Patan. (1224k) Entrance to the Golden Temple in Patan. (981k) Main Golden Temple in Patan. (907k) Details on the main Golden Temple in Patan. (1073k) Door to the inner sanctum of the Golden Temple in Patan. (1038k) Door to the inner sanctum of the Golden Temple in Patan. (1155k) The small temple called Swayambhunath in the center courtyard in the Golden Temple in Patan. (849k) Roof decoration on the small temple in Patan. (681k) Entry to the inner courtyard in the Golden Temple in Patan, flanked by elephant statues. (981k) Statue in the inner courtyard in the Golden Temple in Patan. (867k) Prayer drums and a monkey statue in the inner courtyard in the Golden Temple in Patan. (835k) Close-up of the monkey statue in the Golden Temple in Patan. (850k) The Vajra, the Thunderbolt, symbol of male power in the Golden Temple in Patan. (696k) Close-up of the Vajra, the Thunderbolt in the Golden Temple in Patan. (974k) The large bell, symbol of female power in the Golden Temple in Patan. (838k) Padmanritya Lokeshwor, the first month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (911k) Hari Hari Haribahana Lokeshwor, the second month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (815k) Trailokya Lokeshwor, the third month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (913k) Rakta Lokeshwor, the fourth month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (839k) Nilakantha Lokeshwor, the fifth month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (890k) Mayajala Lokeshwor, the sixth month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (830k) Karandabyuha Lokeshwor, the seventh month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (822k) Khadchheri Lokeshwor, the eighth month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (908k) Mal Lokeshwor, the ninth month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (990k) Halahala Lokeshwor, the tenth month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (999k) Khasparna Lokeshwor, the eleventh month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (1011k) Shimhanada Lokeshwor, the twelfth month in the Golden Temple in Patan. (938k) Bronze Buddha with the Varada Mudra statue in the Golden Temple in Patan. (813k) Bronze statue of a Hindu goddess Parvati. (899k)
Kumbheshwor Temple
This large, 5-story, Pagoda style temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is from the 14th century.
Kumbheshwor Temple in Patan. (677k) Kumbheshwor Temple in Patan. (686k) Statue of Nandi, the bull, vehicle of Shiva at the Kumbheshwor Temple in Patan. It is protected in a cage. Apparently, art theft is a big problem in Nepal. (1060k) Garudanarayan, a stature of Lord Vishnu (with the Gada, the Mace, and the Chakra, the spinning disk) and Garuda, his vehicle at the Kumbheshwor Temple in Patan. (1012k) Statue of Lord Vishnu at the Kumbheshwor Temple in Patan, holding a Padma (lotus flower), a Gada (mace), a Shanka (conch shell) and Chakra (a spinning disk weapon). (814k) A stone Garuda in Namaste, the ritual greeting, at the Kumbheshwor Temple in Patan. (765k)
Bangalamukhi Temple
This temple is dedicated to the Goddess Bangalamukhi, an incarnation of the Goddess Parvati. It caught fire and was subsequently rebuilt by King Birendra in 1998. King Birendra was killed in the Royal Massacre on 1 June 2001.
The Bangalamukhi Temple in Patan. (855k) A statue of a tiger, the vehicle of Parvati, at the Bangalamukhi Temple in Patan. (742k) Lord Vishnu at the Bangalamukhi Temple in Patan, playing the flute and herding cows. (760k) A small Shiva shrine nearby the Bangalamukhi Temple in Patan. Shiva is the consort of Parvati. (801k) A Shiva Lingam near the Bangalamukhi Temple in Patan. (698k)
Patan
This section shows pictures of various temples and shrines in Patan around PatanDurbar Square.
A small Shiva temple in Patan. (993k) Nandi, the bull, the vehicle of Shiva in front of a Shiva temple in Patan. It is guarded by two painted lions. I rarely saw painted sculptures, most were just stone of wood. (805k) A small Vishnu temple in Patan. (803k) The Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, in front of the Vishnu temple in Patan. You can see from the fresh decorations that it is actively worshiped. (1097k) A small Ganesha shrine in Patan, decorated with flowers and red paint. (1046k) A small shrine in Patan, just outside Durbar Square with beautiful colored tiles with pictures of various Hindu Gods. (922k) Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge, with the Sitar and a book. (856k) Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. (899k) God Ganesha, the God of Beginnings and Remover of Obstacles. (836k) Lord Shiva, the Destroyer. (822k) Lord Vishnu, the Protector. (849k)
Filming in Patan Durbar Square
While I visited PatanDurbar Square, there was a film production going on with actors in traditional Newari dresses. Here are a few pictures.
PatanDurbar Square with the film crew. (791k) Actors in Haku Patasi, the traditional Newari dress in PatanDurbar Square. (693k) Singing actress in traditional Haku Patasi dress in PatanDurbar Square. (673k) Close-up of the singing actress in PatanDurbar Square. (721k)
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