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Patan in Nepal is one of the three old Royal Towns in the Kathmandu valley. Among Kathmandu City and Bhaktapur, Patan is the oldest of the three towns. It was presumably founded around 250 years BC.
The city is famous as a center for arts and crafts, mainly for the famous metal statues. Patan is the center of the Nepalese Newari people, who are in their majority Buddhists.
Patan in Nepal
Even in the 1970s Kathmandu and Patan could still be recognized as being two separate cities. Today, due to the enormous growth in population, the cities and villages in the Kathmandu valley have practically grown to one huge urban area.
Places of Interest in Patan
The main attractions of Patan are around Durbar Square. The Golden Temple, the Old King's Palace and the Machendranath Temple. Near Durbar Square is the Temple of the Thousand Buddhas.
Patan is part of the UNESCO world heritage zone Kathmandu Valley. You still may encounter Patan under its old name Lalitpur.
Patan - Google Maps
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About the Patan Slide Show
The photographs were taken in the late 1970s and early 1980s. For more information please read My Journeys to Asia
Video - Patan, Lalitpur
I have found this video from 2009 on Youtube™. It gives in my view a good impression of the charm of this old town and the mess and poverty of Nepal. Thanks to J. Hulst for sharing this video with us.
Dieter Wanczura, 2010.
