Patan Tour - Half Day Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Description
Nestled just south of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu is the city of Patan. Known as the city of art, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an incredible jewel. Once an independent kingdom, it features its own Durbar Square, ancient temples and the famed Patan Museum which features some of the finest examples of art in all of Nepal. The Patan half-day tour arrives Patan Durbar Square in a private car. The small group tours feature a highly professional guide who can explain the unique culture, religion, and heritage of the city. Patan is also home to a large Buddhist community and there are many incredible stupas mixed in with Hindu art. It is about a 4-hours tour including both ways of transport time.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your journey into Nepal's royal history begins at this very spot. This isn't just an entry gate; it's the historic portal to the magnificent Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the vibrant heart of the city's ancient Newari kingdom. As you step across this threshold with your expert guide, you are instantly immersed in a living museum. This is where your guided exploration of "typical Newari culture" truly comes alive. Prepare to be surrounded by stunning pagoda temples, intricately carved wooden windows, and bustling courtyards where traditions have thrived for centuries. Your adventure into Nepal's artistic and cultural soul starts right here!
Among the three Durbar Square in Kathmandu valley, Patan Durbar Square is also the famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We can visit many beautiful temples like Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Taleju Bhawani Temple, and Newar Architecture.
Prepare for a highlight of your Patan tour. This guided visit takes you inside the Patan Museum, widely acclaimed as one of the finest museums in all of South Asia. The museum itself is a masterpiece, housed within the stunningly restored Keshav Narayan Chowk, a former royal palace in the heart of the Patan Durbar Square UNESCO World Heritage site. Follow your expert guide through serene courtyards into galleries filled with a priceless collection of sacred art. You'll discover the deep history and meaning behind intricate cast-bronze statues and gleaming gilt-copper masterpieces of Hindu and Buddhist deities. This is the definitive place to witness the rich artistic and cultural traditions of Nepal's Malla kings and the ancient Newari civilization.
Discover one of the most magnificent hidden gems in the Patan City. This guided visit takes you to Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, famously known as "The Golden Temple." Located just north of Patan's main Durbar Square, this 12th-century Buddhist monastery is a breathtaking masterpiece of Newari architecture. As you pass through its unassuming stone gateway, you'll enter a stunning, three-roofed pagoda courtyard. The entire facade is covered in gleaming, gilded copper, which gives the temple its famous nickname and offers an unparalleled photo opportunity. The intricate details, from the elaborate prayer wheels and sacred statues of Shakyamuni Buddha to the resident monks who still practice their ancient rituals here. This is an essential stop for anyone wanting to see the valley's most exquisite sacred art and experience a living, breathing spiritual center.
Prepare to witness an architectural marvel in the heart of Patan Durbar Square. The Krishna Mandir stands as one of the most unique and revered temples in this entire UNESCO World Heritage site. Unlike the surrounding Newari-style pagoda temples, this 17th-century masterpiece is built entirely of stone in the intricate Indian Shikhara style. Commissioned by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, its 21 golden pinnacles are a testament to legendary craftsmanship. The temple's most famous feature: the stunning carvings. The beams on the first floor vividly depict the epic tales of the Mahabharata, while the second floor illustrates the story of the Ramayana. This is a "must-see" highlight for its spiritual importance and unparalleled artistry.
Discover a unique and revered highlight of the Patan Durbar Square: the magnificent Bhimsen Temple. Built in 1680, this three-story pagoda is an architectural gem instantly recognizable by its three stunning, interconnected golden windows that gleam above the square. This temple is dedicated to Bhimsen, the mighty strongman and hero of the Mahabharata epic. As your guide will explain, he holds a special place in the Kathmandu Valley, where he is worshipped by the Newar merchant community as the patron god of business and trade. This isn't just an ancient monument; it's a living center of faith for local commerce. Don't miss this essential stop, a perfect example of the valley's unique blend of spiritual and cultural life.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from all hotels inside the ring road including Boudha area.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Dress code is smart casual
- Carry NPR currency for the entrance fees to heritage sites.
- Bring a light jacket or a poncho for rain (Rainy season) and wear comfortable shoes.
- Some businesses accept credit cards, but it's advisable to carry Nepali currency.
- This trip is easy but requires some walking in heritage sites.
Reviews(5)
Personally, I find the old town of Patan appealing and more effective than the old town of Kathmandu. I was thrilled by the golden temple. Shanti has a lot of knowledge ready and happy to pass on, so all my questions were handled extremely courteously. Gladly again and again
Hallo Ursula, wir bedanken uns herzlich für Ihre Treue und Ihr Feedback zu Ihrer Nepalreise. Ihre Rückmeldung ist für unsere Community sehr wertvoll, da wir unsere Services stetig verbessern möchten. Nochmals vielen Dank für Ihren Kommentar. Wir freuen uns darauf, Sie auch in Zukunft mit demselben Service begeistern zu dürfen. Wir wünschen Ihnen eine wunderschöne Reise. Namaste! Hi Ursula, We sincerely appreciate your patronage and for sharing your feedback about the trip to Nepal. Your feedback is invaluable to our community as we continuously work towards enhancing our services. Thank you once again for your comment, and looking forward to provide you the same level of service again. We hope you have a wonderful time ahead. Namaste!
Patan is definitely worth visiting with the monuments of the superb Durbar Square and the Golden Temple. the museum is also very beautiful located in a part of the palace with one of the most important collection in Asia. Our Shanti guide is a wealth of information about Nepalese culture. It also allowed us to better understand Buddhism and Hinduism. She met our expectations and we were also able to see the Kumari which was not foreseen in the program. Thank you very much for his availability and kindness.
Salut Phil, Nous apprécions sincèrement votre patronage et pour avoir partagé vos commentaires sur le voyage au Népal. Vos commentaires sont inestimables pour notre communauté alors que nous travaillons continuellement à l'amélioration de nos services. Merci encore pour votre commentaire, et nous espérons que vous passerez un merveilleux moment à venir. Namaste ! Hi Phil, We sincerely appreciate your patronage and for sharing your feedback about the trip to Nepal. Your feedback is invaluable to our community as we continuously work towards enhancing our services. Thank you once again for your comment, and we hope you have a wonderful time ahead. Namaste!
Very good tour. We enjoyed ourselves. Shanti did a great job. We would highly recommend her to anyone who would like to know more about Kathmandu and Nepal.
Hi Kenneth, We sincerely appreciate your patronage and for sharing your feedback about the trip to Nepal. Your feedback is invaluable to our community as we continuously work towards enhancing our services. Thank you once again for your comment, and we hope you have a wonderful time ahead. Namaste!
Patan is probably the best preserved and best restored of the three Malla imperial cities of the Kathmandu Valley. The monuments around the Durbar square, the Museum and the Golden Temple are simply astonishing. Immediately after my booking I have received a whatsapp message from one of the managers of the Agency. Our communication was perfect. The driver was more than punctual, the tour guide (Shanti) was extremely cultivated, polite and professional. Being an expert of Nepali culture it was beautiful to listen at her information. We felt priviledged. Her English is good and she does not really look at time if you prolong the visit of a monument. I particulalry liked the Durbar sq and the Golden Buddha in the museum. The Golden Temple accross the street was nforgettable. Shanti chose the right moment when a group of devotees from Kirtipur were chanting. I really wish to go back to Kathmandu. By the way we went in monsoon time and did not rain much, the temperature was pleasant and the vegetation lush and beautiful.
Hello and Namaste, Thank you for choosing Himalayan Planet Adventure to organized your trip. We are so glad that you satisfied with our service and guide Shanti. We would like to welcome you again for the different holiday plan in Nepal. With best regards.
We had an excellent tour of Patan with a very knowledgeable and professional tour guide, Som. We would never have known how to walk through all of the various buildings/temples without his expert guidance. We also learned a lot of the history of Patan as one of the three durbar squares and the religious aspects related to the beautiful temples and statues. A must-do tour while visiting Nepal.
Hello, Namaste! Thank you for choosing Himalayan Planet Adventure to organized your trip. We are so glad that you satisfied with our service and guide Som. We would like to welcome you again for the different holiday plan in Nepal. Take Care..
