Never before have I encountered a city as enchanting as Patan Durbar Square, nestled just eight kilometers south of Kathmandu. Its unique charm is a sight to behold.
Patan, the ancient name of present-day Lalitpur, holds a significant place in Nepal's history as the third-largest city, following Kathmandu and Pokhara.
While the old city of Patan offers a nostalgic tour of its royal past, there's one place that stands out—the Patan Durbar Square. This unique site is a treasure trove of history, art, and culture, waiting to be explored and appreciated.
I'm lucky to have visited one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other two Durbar Squares are in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, but I needed help to visit them.
But then, as I entered Patan Durbar Square, I could sense its rich cultural past and the magnificent royal palace worth visiting.
It has 155 courtyards and 55 major temples significant to Hindus and Buddhists. I was able to visit one of the main temples and gained a great appreciation for architecture and the arts.
Patan is a city of fine arts. Its marvelous architecture evokes how skills are ingrained in its culture, preserved, and passed on to future generations. The artisans' craftsmanship is superb and brilliant as they create wood, stone, and metal carvings.
Patan has preserved its rich tradition of artistic craftsmanship from the local woodcarvers and handicraft makers. Creative skills have lived on since the time of Royal King Newar.
I was fortunate to visit Patan Durbar Square in 2013 before it was hit by a strong earthquake in April 2015. Some of the temples and structures were heavily damaged, but the good news is that they were reconstructed just like the original structure.
Walking on the red-tiled bricks of Patan Durbar Square, surrounded by the red wall bricks, was like stepping back in time. The fine arts and excellent craftsmanship of the past seemed to come alive, making it a truly unforgettable experience.
©️ 2021 Del Cusay