City Tour of Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Stop At:  Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square is sprawling with Hindu and Buddhist monuments with bronze gateways, guardian deities and brilliant carvings. This site is also listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The square houses three main courtyards namely Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Each courtyard has something special to offer, for instance, the Sundari Chowk has the Royal bath called Tushahity which is a masterpiece of stone architecture.

Stop At:  Patan Museum

The square used to be a royal palace complex, thus it has significant history. It is home to the Patan Museum which showcases numerous ancient bronze statues and religious objects.

Stop At:  Golden Window

The Golden Window located right above the Golden Door ofChaukot Durbar, a building on the western side of the Royal Palace complex, is another major attraction. The golden window is crafted with images and displaysof Hindu divinities. The window was constructed by different kings of the late Malla period. The window is an example of Buddhist and Hindu elements blended beautifully together.

Stop At:  KrisnhnaTemple

Krishna Mandir or Krishna Temple is a3-tiered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. It was built in 1637 and features intricate stone carvings. It is a major tourist attraction in the square. It has 21 shrines all made of stone. Significant scenes from the ancient Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata have been engraved on the temple.

Stop At:  Mahabouddha Temple

Another marvel to witness when in Patan is the Mahabouddha temple. It is dedicated to Lord Buddha and is built in the Hindu Shikara style with five golden pinnacles. The pinnacles are in stupa shape and symbolize five basic elements of nature.

Stop At:  Hiranyavarna Mahavihar or Golden Temple

HiraṇyavarṇaMahavihar, which literally means "Gold-colored Great Monastery"  is a historical vihar which was built in 12th century. This beautiful monument is known for its beautiful gold works. It is one of the oldest and the most incredible temples in Patan and all of Nepal.

After Patan, You will drive to Bhaktapur Durbar Square which takes about 1 hour drive.

Stop at Bhaktapur Durbar Square

The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once home to the Royals who ruled over the ancient city.The complex consists of four different squares – Taumadhi Square, Durbar Square, Pottery Square and Dattatreya Square. Many of the temples and palaces were built is a span of several centuries. Rulers from the three medieval city-states of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur all tried to one-up each other by building the finest of the finest temples and monuments. This is showcased in the beautiful marvels of the square. It is a huge display of traditional Newari architecture.

Stop At: Nyatapola Temple

Nyatapola Temple is a famous pagoda-style five storeyedtemple, thus, it is also known as one of the tallest pagodas in Nepal.

Stop At: 55 Windows Palace

One of the many attractions of Patan, 55 Windowed Palace is a stunning structure located in Durbar Squre. It derives its name from its beautifully carved fifty-five windows. This palace is constructed around several courtyards each linked together. One of the major attractions of the palace is its entrance gate akaThe Golden Gate.

Stop At: The Lion Gate

Located inside the Durbar Square is the 17^th century gate called the Lion Gate.The gate has two large lion statues placed on either side. It also consists of stone sculptures of Lord Bhairav andGoddess Ugrachandi.

Stop At: Dattatreya Temple

The Dattatreya temple is located inDattatreya Square in Bhaktapur. According to legend, the temple was built using timber from a single tree in1427. The temple is dedicated to the dietyDattatreya, the temple is home to three idols of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Stop At: Siddha Pokhari

Siddha Pokhari is a man-made pond situated close to main city gate into Bhaktapur. It is a nice spot for people to relax and hang out.It was constructed by King YakshyaMalla in the early fifteenth century.

After Bhaktapur, you will be drive back to your hotel.