Patan

Patan, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, is one of the largest cities in Nepal and is located just across the Bagmati river from Kathmandu. Confusingly, it is also known as Lalitpur, both names deriving from the Sanskrit "Lalitapattan". Like its larger neighbour, Patan also boasts a Durbar Square full of temples, statues, and palaces and, in addition, has the must-see attraction of Patan Museum. As a traditional centre of handicrafts, Patan is a great place to purchase jewellery, Buddha statues  and masks.

Get in
Note: Nepal Buses & Micro buses are not very good for handicapped people or the faint of heart. The people are very friendly, but the vehicles are very old & rough.
 * Micro Bus from Ratnapark in Kathmandu (15 rps, 10 rps for students/volunteers with a Nepalese ID card).
 * Taxis are a more expensive option 200-350 rps (~3-5 USD).
 * Buses. Catch a blue or green bus on Kathmandu's Ring Road (loops around Kathmandu Valley) for 15 to 20 rps. Tell the cashier/attendant that you want to go to Patan. He'll let you know when you get there. It's only a 15 min walk to Patan Dubar Square from Ring Road.
 * Walk. It is quite straightforward to walk from Thamel to Patan in about 90 minutes with many things to see along the way. There are a couple of bridges providing access from Kathmandu to Patan so a good city map would be an asset.

Get around

 * The city and its sites are best seen on foot.
 * Taxis, minibuses, and tuk tuks are widely available.

Durbar Square
Durbar Square is the Palace Square of Patan. Approaching the square from the south side you have the palace on your right and a series of temples on your left. Admission to the area for tourists is Rs 1000 (March 2023).You should pay this at a booth at the south end of Durbar Square or at another entrance to the area further to the north. It is also your entry ticket to the museum (no extra cost). You will likely be approached by various square workers if your entrance ticket isn't visible. If you plan repeated visits and will be in Nepal for some time, get the ticket booth attendant to endorse your entrance ticket for a longer period. You will likely have to show your passport and entry visa. There is a confusing array of temples and other interesting items on the left-hand side of the square. Again, walking from the south end of the square, you pass:
 * Two smaller temples dedicated to Vishnu, dating back to 1590 and 1652.
 * A stone temple to Krishna, considered to be a masterpiece, with some amazing stonework. Note the Garuda on the pillar in front, which has eyes of crystal.
 * Two smaller temples dedicated to Vishnu, dating back to 1590 and 1652.
 * A stone temple to Krishna, considered to be a masterpiece, with some amazing stonework. Note the Garuda on the pillar in front, which has eyes of crystal.
 * Two smaller temples dedicated to Vishnu, dating back to 1590 and 1652.
 * A stone temple to Krishna, considered to be a masterpiece, with some amazing stonework. Note the Garuda on the pillar in front, which has eyes of crystal.
 * Two smaller temples dedicated to Vishnu, dating back to 1590 and 1652.
 * A stone temple to Krishna, considered to be a masterpiece, with some amazing stonework. Note the Garuda on the pillar in front, which has eyes of crystal.
 * A stone temple to Krishna, considered to be a masterpiece, with some amazing stonework. Note the Garuda on the pillar in front, which has eyes of crystal.



Do
Just wander around keeping your eyes open for all the amazing sights.

Learn

 * Satyananda Yoga Centre, Ganesh Marga, Shankhamul, New Baneswar (a 15 minutes walk from Patan Durbar Square). Group and individual courses. Yoga Camps.

Others

 * Wooden and metal handicrafts. There are many metalworking shops near Durbar Square.
 * Thanka, or traditional paintings.
 * Pilgrims Books on the right-hand side of Sahid Sukra Marg as it climbs the hill after crossing the Bagmati river (opposite the Himalaya Hotel) has an amazing selection of books on Nepal and Kathmandu, on Buddhism, Hinduism and many other religions, as well as a good selection of novels in English. Several small rooms of souvenirs. Search out the oddities, such as a Kama Sutra colouring book, strangely sold next to children's colouring books.
 * Saraswati further up the road from Pilgrims, has more academic books. Ekta, turn left in Jawalakhel chowk, has academic text books, and a good selection of novels.
 * Saraswati further up the road from Pilgrims, has more academic books. Ekta, turn left in Jawalakhel chowk, has academic text books, and a good selection of novels.

Eat

 * Cafe de Patan. A pleasant, centrally located restaurant and cafe (see 'sleep' section)
 * Patan Museum Cafe
 * Downtown. One of the best value restaurants in Patan. Excellent food.
 * LaSoon. A small restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating set in a nice garden and serving a mixed menu with daily specials. Try the La Soon Plate or the La Soon Platter, one of which is vegetarian. They also do nice chocolate brownies. It's good value and well worth a visit.
 * Summit Hotel. Good on a Friday night as they have a barbecue by the pool.
 * Manny's Eatery & Tapas Bar - good food and ambience. Located inside the "Shaligram Village" in Jawalakhel.
 * There's a popular street in Jhamsikhel past the fire brigade which is host to numerous restaurants, popular with expatriates and locals. It's informally known as "Jhamel", a take on the more touristy Thamel, but much more chilled out.
 * Manny's Eatery & Tapas Bar - good food and ambience. Located inside the "Shaligram Village" in Jawalakhel.
 * There's a popular street in Jhamsikhel past the fire brigade which is host to numerous restaurants, popular with expatriates and locals. It's informally known as "Jhamel", a take on the more touristy Thamel, but much more chilled out.
 * Manny's Eatery & Tapas Bar - good food and ambience. Located inside the "Shaligram Village" in Jawalakhel.
 * There's a popular street in Jhamsikhel past the fire brigade which is host to numerous restaurants, popular with expatriates and locals. It's informally known as "Jhamel", a take on the more touristy Thamel, but much more chilled out.
 * Manny's Eatery & Tapas Bar - good food and ambience. Located inside the "Shaligram Village" in Jawalakhel.
 * There's a popular street in Jhamsikhel past the fire brigade which is host to numerous restaurants, popular with expatriates and locals. It's informally known as "Jhamel", a take on the more touristy Thamel, but much more chilled out.
 * Manny's Eatery & Tapas Bar - good food and ambience. Located inside the "Shaligram Village" in Jawalakhel.
 * There's a popular street in Jhamsikhel past the fire brigade which is host to numerous restaurants, popular with expatriates and locals. It's informally known as "Jhamel", a take on the more touristy Thamel, but much more chilled out.

Drink
There are plenty of choices like Manny's to have a good drink in Patan. The popular Jhamsikhel and Jawalakhel areas have various good bars with good music.

Sleep
While most tourists stay in hotels in Kathmandu city centre when in the Valley, mainly concentrated in the tourist catchment area of Thamel and its vicinity, Patan which is 4 km from Thamel is fast becoming an area of preference for those in the know looking for more space and less chaos. Many of the expatriate communities live in the Patan area as the INGO's like the UN, DFID, GTZ are located there. The Swiss and Norwegian Embassies are also in Patan.

Mid-range

 * Shaligram Hotel & Apartments. Past the national zoo on the right hand side before the Embassy of Switzerland. url:http://www.shaligramhotel.com/". Lovely for short or long stays. The Manny's Eatery and Tapas Bar and Nirvana Wellness Centre are outside.
 * Shaligram Hotel & Apartments. Past the national zoo on the right hand side before the Embassy of Switzerland. url:http://www.shaligramhotel.com/". Lovely for short or long stays. The Manny's Eatery and Tapas Bar and Nirvana Wellness Centre are outside.
 * Shaligram Hotel & Apartments. Past the national zoo on the right hand side before the Embassy of Switzerland. url:http://www.shaligramhotel.com/". Lovely for short or long stays. The Manny's Eatery and Tapas Bar and Nirvana Wellness Centre are outside.
 * Shaligram Hotel & Apartments. Past the national zoo on the right hand side before the Embassy of Switzerland. url:http://www.shaligramhotel.com/". Lovely for short or long stays. The Manny's Eatery and Tapas Bar and Nirvana Wellness Centre are outside.
 * Shaligram Hotel & Apartments. Past the national zoo on the right hand side before the Embassy of Switzerland. url:http://www.shaligramhotel.com/". Lovely for short or long stays. The Manny's Eatery and Tapas Bar and Nirvana Wellness Centre are outside.
 * Shaligram Hotel & Apartments. Past the national zoo on the right hand side before the Embassy of Switzerland. url:http://www.shaligramhotel.com/". Lovely for short or long stays. The Manny's Eatery and Tapas Bar and Nirvana Wellness Centre are outside.
 * Shaligram Hotel & Apartments. Past the national zoo on the right hand side before the Embassy of Switzerland. url:http://www.shaligramhotel.com/". Lovely for short or long stays. The Manny's Eatery and Tapas Bar and Nirvana Wellness Centre are outside.
 * Shaligram Hotel & Apartments. Past the national zoo on the right hand side before the Embassy of Switzerland. url:http://www.shaligramhotel.com/". Lovely for short or long stays. The Manny's Eatery and Tapas Bar and Nirvana Wellness Centre are outside.