Patan and Bhaktapur Sightseeing Tour

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 : Patan and Bhaktapur Tour

From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or a maximum of 4 p.m. with a lunch stop.

The morning after breakfast not later than 8 a.m. Our city / cultural guide receives you for a short drive. Heading south of Kathmandu city crossing a bridge that separates the two districts of Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The drive soon leads to the heart of Patan within the city of Lalitpur, which means the city of arts and crafts.

Enter the magnificent Patan old Durbar Square, steeped with old buildings from the Malla kingdom of the 6th to 17th century. 

Explore the exciting monuments around Patan Durbar Square and beyond.

Patan Durbar Square: Located in the center of Lalitpur, witness the houses of ancient Newari architecture. There are three main courtyards within the palace: 

Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Mul Chowk is the oldest one and is at the center of Patan square.

Several multi-sized and old-styled temple houses the western part of the complex. The main among these are the Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, and the Golden Temple of Hiranya.

Mul Chowk (royal court yard and verandah): One of the famous and largest courtyards among the three main chowks, the Bidya Temple is located at the center of the courtyard and the Taleju temples stand around the courtyard.

Sundari Chowk: Sundari Chowk is to the south of the Mul Chowk with a sunken tank known as Tusha Hiti Mul Chowk & Taleju Temple. 

Keshav Narayan Chowk: Keshav Narayan Chowk on the northern part of Degutale temple is the site of the earliest Malla palace in Patan, the Chowk sits on the older foundations of a Buddhist monastery.

Krishna Temple: This temple dedicated to Hindu Lord Krishna was erected in the 17th century, considered to be the first one to be built in Shikara architecture, it commands a vital position around durbar square. The elegant Shikara-style temple is ranked as one of the gems of Durbar Square. The temple is compared with the sacred Mount Meru, which is the abode of the god Shiva according to Hindu scriptures. 

Mahaboudha: The Buddhist temple of Mahaboudha, which is made of clay bricks, lies to the east of Durbar Square. Hundreds of Buddha images are engraved on the bricks. The temple is known for its fine terra cotta work. 

 Kumbheshwor: Just at the rim of Durbar square located the five-storied pagoda temple of Lord Siva built by King Jayasthiti Malla, inside the temple premises a natural spring, its source the belief is the famous glacial lake of Gosainkunda around Langtang Himal of Rasuwa district. 

From Patan after a few hours of interesting tour, a short drive of less than an hour to Bhaktapur city. Where visitors can experience the old medieval time era by entering the beautiful Bhaktapur city and Durbar Square.

Places of main interest for visit in Bhaktapur. 

The Durbar Square: Enter Bhaktapur city's old Durbar Square, where many ancient monuments are located within the palace courtyard. Most of the ancient buildings and monuments, listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, reflect the city's unique culture, and arts including architectural wonders, and a truly living museum. 

Tour of the golden gate regarded as the world's most magnificent and richly carved of unique design and work of artistic skill, enjoy views of the palace with 55 windows. 

Nytapola Temple: One of the main highlights of Bhaktapur is a pagoda roof Nytapola Temple, which means a five-storied temple at the height of 30 meters, the tallest temple in Kathmandu, and the landmark of Bhaktapur city. Built by King Bhupindra Malla in 1708 AD. On each step to the main temple entrance stands pair of figures, starting from the bottom with a statue of wrestlers, elephants, lions, griffins, and goddesses. 

The Bhaktapur National Art Gallery: The gallery, situated within Bhaktapur Durbar Square treasures rare arts and paintings, with manuscripts with painted covers and illustrations. Also includes brass, bronze, stone, and wooden images of the medieval traditional arts of Nepal. 

Bhairavnath Temple of Bhaktapur: In the early days built as a one-story pagoda during King Jagat Jyoti Malla's period, later added into a three-tier roofed temple in 1718 A.D. by King Bhupindra Malla, this temple stands as artistic grandeur. Bhairavnath temple is dedicated to Lord Bhairab - the god of Terror. 

Dattatreya Temple: A little further another nice temple, built-in 1427 AD, was built from the wood of a single tree, visit and witness exquisitely carved peacock windows located near the temple area. 

Pottery square and the market: Bhaktapur is also famous for pottery with two main areas, the first pottery square is called Suryamadhi east of Dattatreya temple, and the oldest pottery square.

The other pottery is located south and close to Nytapola square at Talako Pottery Square, where you can take a stroll along busy market streets to reach the pottery site. Watch the craftsman on wheels shaping the clay in a fine shape an old tradition handed from ancient times to these days.

Before or after a tour of Bhaktapur city enjoy lunch amidst the beautiful historic sites where most excellent restaurants are located. 

After the tour and having a good lunch drive back to Kathmandu, after an exciting and wonderful day on Patan & Bhaktapur Sightseeing Tour.