Patan Durbar Square and the Patan Museum
We start at the north end of Patan Durbar Square, beside Krishna Mandir, a stone temple in the north Indian shikhara style built in 1637, with carved friezes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana along its upper floors. From there the guide walks you south past the tall brick pagodas, the bronze statue of King Yoganarendra Malla kneeling on his pillar, and the courtyards of the old Malla palace. The square is compact, so you can take in its whole shape in a few minutes, then return to the details.
The Patan Museum occupies Keshav Narayan Chowk, a palace courtyard restored with Austrian support in the 1990s. Its galleries explain Hindu and Buddhist imagery step by step, with bronzes, stone sculpture, carved roof struts and ritual objects, many of exceptional quality. The labels are written in clear English and assume no prior knowledge, which makes it the ideal place to start before seeing temples elsewhere. We spend about 90 minutes inside, with a guide who can expand on whichever pieces catch your eye.
Behind the museum is a quiet garden with a café, a good place for tea before continuing. Many buildings in the square were damaged in the 2015 earthquake and have been rebuilt using traditional bricks and hand-carved timber, and some work may still be under way; check current status before you travel. A foreign visitor fee covers the square. Our car drops you at the edge of the old city and meets you again wherever the walk finishes, so there is no need to retrace your steps.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How long should I spend at the Patan Museum?
Plan on 90 minutes to two hours. The galleries are compact but detailed, and the labels reward slow reading. If time is short, focus on the bronze and stone sculpture galleries and the panels explaining Hindu and Buddhist deities. The garden café behind the museum is a good place to rest before walking on to the Golden Temple.
Is Patan Durbar Square better than Kathmandu Durbar Square?
Many travellers find Patan's square more rewarding. It is smaller, quieter and better preserved, and the Patan Museum gives it a context that Kathmandu's square lacks. Kathmandu Durbar Square has the Kumari Ghar and the market lanes beyond. If you only have time for one, we usually suggest Patan, unless you particularly want to see the living goddess's house.
Is there an entry fee for Patan Durbar Square?
Yes. Foreign visitors pay a fee to enter the Durbar Square area, with lower rates for SAARC nationals, and the museum may be ticketed separately. Rates change, so check current status before you travel. Our guide handles tickets, and they are included in our arrangements. Keep your ticket with you, as you may be asked to show it.
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