Not sure if you want to visit Patan Durbar Square?
Well, here are 10 reasons why you should.
Patan Durbar Square is probably my favorite Durbar Square in the Kathmandu Valley. It is very compact, yet both the history and the temples you can find there are absolutely breathtaking.
At the Durbar Square, you can also visit the Patan Museum, which used to be the Royal Palace of the Malla dynasty in Patan.
In my opinion, this Royal Palace is much more impressive than the Royal Palace in Kathmandu, mostly because of Sundari Chowk and the beautiful garden.
But don’t let me keep you—here are the 10 reasons why you need to visit Patan Durbar Square before you die.
The Krishna Temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Nepal

The most beautiful temple on Patan Durbar Square has to be the Krishna Temple.
This temple is unique in Nepal because it is made completely out of stone, whereas most temples in Nepal and in the Kathmandu Valley are made of wood and brick.
The temple is a mixture of North Indian and Nepali design. It is often featured in guidebooks and pictures of Nepal simply because it is that beautiful.
If you are visiting Kathmandu, it would be very sad not to visit Patanjali Garh Square just to see this one temple.
The durbar square is beautifully lit up at night
One of my absolute favorite times to go to Pasandubar Square is in the evening, just when the sun sets.
The square will be very busy with people performing their pujas and prayers. There will be young people hanging out in the temples and families out for a walk.
The temples will be incredibly beautifully lit which is definately worth a picture.
I would definitely recommend taking a walk here after sundown, and then going for a beer at either Pahan Chhen, MoMo King, or any of the other rooftop bars in the area.
The patan museum displays some of the most amazing artefacts from nepalia history

If you like history, I would definitely recommend visiting the Patan Museum.
This museum houses some of the most awe-inspiring and impressive Nepali artifacts.
Although the Nepal Museum has taken over some of the collection from the Patan Museum, don’t let this deter you from visiting this gorgeous exhibition.
The museum still shows impressive artifacts representing the Buddhist and Hindu histories of Nepal.
The building itself, once a royal palace, has been beautifully restored after the 2015 earthquake.
The Garden of the Patan museum is one of the most beautiful in the city
Another reason why I think you should definitely visit Patan Durbar Square is because the garden of the Patan Museum is absolutely amazing. It is an oasis of calm in the center of the city.
Outside the gates of the museum, there is hustle and bustle 24/7, but inside, it is incredibly calm.
You will also see a beautiful large pond that was used for laundry and washing by the courtiers. The plants and trees in the garden, all native to Nepal, are honestly just gorgeous when they flower.
The bath on sundari chowk is one of the most beautiful you will see in Nepal

When you’re visiting the Patan Museum, you should definitely have a look at Sundari Chowk.
Sundari Chowk is probably one of the most recognizable parts of the museum, thanks to the royal bath. It was a private quarter of the royal family, and here you will find the private bath used by them.
The whole bath is plastered with beautiful statues of Hindu gods and goddesses, making it one of the most beautiful hitis or water spouts in all of Nepal.
At mangal bazaar right next to the Durbar Square you can shop for pooja supplies
When you’re visiting Patan Durbar Square, on the right side of the square, if you’re facing the Royal Palace, you will notice a small market. This market is called Mangal Bazar, and here you can buy anything from spices to clothes, and even puja supplies.
I would definitely recommend having a nosey around here just to see what’s on offer.
The market itself is quite small and very picturesque, with sellers offering flowers, incense, and oils to burn at the temples.
The Patan Durbar Square, in my opinion is the most beautiful Durbar Square of the three cities in the Kathmandu valley

Having lived in Nepal for four years and having visited all the Durbar Squares multiple times, I can say with absolute certainty that Patan Durbar Square is my absolute favorite of all the royal squares of Nepal.
Sure, Kathmandu is impressive because of its size, and Bhaktapur is nice because the whole city is full of temples and gorgeous old buildings, but Patan Durbar Square itself is just so compact, and the temples there are incredibly beautiful.
If I had to pick one Durbar Square, it definitely would be Patan as my favorite.
In the area of the Patan Square, you will see lots of artisans and craftsman
In the streets around Patan Durbar Square, you will find many craftsmen who specialize in copper and silver works. In fact, if you want to buy little silver trinkets, there are some amazing shops around Patan that offer great jewelry.
If you’re looking to buy beautiful bronze or copper Hindu or Buddhist statues, Patan is also the place to be.
It is a photographer’s Paradise, especially in the morning and the evening

Patan Durbar Square is also a photographer’s dream.
Because it is a bit less known than Kathmandu Durbar Square, there are fewer tourists and more locals around, going about their day, whether it’s sitting on the temples, bringing pujas, or meeting up with friends.
As a photographer, I always found that there was just so much more to see and capture at Patan Durbar Square.
You will be helping rebuild one of the most important Temple complexes in Nepal
The Patan Durbar Square was significantly damaged during the 2015 earthquake.
Although it wasn’t as damaged as Kathmandu Durbar Square, some of the temples were reduced to rubble or required massive restoration efforts, including the Royal Palace.
The 1,000 rupees that you pay as an entry fee to the Durbar Square and the museum help fund the efforts of the Nepali government to rebuild and especially maintain the temples and structures on the Durbar Square.