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The square, situated in the heart of the city, consists
of enchanting melange of palace buildings, artistic
courtyards and graceful pagoda temples. The former
royal palace complex is the center of Patan's religious
and social life and houses a museum containing an
array of bronze statues and religious objects. There
are three main courtyards or chowks, so named central
Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Narayan Chowk
in the square. The Sundari Chowk holds in its center
a masterpiece of stone architecture, the Royal bath
called Tushahity
Krisnhna Mandir
Krishna Mandir is Nepal's finest piece of stone architecture.
Siddhi Narsingh, a passionate devotee of Krishna,
built this temple in the 17th century when he dreamed
Krishna and Radha being union at this spot. This magnificent
temple is a delicate, airy creation which defies its
heavy material. The first storey of the temple consists
of scenes from the Hindu holy book Mahabharat; the
second storey pavilions are banded by friezes from
the Ramayana. Atop a stone pillar in front, a brilliantly
executed large metal Garuda (the bird on which Lord
Krishna rides) kneels in homage.
Mahabouddha
A little further east from the southern end of Durbar
Square and then turning right at the sunken water
taps lies this Buddhist monument. The temple, made
of clay bricks with thousands of images of Lord Buddha
engraved, is an excellent example of terra cotta art
form. The terra-cotta structure is one of the fourteen-century
Nepalese architectural masterpieces.
Kwa Bahal "Golden Temple"
This Buddhist monastery is a three storey golden pagoda
of Lokeshwor (Lord Buddha). The monastery, built in
the 12th century by King Bhaskar Verma, is embellished
with exceptionally fine woodcarvings and repousse
work. Inside the upper storey of the pagoda, there
are the golden image of Lord Buddha and a large prayer
wheel. It is a five-minute walk west and north from
the northern end of Durbar Square.
Kumbeshwor
The five-storey pagoda of Kumbeshwor is one of the
oldest temple of Patan. The temple is dedicated to
Lord Shiva. It was orginally constructed in 1392 as
a two storied shrine, but later in the 17th century
Srinivasa Malla added the upper three tiers of the
temple. Hence this is one of the Valley's two five-storied
temples (the other is Bhaktapur's Nyatpola). The two
ponds here (Konti) are believed to be connected by
a subterranean channel to the holy Gosaikund lake,
which lies several days' walk north of Kathmandu.
On the festival of Janai Purnima (usually the August
full moon) thousand devotees of Lord Shiva come to
worship the embossed silver sheath worn by the temple's
sacred linga (phallic symbol), which is placed in
a special pavilion in the middle of the tank in the
hub of temple.
On the southern side of the temple complex is the
single storey shrine of goddess Baglamukhi with green
painted woodwork. The goddess Baglamukhi is embodied
in a tiny image beneath an elaborate silver torona
and canopy of snakes. Baglamukhi is considered as
the wish-fulfilling goddess. Many devotees visit the
temple with hopes that their wishes get rewarded and
fulfilled by goddess Baglamukhi at one point of their
life. The temple is unusually crowded by many devotees
on every Thursdays of the weeks.
The Ashokan Stupas
Emperor Ashoka of India visited Nepal in 250 B.C and
built four ancient stupas at the four corners of Patan.
The four stupas are situated in Pulchowk, Lagankhel,
Ebahi and in Teta (way to Sano Gaon) respectively.
These stupas give evidence to the city's ancient religious
importance.
Achheswor Mahavihar
It was founded towards the beginning of the 17th century.
The Mahavihar has recently been reconstructed and
it commands a beautiful view of the Kathmandu Valley.
It is located behind the Ashokan Stupa at Pulchowk.
Temple of Machhendranath and Minnath
The pagoda of Red Machhendranath was built in 1408
AD and is situated in Tabahal. For six months the
deity is taken to its other shrine in Bunmati. The
temple of Minnath is situated in Tangal on the way
to Tabahal.
Bungamati
Bungamati is a pleasant traditional Newari village
that dates to the 16th century. It overlooks the Bagmati
River. The streets are too thin for vehicle traffic.
Not many visitors come here.
Rato Machhendranath Temple
Bungamati is the birthplace of Rato Machhendranath.
He is regarded as the patron guardian of the valley.
There is a shikhara-style temple in the middle of
the village square. He spends six months a year in
this temple and the other six months in the Rato Machhendranath
Temple in Patan.
The courtyard around the temple has a large prayer
wheel and many chortens (Tibetan Buddhist stupas).
When the deity of Rato Machhendranath moves to and
from Patan and Bungamati is on of the biggest festivals
of the year.
Surya Binayak Temple
This temple, located between Bungamati and Khakna,
is dedicated to Ganesh. Ganesh is a natural stone.
There are some great views from the temple of the
Bagmati Valley and of Bungamati.