Patan (also known as Lalitpur) is Nepal’s third largest city. It is adjacent to and has been engulfed by Kathmandu in recent years. It is famous for arts and crafts and has over 1200 buddhist temples.
It is most famous for Patan Durbar (Royal) Square, one of three famous Durbar squares in Nepal, the others located in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. It was heavily damaged in the 2015 earthquake. Note, like the other Durbar squares, there is an entrance fee for foreigners during daylight hours. If you plan to make return trips, inform the staff at the tourist office when you buy your ticket and they will give you a ticket valid for multiple days.
Most people visit Patan on a day trip from Kathmandu. I elected to stay over in Patan and stayed at the Heranya Yala hotel. The very kind and friendly owner took us on a free tour of some of the hidden gems of Patan, including the Golden Temple. This was a unique experience to learn about local culture, which I would have missed had I just visited for the day.
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