Patan (Lalitpur)

Across the Bagmati from Kathmandu, Patan (Lalitpur) has the most elegant of the three Durbar Squares and the Patan Museum, the best museum in Nepal, in the old palace. The Golden Temple, Kumbheshwar and the metalworkers' lanes are a short walk away. It is close enough to see in an afternoon from Kathmandu; its cafés and courtyard guesthouses make it a quieter base than Thamel.

Highlights

• Krishna Mandir in Durbar Square
• Patan Museum in the old palace
• Golden Temple courtyard
• Mahabouddha, the temple of a thousand Buddhas
• Bronze and metalwork workshops
• Rooftop cafés over the square

Things to do

• Patan Durbar Square & Krishna MandirMorning · 2h
• Patan MuseumAfternoon · 2h
• Golden Temple & metalworkers' lanesAfternoon · 1h 30m

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: October – April

• Dashain (Bada Dashain) — Nepal's biggest festival, 15 days ending on the full moon, with the main days (Phulpati to Vijaya Dashami, the day of tika from elders) like India's Navratri and Dussehra. Kathmandu empties as people go home: buses and domestic flights sell out a week either side, government offices, many shops and some restaurants close for 4-5 days, and prices rise. It falls in the autumn trekking season, so book transport early.
• Tihar (Deepawali) — Five days of lights, two to three weeks after Dashain: crows, dogs and cows are honoured on successive days, Laxmi Puja falls on India's Diwali, and Bhai Tika ends it. Towns are lit with oil lamps and garlands and children sing deusi-bhailo door to door. Offices close for the last days and long-distance buses fill up again.
• Holi (Fagu Purnima) — Colours are thrown in the hills, Kathmandu included, a day before the Terai (Janakpur, Chitwan, Lumbini) celebrates with India. Basantapur and Thamel are the centres in Kathmandu; wear old clothes and keep phones in a bag.