This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Patan.
Patan is a city in Nepal. It is also called Lalitpur. Both names are derived from the Sanskrit word “lalitapattan,” which means “city of beauty.” It is aptly named because art is its major attribute; you will find metal statues, wood and stone carvings, over 1,200 monuments, and ornate temples throughout the city. Patan is also one of three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley.
Once you fly in from Tribhuran International Airport or arrive via another of India’s many beautiful cities, you can take a bus or taxi to get to your hostel in Patan. There are several hostels available, you just have to look for names which include “home” or “homes.” Once you are all settled into your Patan hostel, you can choose to rent a bike, motorcycle, or car to get around. The simplest choice would be to get around on foot.
For the first stop on your itinerary, you might want to visit Patan Durbar Square. It contains temples, palaces, statues, and a museum for you to explore. Please note that this area survived a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in April 2015. For this reason, several points of interest might be under construction. Entering the square from the south, the Palace is on the right. It holds numerous “chowks,” which are courtyards. The last one is Keshab Narayan Chowk, which contains the Patan Museum.
On the left side of the square are a sequence of temples as well as a giant bell made in 1737 which is still rung once annually. You will see an octagonal temple built in 1647 and dedicated to Krishna. There is another temple with two elephant sculptures in front. You can also buy some beautiful souvenirs by which to remember the “city of beauty:” Thangkas (traditional paintings on cotton or silk), wood carvings, and metal handicrafts. If you become hungry, there are numerous food establishments offering the gamut from Thai and Chinese to American as well as Nepalese cuisine. Even kids will find something to their liking among the many choices. Once your belly is full, you can head back to your nearby hostel to rest up for the next day’s adventures.
Written by local enthusiast for Patan hostels
Jakob Lombardi
