Photos of Lalitpur (Patan) and Kirtipur, Nepal

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Lalitpur and Kirtipur, historical cities

Historically called Patan, Lalitpur is Nepal’s third-largest city and is situated south of the Bagmati River, which separates it from Kathmandu. Like the others, it has a rich cultural heritage. It is also known as Manigal and, in Nepal Bhasa, the language of its Newar inhabitants, Yala. It dates back to the third Century BCE and has been expanded over the centuries by the different kingdoms ruling it.

Kumbheshwor Temple
 
Kumbheshwor Temple
 
Nepali orchestra
 
Women doing laundry, Lalitpur
 
Kumbheshwor water stone spout
 
Shrine in Patan
 
Roof, Hiranyavarna Mahavihara
 
Hiranyavarna Mahavihara
 
Mythical creature, Kwa Baha
 
Bhimsen Mandir, Patan Durbar Square
 
Bhimsen Temple, Patan
 
Vishwanath Temple, Patan
 
Krishna Mandir, Patan
 
Krishna temple, Patan
 
Krishna Temple, Patan Durbar Square
 
Garuda statue, Patan Durbar Square
 
Garuda statue, Patan
 
Nepalese women, Patan Durbar Square
 
Royal Palace's Golden Gate
 
Decorations, Golden Gate, Patan Museum
 
Golden Gate and Royal Palace
 
Golden Gate, Royal Palace
 
Gate of the Royal Palace
 
Durbar Square, Patan
 
Hari Shankar Temple
 
Patan Durbar Square
 
Lion statue, Royal Palace
 
Taleju temple, Patan
 
Mul Chowk, Royal Palace
 
Woodcarving, Royal Palace
 
Gilded gate and dancing apsara, Royal Palace
 
Dancing apsara statue, Royal Palace
 
Ganga River Goddess
 
Tusha Hiti, Sundari Chowk
 
Apsara carvings, Sundari Chowk
 
Chyasin Dega, Patan Durbar Square
 
Children, Patan Durbar Square
 
Yala Layaku Marg, Lalitpur
 
Simhavarna Rajasri Vihar, Lalitpur
 
In Simhavarna Rajasri Vihar, Lalitpur
 
Women drying grain, Patan
 
Tibetan carpet shop
 
Street in Lagankhel
 
Street in Lagankhel
 
Girl with little brother
 
View near Lagankhel
 
Pond and Bagh Bhairab temple
 
Grain dried in a town square
 

As in the other two cities, Patan Durbar Square is the focal point with its Royal Palace, forming the entire eastern side of the square. It was built in the 14th Century and expanded during the 17th and 18th centuries. It now functions as the Patan Museum. Its superb Golden Gate dates from 1734; the finely engraved and gilded gateway is topped by a golden Torana showing Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh and Kumar. There are superb temples, like the Taleju and the Krishna temples, constructed in 1667 in the local Granthakuta or “Shikhara” style, imported from India. Nearby are the Vishwanath Temple of 1627, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the Bhimsen Temple, featuring ornate woodcarvings.

North of Patan Durbar Square is a centuries-old Buddhist monastery, Hiranyavarna Mahavihara or Kwa Baha, with ornate brass statues and elements plated in gold. But there are also winding streets in the old city and women drying grain in the squares. The same scenes can be seen about seven kilometres west in Kirtipur, or Kipoo in the Newari language, an ancient city known for its temples. One of the best-known is the 16th-century Bagh Bhairab temple, dedicated to the god Bhairab, regarded as the guardian of Kirtipur.