Patan – Another Old City of the Kathmandu Valley – More Things to Do in Kathmandu
After exploring Kathmandu, cross the Bagmati River and you enter another historic city. Patan, also known as Lalitpur, is only a short distance from central Kathmandu, but it has a character of its own. If Kathmandu can sometimes feel restless and crowded, Patan often feels a little more settled. Its old streets lead through courtyards, temples, traditional houses, workshops and small squares where everyday life continues much as it has for generations. Patan is particularly known for its craftsmanship. Woodcarving, metalwork, traditional architecture and religious art are all part of the city’s identity. If you take your time, you will begin to notice that the buildings themselves are almost like works of art.
Patan Durbar Square : More Things to Do in Kathmandu
Start at Patan Durbar Square, the historic heart of the old city. The square is surrounded by temples, palaces and traditional Newar architecture. Take your time here, but don’t make the mistake of seeing the square and then immediately getting back into the car. The interesting part of Patan continues beyond the main square. Walk into the smaller streets. You will find courtyards that you might easily miss if you are following a fixed sightseeing route. Some are Buddhist courtyards, known locally as bahals, with shrines and monasteries tucked inside them. This is one of the pleasures of exploring Patan. You can be standing in a busy street one minute and, after passing through a small entrance, suddenly find yourself somewhere quiet.
Look at the Details
Patan is a place to slow down and look carefully. Look at the wooden windows. Look at the carved struts supporting temple roofs. Look at the metal statues displayed in workshops. Look at the old brick houses. Look at the small shrines built into the streets. The Kathmandu Valley is famous for its temples and monuments, but it is easy to forget that much of the beauty is found in the details. You don’t always need to stand in front of a famous landmark. Sometimes a beautifully carved doorway is enough reason to stop.
A City of Craftspeople – More Things to Do in Kathmandu
If you are interested in traditional Nepalese art, give Patan some extra time. The city has a long association with metalworking and Buddhist and Hindu religious art. You will find workshops and galleries where craftsmen continue working with traditional techniques. This is also a good place to look for a piece of Nepalese craftsmanship if you want to take something meaningful home. But take your time when shopping. Ask about the work, where it was made and whether it is actually produced locally. A good piece of traditional craft carries much more meaning when you know something about the person and place behind it.
Don’t Leave Without Eating
Patan is also a good place to experience Newari food. If you have only tried momo and dal bhat during your time in Nepal, this is your opportunity to explore something different. Look for a traditional Newari meal, perhaps a samay baji set, bara, chatamari or choila. Newari food is not simply about individual dishes. It is closely connected with the culture and traditions of the Kathmandu Valley. Food can sometimes tell you as much about a place as its monuments.
Give Patan More Than a Few Hours
You can visit Patan Durbar Square in a couple of hours, but if you have the time, stay longer. Walk without rushing. Have lunch. Visit a workshop. Sit in a courtyard. Return to the Durbar Square later in the afternoon when the light changes. And if you are interested in photography, Patan can be particularly rewarding. The combination of architecture, crafts, religious activity and ordinary neighbourhood life gives you plenty to observe without having to travel far. Patan also reminds us why it is useful to think of the Kathmandu Valley as a destination rather than Kathmandu city alone. The valley is a collection of old cities, towns, villages, temples and communities. Each adds something different to the journey. And Patan is only the beginning.
Beyond Patan – Old Towns and Villages Around the Valley
Once you have explored Kathmandu and Patan, don’t feel that you have to stay within the main tourist circuit. Some of the most rewarding experiences in the Kathmandu Valley are found a little further away, in old towns and traditional settlements where the pace of life can feel quite different. You don’t need to visit all of them. Choose one or two, give yourself time to walk around, and let the day unfold.
Bhaktapur – Take Your Time
Of all the historic cities in the valley, Bhaktapur perhaps gives you the strongest feeling of stepping into another time. The old city has narrow brick streets, courtyards, temples, traditional houses and public squares. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the obvious starting point, but again, don’t stop at the main square. Walk deeper into the old city. Find Taumadhi Square, with the impressive Nyatapola Temple. Continue towards Pottery Square, where traditional pottery is still made, and explore the smaller streets between them. Bhaktapur is also a good place to simply sit down. Have a cup of tea. Try some juju dhau, the famous traditional yoghurt of Bhaktapur. Watch people going about their daily routines. If you arrive during a festival, you may find the experience completely different again.
Bisket Jatra, celebrated around the Nepali New Year, brings enormous chariots, processions and crowds into the old city. This is not something that can be understood simply by looking at photographs afterwards. Being there is part of the experience.
Kirtipur – Slow Down
Kirtipur is another historic town that deserves more attention than it usually gets. It sits on a hill southwest of Kathmandu and has retained much of its traditional character. The old streets are quieter than central Kathmandu, and you can spend a pleasant half-day simply walking around. Visit the historic temples and squares, look at the traditional houses and enjoy the views across the valley. Kirtipur also has a strong Newar identity, and food is another reason to come here. If you want to experience the Kathmandu Valley away from the busiest tourist areas, Kirtipur is an easy place to add to your itinerary.
Bungamati – A Village Inside the Valley
Then there are places such as Bungamati, south of Patan. Bungamati feels more like a traditional Newar settlement than a sightseeing destination. Its narrow streets, brick houses, courtyards and temples provide a glimpse of village life within the Kathmandu Valley. This is somewhere I would encourage you not to rush. There may not be a long list of attractions to tick off. Instead, walk through the settlement, talk to people when appropriate, look at the traditional buildings and notice how everyday life takes place around the old architecture. That can sometimes be more rewarding than another famous monument.
Khokana – A Different Side of the Valley
Nearby Khokana offers another glimpse of traditional Newar life. The settlement is particularly associated with its traditional mustard-oil production, and the old village has a distinctive character. Walking through Khokana feels quite different from walking around Thamel or the busy streets of central Kathmandu. You see a more rural side of the valley, even though you are still quite close to the capital. The surrounding agricultural landscape also helps explain something that is easy to forget when staying in Kathmandu: the valley was once much more rural, and farming remains part of its identity.
Other Places Worth Considering
If you have more time, there are plenty of other places to explore. Panauti is an old Newar town with temples, traditional architecture and an atmosphere that is quite different from central Kathmandu. Pharping is interesting for both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, with monasteries, caves, temples and important religious sites in the surrounding hills. Namobuddha, further east, offers a peaceful Buddhist setting and can be combined with a visit to other parts of the valley. Godavari is another option if you want some greenery and a break from the dense urban areas. These places are not necessary additions to a first-time visitor’s itinerary. But that is precisely the point. Once you have seen the major sights, you can start exploring Kathmandu Valley more slowly.
You Don’t Have to See Everything
There is a temptation when visiting Kathmandu to create a long list and try to complete it. You don’t come to Kathmandu Valley only to see old places. You come to experience a culture that is still living in them.
For a better experience while you are in Nepal, explore these places on foot with one of our trusted local guides. Walking gives you a chance to see more than the usual sights – the small streets, local markets, courtyards, temples and everyday life that you might otherwise miss. If you are a photographer, even better. Our guides know the city well and can take you into every little corner, helping you find the people, places and moments that make Kathmandu special. Write to us and let us arrange a walking experience around your interests.That is what makes these old towns and settlements worth exploring.
