Two mysterious and precious palaces：Bhaktapur Durbar and Patan Durbar

Two mysterious and precious palaces：Bhaktapur Durbar and Patan Durbar

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Besides Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is also worth visiting. Located in Bhaktapur, a town 13km from the city centre, Bhaktapur Durbar Square served as the royal palace of the Bhaktapur Kingdom in the 18th century. It is also surrounded by palaces, temples and museums.

The unique feature of the square is the Palace of Fifty-five Windows, a palace with a strong touch of Hinduism. As its name goes, there are 55 carved wooden windows inside the palace. You can try to count them! Another remarkable feature is the “Golden Gate”, surmounted by a figure of the Hindu goddess Kali and Garuda. The gate is claimed to be the world’s most beautiful arch. It is even recognised by a British art critic as not only the most stunning art in Nepal, but also the treasure of the country. 

Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square is located not far away from the city centre. Similar to the other two counterparts, the square is surrounded by palaces and temples. The square is an exemplar of Newar art. Not only is the square floor tiled with red bricks, but there are also exquisite carvings and beautiful Newar architecture.

Patan Durbar Square is the home to both Hindu temples and Buddhist temples, showing the harmonic co-existence of the two religions. Krishna temple, among others, is the one that you cannot miss. It has world-renowned stone carvings and statues, depicting epics and stories of ancient India. It also houses 21 gold pinnacles, which make the temple, built upon the request by a royal family, to look even more sparkling.