Lalitpur

The city of fine arts — Patan's courtyards tell a thousand stories

Lalitpur, better known as Patan, is one of the three former Malla kingdom capitals in the Kathmandu Valley, celebrated as Nepal's city of fine art and craft.

Patan Durbar Square, part of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds some of the finest Newar temple and palace architecture anywhere in the valley, alongside the gilded Hiranyavarna Mahavihara (Golden Temple).

Beyond the old city, Lalitpur stretches to the Godavari Botanical Garden at the valley's southern edge and the Tibetan refugee settlement and craft quarter of Jawlakhel.

Curated Experiences

Journeys designed to show Lalitpur at its best.

12 Days / 11 Nights

Tibet

moderate

5,248m

Tibet & Nepal Grand Journey

From

SGD 3,890

per person

2–12

Popular Attractions

4 places

Attraction

Patan Durbar Square

Newari artistry and ancient royalty in Lalitpur

Attraction

Hiranyavarna Mahavihara

Golden Temple, jewel of Patan's Buddhism

Attraction

Godavari Botanical Garden

Peaceful botanical haven at the valley's southern edge

Attraction

Jawlakhel Cultural Quarter

Arts, crafts, and Tibetan culture in Patan

Culture

People & Culture

Lalitpur is a historic centre of Newar craftsmanship, long known for metalwork, wood carving and thangka painting passed down through caste-based artisan guilds. Patan Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, whc.unesco.org/en/list/121) reflects this legacy in its intricately carved temples and courtyards, while the Hiranyavarna Mahavihara remains an active Buddhist monastery. Jawlakhel's Tibetan refugee community, settled here since the 1960s, has added a distinct Tibetan Buddhist thread to the district's craft economy, particularly in carpet weaving.

Activities