durbar square: patan’s durbar square is one of the best architecture sites of nepal and a world heritage site. though it is the smallest of the three but arguably the most beautiful. it’s worth visiting to enjoy the ancient architecture, which dates back thirteen centuries. palaces, ancient shrines, museum, various small and big temple scattered in and around the square with bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings are some of the attractions of this square which testify skills of patan’s anonymous artists. it offers great opportunities for visitors to understand architectural masterpieces, history and culture of lalitpur. most of the monuments in the durbar square were built by malla kings from 16th to 18th century and are excellent specimen of newari architecture. there are three main chowks (courtyards), so named central mul chowk, sundari chowk and mani keshav narayan chowk in the square. some of its highlights are:

• sundari chowk: the sundari chowk which was built by king siddhi narsingh malla in 1647 ad located to south of mul chowk contains the royal bath, a sunken water tank known as tusha hiti, used for performing ritual bathing. it is a masterpiece of woodcarvings, stone, and metal sculpture. it features an image of vishnu with lakshmi on his lap, carried by their mount, garuda.
• bhimsen temple: dedicated to bhim, one of pandavas who was a great wrestler and a deity to nepalese businessmen. the three-storied temple is located on the extreme north with the beautiful golden balcony overlooking the square outside. it showcases some fine specimen of metal craft. this temple frequently visited by local merchant and traders communities.
• vishwa nath temple: two-storied temple dedicated to lord shiva is located near the bhimsen temple. it is built in pagoda style and is guarded by two elephants.
• krishna mandir: dedicated to lord krishna, the beauty of this three storied temple is unmatched in the lalitpur. built in 17th century by king siddhi narsingh malla, this is first specimen of shikhar style temple entirely made of red stone. it is the only temple in nepal with 21 golden spires and is thus called 21 spire temple. the stone carvings on walls of first and second-floor floor are exquisite. scenes from the mahabharata are carved on the temple’s walls in 1^st floor whereas from ramayana in second floor. non-hindus cannot enter to view the statue of krishna.
• stone column: there are two large stone columns of approximately twenty feet high standing in the square. one of them has garuda on the top facing the krishna temple and another depicts king yog narendra malla praying to goddess taleju with a snake above his head on top of which there is a bird. these pillars are another typical example of nepali stone workmanship.
• taleju bhawani temple: this five storied temple of degu taleju, protective deitiy, was built by king siddhi narsingh malla in 17the century. its an unique examples of craftsmanship in wood.
• kumbheshwor temple: built by king jayastithi malla in the late 14th century, this five-storied temple is dedicated to lord shiva and has some beautiful wood carvings. inside the temple there is a pond whose water is believed to come from gosainkunda, a holy lake.