Patan and Bhaktapur were previously states with their own ancient government that are now recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. This full-day tour combines the two most significant historical locations that best capture Nepal’s old civilizations, traditions, arts, and architecture. It immerses you in the country’s incredibly rich legacy and historical tales. The journey starts with a ride to Bhaktapur, then continues with a ride to Lalitpur.
In Nepal, some of the oldest structures and monasteries are found in Bhaktapur, a historic Newari city, which is around 12 kilometers from Kathmandu. The Lion Gate, Golden Gate, 55 Windows Palace, Nyatapola, Vatsala Temple, Bhairavnath Temple, Bhimsen Temple, Four Pilgrimage Sites (4 Dham), and many other classical structures and ancient temples make Bhaktapur Durbar Square a must-visit location for anyone interested in learning about and exploring ancient Newari culture, architecture, and history. You can wander through the Bhaktapur Durbar Area and observe the natives creating clay pots in the pottery square. The city is renowned for its amazing crafts, including pottery, thanka, and masks.
After Bhaktapur, this journey brings you to Patan, also known as Lalitpur, which literally translates to “the city of art” and is located 5 kilometers south of Kathmandu’s downtown. Patan, one of the oldest cities in the Kathmandu Valley, is renowned for its remarkable arts and crafts. Here, you may take a leisurely stroll through the congested streets while enjoying typical Newari cuisine and taking in the city’s historic architecture. You can also visit the Patan Museum, which features several sculptures and works of art from the Malla era and is recognized as the premier location for bronze sculpture and other various handicrafts. The stunning Krishna temple, which was constructed entirely out of stone, is regarded as the most significant shrine in the durbar plaza. In addition to the Krishna Temple, Patan Durbar Square’s other top attractions include the Bhimsen Temple, Golden Temple, Jagannath Temple, Maha Buddha, Three Courtyards, etc.
1 day
Daily Tour
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Unlimited
You’ll be picked up in the morning in a private vehicle from your hotel and then we’ll begin our ride to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu that takes around 20-30 min. We'll start our Bhaktapur city exploration as there is a lot to see in this city. Here we’ll begin our Bhaktapur Durbar Square tour with a visit to the Nyatapola temple and move forward visiting each temple and eventually the palace itself. After visiting the palace and the central part of Durbar Square, we’ll take an alleyway from the main entrance gate to the pottery square where we can witness the traditional way of making pottery in Nepal. We also get to see the traditional lifestyle of Newari people that is still alive to this day during our tour in Bhaktapur. After the excursion to Bhaktapur, we’ll further continue our tour as we drive to Patan Durbar Square that takes around 30 minutes. Once we reach Patan Durbar Square, we can notice Newari designs, arts & architecture similar to that of Bhaktapur Durbar Square. We’ll visit Krishna Mandir which is one of the major attractions of the Durbar square along with many other temples, courtyards, and monuments around the area. After exploring Patan Durbar Square, we’ll drive back to Kathmandu where our one-day tour comes to an end. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel once we arrive in Kathmandu.
Optional: The tour can always be extended to 2-3 days according to your wish.