Patan

Patan, also called Lalitpur, is a city in the Kathmandu Valley of central Nepal, on the south bank of the Bagmati River opposite Kathmandu. For centuries it was one of the valley's three royal capitals, alongside Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, and its Malla-era palaces and temples still stand in the old center. Most of what draws visitors sits within walking distance of Patan Durbar Square, where stone courtyards, carved wooden windows and tiered temples show the Newari architecture of the valley.

Craft is central to Patan. Metalworkers have long cast and hammered copper, brass and bronze, and woodcarvers and stone masons work on temples and courtyards across the old town. The Krishna Mandir, a stone temple built in 1637, and the Golden Temple, a Buddhist monastery with a gilded facade, are two sights worth seeing. A trip suits a half day for the square or a full day with the museums and quieter lanes. October to November and February to April bring the clearest skies, while the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain.