Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square
Native name
Yela Lāyekū (Newar)
Patan Durbar Square entrance
Patan Durbar Square in 2010
Map
LocationLalitpur,    Nepal
Coordinates27°40′24″N 85°19′30″E / 27.6734°N 85.3250°E / 27.6734; 85.3250
Area18.85 ha
Built1637 AD
Original useRoyal Palace
Architectural style(s)Nepalese Architecture
Websitehttp://www.patanmuseum.gov.np
Official nameKathmandu Valley
TypeCultural
Criteriaiii, iv, vi
Designated1979
Reference no.121
RegionAsia
Session3rd
Patan Durbar Square is located in Nepal
Patan Durbar Square
Location of Patan Durbar Square in Nepal

Patan Durbar Square (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐫𑐮 𑐮𑐵𑐫𑐎𑐹‎/यल लायकु, Nepali: पाटन दरवार) is situated at the centre of the city of Lalitpur in Nepal. It is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of its attractions is the medieval royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided.

The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newar architecture. The square floor is tiled with red bricks.[1] There are many temples and statues in the area. The main temples are aligned opposite the western face of the palace.[2] The entrance of the temples faces east, towards the palace. There is also a bell situated in the alignment beside the main temples.[3] The Square also holds old Newari residential houses. There are other temples and structures in and around Patan Durbar Square built by the Newa People. A center of both Hinduism and Buddhism, Patan Durbar Square has 136 "bahals" (courtyards) and 55 major temples.

The square was heavily damaged by the earthquake in April 2015.[4][5]

  1. ^ Pallav Ranjan (2007). "Patan Durbar Square". Spiny Babbler. Archived from the original on 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference saarc_infopage was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Nepalopedia". Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  4. ^ @SnowdenJohn (25 April 2015). "Patan Durbar Square several buildings leveled need medical help and manpower to pull people out of rubble" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "Earthquake in Nepal: Patan Durbar Square shattered completely". India.com, online. Retrieved 2015-04-25.