There are places away from home that will definitely resonate a sense of warmth that make you feel like you belong. Speaking from experiencing a similar sense of being, Patan is one of those places. If you ever find yourself around Patan, there is a high chance you're going to be in a spin, quite literally because Patan is an artistic labyrinth. It is a vibrant place that artistically binds ancient and modern together. It is unique in existence from the other durbar squares with the numerous gullies that gives it its labyrinthine build. Now if you're going to be around, here are ten things you can do in Patan.

1. Durbar Square

Stating the obvious! Patan is famous for the Newari architecture that features intrinsic wood carvings and brick work. There are several important temples in the area and you can never get tired of the early morning bhajans and the warm lights in the evenings.

2. Patan Museum

Located within the Durbar Square, it is a peaceful and relaxing place with a little garden in the back. While ticketing prices differ, it also has a café inside that will offer you a nice escape from the city.

3. Gully Tour

There are a lot of gullies in Patan that you can end up getting lost. Don't worry though, it wouldn't be the most stressful situation. There are areas built for worship and come out into big beautiful squares after moving around quite a lot of these gullies. I could call them alleyways but that's not that fun now, is it? Truth be told, personally its quite fun getting lost for hours.

4. Morning Treats

Early mornings in Patan are quite satisfying. There are traditional sweet shops offer treats like jeri-swari, gwaramari, malpa that pair well with a nice warm cup of tea. All the shops are always welcoming and early morning walks around the square are a big plus.

5. Rudravarna Mahabihar

Visit the Rudravarna Mahabihar in Okubahal. You'll be treated to beautifully-carved metal statues and the carvings on the walls are a true workmanship. This 1500 year-old monastery is renowned for its art, craft and architecture.

6. Pimbahal Pond

If you've been moving around all day this pond is worth checking out. You can visit the temples during day and come down to this pond to relax and feed some ducks. It’s the perfect place to watch as locals pass by and also get a breath of air before getting on with your schedules.

7. Visit the Zoo

Visiting the zoo is ideal if you have kids with you. The cages and animal care is better than before but you'll love the bird exhibit. It's a good place to spend time with your kids but not really if you're not with kids, but it makes for one of the things to do when in Patan.

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Text By Siris Maharjan; Picture Courtesy: Tobias Federle

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