Patan Durbar Square
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.
| Patan Durbar Square | |
|---|---|
| Native name Newar: Yela Lāyekū | |
Patan Durbar Square entrance Patan Durbar Square in 2010 | |
| Location | Lalitpur, Nepal |
| Coordinates | 27°40′24″N 85°19′30″E |
| Area | 18.85 ha |
| Built | 1637 AD |
| Original use | Royal Palace |
| Architectural style(s) | Nepalese Architecture |
| Website | http://www.patanmuseum.gov.np |
| Official name | Kathmandu Valley |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 1979 |
| Reference no. | 121 |
| Region | Asia |
| Session | 3rd |
Location of Patan Durbar Square in Nepal | |
The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newar architecture. The square floor is tiled with red bricks. There are many temples and statues in the area. The main temples are aligned opposite the western face of the palace. The entrance of the temples faces east, towards the palace. There is also a bell situated in the alignment beside the main temples. 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.