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The Glossary

rickshaw - "motorized bicycles, the most common way to navigate Kathmandu."

From Nepal Glossary

With more than 600 stupas (mound-like sacred structures) and 185 bahals (religious courtyards), Patan has probably the largest concentration of religious sites per square meter than any other place in Nepal. Called a city of festivals, feasts, and art, it is all that and more, making it a worthwhile attraction for its rich cultural heritage alone. Tourists, however, don't give Patan more than a cursory look on the map.

Most of Patan's top sights and attractions are tightly packed into the Patan Durbar Square lying right in its heart. In fact, the area was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Probably the first thing one will see is the ancient Palace of the Malla Kings that once served as the seat of power for the land's rulers for years. A shining example of Newari architecture, it is divided into three courtyards, namely the Keshab Narayan Chowk, Mul Chowk, and Sundari Chowk. Inside, Patan Museum showcases artifacts like bronze statues and religious objects. A highlight is the Krishna Mandur found in the palace complex, a temple dedicated to the god Krishna, featuring 21 spires and stone reliefs depicting some o the scenes from the sacred Mahabharata and Ramayana epics.

Nearby, one can glimpse the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, known as the "Golden Temple," a three-roofed Buddhist monastery with a distinctly golden façade. The Rato Machhindranath Temple, on the other hand, is a monument erected as homage to the god of rain and plenty. Its doorways are guarded by sculptures of lions, while its pillars are adorned with various figures of animals. One, too, can see the five-tiered Kumbheshwar Temple, which stands as one of the only two of its kind in Nepal. Built in 1391, it comes alive during the colorful Kumbheshwar Mela Full Moon Day Festival usually held during August.

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