Latest revision as of 17:41, 19 February 2015

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.

[edit] Patan Town

One of the chief towns of Nepal, situated approximately, in lat. 27 41' N. and long. 85 20' E., on rising ground, a short distance from the southern bank of the Bagh- mati, about 2 milen south-east of Katmandu. Patan is thus described by Dr. Wright, formerly Surgeon to the British Residency in Nepal :

It is an older town than Katmandu, having been built in the reign of Raja Bir Deva in the Kaligat year 3400 (A. D. 299). It is also known by the names of Yellondesi and Lalita Patan. The latter name is derived from Lalit, the founder of the city. Its general aspect is much the same as that of the capital [Katmandu]. The streets are as narrow and dirty, the gutters as offensive, and the temples even more numerous ; but it appears much more dilapidated than Katmandu, many of the houses and temples being in ruins. The main square, however, in the centre of the town, is very handsome. On one side is the old Darbar with a fine brazen gateway, guardian lions, and endless carvings. In front of this are monoliths, with the usual figures on them, and behind these a row of handsome old temples of every description.

The parade-ground lies to the south-east of the town, the road to it passing through a suburb abounding in pigs. The parade-ground is extensive, and there are several large tanks to the west, while on the southern side stands a huge Buddhist temple of the most primitive description. This temple is merely a mound or dome of brickwork, covered with earth. There is a small shrine at each of the cardinal points, and on the top what looks like a wooden ladder. Many similar mound-temples or chaityas exist in and around Patan. The population of the town is said to be about 30,000, mainly Newars.'

From the early part of the seventeenth century Patan was one of the three petty Newar States in the Valley of Nepal, and its quarrels with its neighbours at Katmandu and Bhatgaon paved the way for its conquest by the Gurkhas in 1768-9. The town is now garrisoned by the Gurkha government.