Lalitpur - The Town of Preserved Ancient Architecture
Lalitpur is a carrier of its ancient art and tradition with its built monuments, architecture and handmade handicrafts.
Lalitpur, one of the three districts of Kathmandu Valley, lies in the southern part of the Valley. Bagmati River separates it from Kathmandu District in the west. The total area of the district is about 37.4 sq. kms. It includes the city in the plain lands to the highest hill of Kathmandu Valley, Phulchowki.
The Malla Kings ruled the city for several years before the unification of Nepal. Their palace is situated in Patan which now is widely known as Patan Durbar Square. It is famous for its ancient architecture and splendid craftsmanship. The metal, stone, wood carvings, and statues reflect the historical background of Lalitpur. So Durbar Square is one of the most renowned architects there.
People and Their Culture
The ancient inhabitants of Lalitpur are the Newars. So, in Lalitpur, the festivals are enthusiastic like Rato Machhendranath Jatra (Bunga Dyo Jatra in the Newari language), Kartik Naach, and Krishna Janmashtami. The variety of festivals also justify that the city homes both Buddhist and Hindu traditions in harmony. Nowadays, there reside people from different destinations in the Lalitpur city.
Attractions in Lalitpur City
The only zoo of Nepal, The central zoo is also located in this city. Lalitpur is famous for its historical monuments and architecture that feels like a walk back into the past. Out of such memorable places, you shouldn’t miss out on Patan Durbar Square. The Patan Durbar Square itself is full of different attractions to explore. And there is Mangal Bazaar, where you can explore the handmade handicrafts of Lalitpur that you can buy as a souvenir.
Beside Patan, the city also has the highest hill of Kathmandu, Phulchowki, famous for the different flowers and snowfall in winter. There lies another attraction, ‘Godawari’ just below the Phulchowki hill. The place is famous as a botanical garden where people visit to study about the plants which grow there. It is also one of the popular picnic spots near Kathmandu.
The hills and village areas cover some parts of the district. One of the most important villages of Lalitpur under the Licchavi dynasty is Lele. Still, some stone pillars which date back to the Licchavi era can be found there.
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