Attraction
Kathmandu Durbar Square
The old royal heart of Kathmandu, where the Hanuman Dhoka palace, the Kumari's residence and Malla-era temples surround a UNESCO-listed square.
Patan Museum
A museum of Hindu and Buddhist bronzes and metalwork set in a restored Malla palace courtyard on Patan Durbar Square.
At a glance
- Type
- Art museum
- Area
- Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Official site
- patanmuseum.gov.np
Good to know
- Bronze collection
- Restored palace courtyards
- Tusha Hiti royal bath
Why we recommend it
The Patan Museum occupies Keshav Narayan Chowk, the northernmost courtyard of the old royal palace on Patan Durbar Square. The courtyard takes its name from a central temple to Keshavnarayan, a form of Vishnu, and the complex was historically known as Chaukot Durbar. Restoration began in 1982 as part of a UNESCO campaign to protect Patan's monuments in which the Austrian government worked with the government of Nepal, and the museum was inaugurated in 1997 by King Birendra.
The building was restored by the Austrian architect Gotz Hagmuller, working within the structure of the old palace courtyard. The museum holds more than 1,100 objects, of which around 200 are on permanent display. Most are cast bronzes of Hindu and Buddhist deities and pieces of gilt copper repousse, with sections on Buddhist sculpture, chaityas, Tibetan works and woodcarving. The collection was curated by the late scholar Mary Shepherd Slusser, and its bronzes show many of the deities you will see on temples across the city.
In 2017 the restored Sundari Chowk was added to the museum, together with the Seamann Gallery. Its centrepiece is Tusha Hiti, the sunken royal bath commissioned by King Siddhi Narasimha Malla, and unlike the tiled galleries the courtyard keeps a traditional mud floor. The museum also runs galleries in Mul Chowk and an architectural gallery, and its website offers downloadable material on the Mulchowk, Sundarichowk and architectural galleries. The east wing of the building was destroyed in the 1934 earthquake and later rebuilt, and the square around it was badly damaged again in 2015.
The museum suits anyone with an interest in Himalayan art, and it is a good first stop before exploring Patan, since its collection introduces the Hindu and Buddhist deities honoured in the temples outside. Entry is by a separate ticket, with different rates for foreign, SAARC and Nepali visitors, and enquiries can be sent to the museum by email. It drew around 175,000 visitors in 2020.
The museum is on the north side of Patan Durbar Square, so you can step straight out into the square to see the Krishna Mandir, the Bhimsen Temple and the Vishwanath Temple.
Patan Museum FAQs
Where is the Patan Museum?
In Keshav Narayan Chowk, the northern courtyard of the old palace on Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur.
What is in the collection?
More than 1,100 objects, mostly cast bronzes and gilt copper repousse of Hindu and Buddhist deities, with around 200 on display.
When did the museum open?
It was inaugurated in 1997, after restoration work that began in 1982.
Who restored the building?
The Austrian architect Gotz Hagmuller led the restoration.
What is Tusha Hiti?
A sunken royal bath in Sundari Chowk, commissioned by King Siddhi Narasimha Malla and added to the museum in 2017.
Do I need a separate ticket?
Yes. The museum charges its own entry fee, with different rates for foreign, SAARC and Nepali visitors.
How can I contact the museum?
By email at [email protected].
Is it worth visiting before the square?
Yes. Its bronzes introduce the deities honoured in the temples outside.