DurbarSquare
Patan has a limited choice of restaurants and hostels, but more than enough for a day trip.
Most of Patan's classics are centered around Durbar Square, but a few temples are located in the southern part of the city. There are also some courtyards and pools to the north, so don't miss these on your walking tour.
Like Kathmandu, Patan's Durbar Square, also known as Palace Square, is home to a large number of temples, and the artistic flair of the Newari people is on display in these buildings, which will make for a most sumptuous visual experience. During the Malla dynasty (14th to 18th centuries), especially during the late reign of Siddhinarsingh Malla (1619-1660), the Durbar Square was in its glory, with the MangalBazar, the main commercial area of Patan, stretching all the way to the southernmost part of the square. Pay the entrance fee at the southernmost point of the plaza, and be sure to write the expiration date of your visa on the back of your ticket if you want to visit Durbar Square more than once.
Statue of King Yoganarender Malla
North of the HariShankar temple is a towering column topped by a statue of King Yoganarender Malla (1684-1705) and his queen. The king kneels with a lotus flower atop his head and is protected by a cobra wreath, a golden statue that has faced the king's palace since the 1700s. On the head of the cobra is a bird; legend has it that as long as the bird is there, the king can rejoin his palace. One of the doors and windows of the palace is always open, always ready to welcome the king back, and there is also a hookah for him. The legend doesn't end there, if the bird flies away then the elephants in front of the Vishwanath temple go to the MangaHiti aqueduct to drink water. Behind the king's statue are three slightly smaller temples of Vishwanath. Built in 1590 in brick and plaster in the Hindu temple style, these tiny temples are dedicated to Narsingha, the lion-faced incarnation of Vishwanath.
BHIMSEN TEMPLE
The Bhimsen Temple, located at the northernmost point of Durbar Square, is dedicated to the god of trade and commerce, which may explain why the temple is well managed and seems to be particularly prosperous.Bhimsen, the hero described in the Mahabharata, is said to be particularly strong. Bowls, spoons and cups were nailed to the temple gables as offerings. The temple*** has three floors and there are conflicting stories about its history. Although we are not sure when it was first built, according to a line of inscriptions, it suffered a fire and was rebuilt in 1682, twice after the 1934 earthquake and again in 1967. A sculpture of a lion stands on a pillar in front of the temple, and the entire building is made of brick with a fa?ade of artificial marble and an imposing one-story front.
MANGAHITI AQUEDUCT
On the opposite side of the Bhimsen temple is the sunken MangaHiti aqueduct, one of the many aqueducts that provide water to Patan and even Bhaktapur. This aqueduct has a cross-shaped pool and three drainpipes in the shape of an evocatively carved makara (mythical crocodile) head. Next to the aqueduct is the ManiMandap, two identical stands built in 1700, which used to be the place where the king held his coronation.
VI SHWANATH TEMPLE
South of the Bhimsen temple towers the Vishwanath (Lord Shiva) temple. Built in 1627, this two-roofed temple is elaborately decorated with two huge stone elephants guarding either side of the front door. The pillars of the temple are extremely ornate. The bull, Lord Shiva's mount, is situated on the other side of the temple, and there is a huge linga inside the temple, which has just been renovated in the last few years.
KRISHNAMANDIR
Continuing to travel deeper into the plaza, the third temple you pass by is the Krishna Temple, which was built by the Malla king, Hidinarahiha, in 1637. The stone temple, which has a large degree of hando Muslim influence, is clearly Indian in style and very different from the multiple-roofed, brick and timber construction of the nearby Newari buildings. The first and second floors of the temple consist of three rows of miniature pavilions topped by Indian-style spires. The sound of melodious music often emanates from the upper floors. Krishna is an incarnation of Vishnu, and as such his sitter, the bird Garuda, has his arms crossed over his chest and kneels at the top of the columns that face the temple. The story of the Mahabharata is carved on the measure above the columns on the first floor, while the second floor renders scenes from the Ramayana. These beautifully carved cornices are accompanied by explanatory texts in Newari to explain the scenes depicted in the motifs. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside. Important festivals are held here every year during the Krishna festival in August/September to celebrate the birth of Krishna.
JAGANNARAYAN TEMPLE
The two-storey Jagannarayan Temple (or CharNarayan Temple) is dedicated to Narayan, an incarnation of Vishnu. It was built in 1565, although some believe it was built in the 17th century, but in any case it is the oldest temple in the square. The temple sits on top of a square brick plinth with two large stone lions, which are surmounted by two guardian figures. The temple's gables are inscribed with clear erotic images.
HARISHANKAR TEMPLE
This three-tiered temple is dedicated to HariShankar, who is half Vishnu apprehended and half Shiva.The gable pillars of the temple are carved with images of cursed souls being subjected to agonizing tortures, which provide an interesting contrast to the erotic motifs found in the Jaganarayan temple. The temple was built by the daughter of King YoganarenderMalla between 1704 and 1705.
TALEJU MAJOR GODDESS
A diagonally opposite to the temple of Goddess Taleju is a large bell suspended between two sturdy pillars. This bell was hung here by King VishnuMalla in 1736. Prior to that, there was a large bell here, built in 1703, which was later moved to the Red Makkan Drona Temple. People who had been wronged could ring the bell and ask the king to redress their grievances. The platform below the bell is filled with stalls and behind it there is a lotus-like pond with a small bridge over it. KRISHNATEMPLE
This beautiful octagonal temple is also known as Chyasim Deval.The steps leading up to the temple face the Sundari courtyard of the palace and are guarded by two stone lion statues. Built in 1723, this temple, like the Krishna temple, has a completely different shape from the common Newari stupa-style temples.
BHAIDEGA TEMPLE
Behind the Krishna temple is the BhaiDega temple, or Biseshvar, which is not very tall but looks sturdy. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Though there is nothing unique about the exterior of the temple, it is said to have an extremely elaborate linga inside the temple, which is unforgettable to see. A few steps back from the Durbar Square you will see another stone temple in the Indian style. This is the UmaMaheshwarTemple, which was apparently modeled after the Krishna temple.
The Royal Palace
The eastern part of Durbar Square is completely occupied by the Patan Palace. Some of the buildings of the palace were built in the 14th century, but the main buildings were built in the 17th and 18th centuries by the camera of the kings Hidnarashikha Malla, Srinivasa Malla and Vishnu Apprehended Malla. Patan Palace was built before Kathmandu Palace and Bhaktapur Palace. The palace has experienced two catastrophes, one in 1768 when Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the Kathmandu Valley and the other in 1934 when a massive earthquake hit the city. Despite the devastation, it remains an architectural highlight in the valley. The palace consists of a series of interconnected courtyards and three temples dedicated to Goddess Taleju, the main deity of the valley.KESHAVNARAYAN COURTYARD
The courtyard on the northern side of the palace can be accessed through the GoldenGate or SunDhoka. This courtyard was completed in 1734 and is the newest part of the palace. Entering the courtyard through an ornate gilded door, the golden triangular wall is carved with statues of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Lord Elephant and Goddess Kumari. Directly above the triangular wall is a golden window where the king received public worship. The benches next to the golden gate are a favorite of Patan retirees.
PATANMUSEUM
This part of the royal palace around the KeshavNarayan courtyard (the King of Malla's bedchamber) has been restored to look opulent and glowing. It houses the best museum in the South Asian subcontinent (Rs 250; 10:30am-5:30pm). During the restoration process people have added some modern elements to this ancient building to achieve a perfect blend of old and new. Cast and gilded solid brass pieces are the main feature of the Patan Museum, and the vast majority of these artifacts are idols from Hinduism and Buddhism. Pavilion H at the back of the museum, near the restaurant, houses a wonderful collection of photographs from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The illustrated museum library (RS1000) provides a fascinating introduction to both Buddhist and Hindu iconography as well as religion and art in Nepal. A visit to the Patan Museum will take at least an hour, but of course two hours is more appropriate, and a break in the superb museum restaurant is necessary before leaving the museum and heading for other attractions. The restaurant is at the back of the courtyard, which during the Malla dynasty was the venue for performances of dance and theater. The museum also has a store (selling beautiful museum posters) and multiple restrooms. Photography is allowed inside the museum.
MUL Courtyard
This central courtyard is the largest and oldest of the three main courtyards (squares) of the palace. Unfortunately it is not usually open to the public, but you may be able to enter the courtyard if you tip the manager. At the entrance to the courtyard are two stone lions, built by King Hidinarashikha Malla and destroyed in a fire in 1662, which were reshaped by King Srinivasa Malla in 1665-1666. A gilded Bidya temple stands in the center of the courtyard. The palace's three Taleju temples surround the courtyard.The entrance to the Taleju temple (or TalejuBhawani) is on the south side of the courtyard and is flanked by Ganga, the Ganges goddess with a tortoise on her feet, and Jamuna, a crocodile-riding goddess. The five-storied Degutalle temple is located in the northeast corner of the courtyard and it is topped by a three-storied octagonal tower. The triple-roofed temple of Goddess Taleju is slightly larger than the first two temples, and it is located directly north of the courtyard overlooking the Durbar Square. The temple was built by King Hidinarahiha Malla in 1640 and was successively rebuilt after a fire and a major earthquake in 1934. Goddess Taleju has been the royal goddess of the Malla dynasty since the 14th century and religious ceremonies dedicated to her are held here.
SUNDARI COURT
South of the Mul Court is the slightly smaller Sundari Court, with its sunken tank known as the TushaHiti, beautifully carved with floral motifs.Behind the Sundari Court are the Royal Gardens and the KamalPokhai Tank, which are also closed to the public. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) paved this area with stone slabs, giving it a new look and turning it into a park. The main part of Durbar Square, leading to the Sundari courtyard, has been closed and is guarded by the idols of the Monkey God and Vishnu, a half-man, half-lion. The gilded windows above the gate are flanked by ivory reliefs.
GOLDEN TEMPLE (KWABAHAL)
The Golden Temple, also known as HiranyaVarna or SuwarnaMa-havihara, is a unique Buddhist temple (admission Rs25, dawn to dusk) located just north of Durbar Square. Legend has it that the temple was built in the 12th century, but records of its existence date back only to 1409 at the earliest. The two stone lions guarding the entrance are ornate and kitschy, and seeing them ni would never have guessed that the interiors of the Golden Temple would actually be so brilliant and spectacular. The courtyard is fenced off on three sides of the aisle, with two stone statues on either side of the gate. Slippers and all leather goods must be removed before entering the courtyard. Several sacred tortoises roam the courtyard - they are the guardians of the temple. The abbot of the temple is a boy of 12 years of age who serves the temple for 30 days before passing the job on to another boy. This huge rectangular building has a triple roof and a solid copper gilded veneer on the front. Inside the main temple is a beautiful statue of Lord Shakyamuni (no photos allowed). On the far right of the courtyard is the statue of Vajrasattva, clad in a splendid gold and silver cloak. In the center of the courtyard is a small, ornately decorated temple with a splendid bell-shaped dome rising from a golden roof. The oldest part of the temple contains a small stupa. In the corners of the courtyard there is an idol of Lokeshvara, in addition to four monkeys holding offerings of wooden pineapples. On the south side of the courtyard there is a mural decorated in the Chinese-Tibetan style. Finally as you leave the temple, look upwards at the Kalachakra mandala carved into the ceiling.
KUMBESHWARTEMPLE
The Kumbeshwar Temple is located just north of Durbar Square, and it is one of the few temples in the valley with a five-fold roof. The temple stands out from the surrounding streets and is said to have been built in 1392, making it the oldest temple in Patan. This Shiva temple is known for its perfect proportions and exquisite wood carvings, with a huge statue of Nandi the bull facing the temple. There are two ponds on the terrace of the temple and the draught water is said to originate directly from the holy lake Gosainkund.It is said that the ritual of bathing once a year in the ponds of the Kambeshwar temple has the same effect as the long pilgrimage to Gosainkund. The important BhairabTemple is located behind a black-painted parapet in the southeast part of the courtyard. The temple contains a life-size wooden idol. Next door is the more prosperous single-storey Baglamukhi (Parvati) temple. On the west side of the Kambeshwar temple courtyard is the huge KontiHiti tank, a popular meeting place for local women. To the north is the KumbeshwarTechnicalSchool. UMAMAHESHWARTEMPLE
The journey from Kumbeshwar Temple to Durbar Square passes by the unobtrusive Ummamaheshwar Temple, a small, two-storey, roofed temple located on the western side of the Patan trekking trail. Inside the temple is a very fine black stone bas-relief depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the pose of the rejoicing Buddha, with Shiva seated cross-legged and Parvati leaning on his arms. There is a temple of the same name next to the Golden Temple, which has a similar statue.
South of Durbar Square are the attractions, which are spread out in the backstreets and alleys of the Haugal district.
BISHWAKARMA TEMPLE
Walking south from Durbar Square, there are several brassware stores and workshops along the way. There is a small temple on your right (west) side, followed by an alleyway leading west. A short distance from this lane is the brick Bishwakarma, a temple with solid brass reliefs inlaid all over its surface. This temple is dedicated to the god of carpenters and craftsmen, and as if to confirm this, the clanking of hammers forging metal is often heard from the workshop next to the temple. MINANATHTEMPLE
Continuing south is a two-story temple that some believe is a small replica of the Red Makkun Drona Temple. During the Red Mai Qun Drona festival, a small chariot carrying the idol of Lord Minana is paraded around the city (note the large group of people towing the chariot). This quiet temple was built during the Lichchhavi period (3rd to 9th centuries) and has been restored several times in recent years, with very colorful multi-armed statues of goddesses on the gables. In front of the temple there is a large pond.
RATOMACHHENDRANATHTEMPLE
Red Maiqun Drona Temple is located on the south side of Durbar Square, west of the road. The god of rain and abundance, Ratomachandranath Temple has various incarnations. For Buddhists, he is the Tantric Bodhisattva of the present day, while for Hindus, he is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The three-tiered temple stands in the middle of a huge courtyard and was built in 1673, but it is likely that another temple existed here as early as 1408. Each of the four carved gates has a pair of lion statue handles. The corners of the temple's square base are carved with strange kyah designs (demons that resemble snowmen). The north side of the temple faces several freestanding pillars topped with a variety of animals (including peacocks, horses, bulls, lions, elephants, and snakes). Each of the pillars supporting the roof has a statue of a present-day Bodhisattva, and below them are images of people suffering in hell.
MAHABOUDDHATEMPLE
The Dajue Temple (also known as the Temple of a Thousand Buddhas) is completely hidden in a courtyard. It appears very short compared to the other buildings. The roof of this Indian-style temple is covered with terracotta-colored tiles, each of which is carved with an image of Buddha, hence the name Thousand Buddha Temple. It was modeled after the MahabouddhaTemple in Bodhgaya, India, where the Buddha attained his rightful fruition. The Mahabouddha Temple was probably built in 1583, but was severely damaged in the great earthquake of 1934 and was later pushed to be rebuilt. Unfortunately, there was a lack of planning for the reconstruction, so the later Dajok Monastery was a complete wreck, and much of the remaining masonry was in turn used to build an Indian-style shrine to MayaDevi, the mother of the Buddha, which is located in the southwest of the square. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the Temple of Great Joy to the southeast of Durbar Square. The temple is signposted to an alleyway filled with stores selling Buddhist statues. These stores have rooftop terraces at the back of courtyards and stand overlooking the majestic Dajok Monastery.
UKUBAHAL TEMPLE
This Buddhist temple is located right next to the Dajue Temple and is one of the most famous temples in Patan. The main courtyard is laid out in a very fragmented manner and is filled with thunder and lightning symbols, large bells and a variety of statues, including peacocks, elephants, garudas, upright goats, prostrate devotees and a general of the Rana family who appears to be an emperor. The lion statues are so oddly shaped that they are fixed to pillars lifting all the way to their front paws in salute, looking like they should have been there to guard the Queen Victoria statue instead of the Nepalese temple. If you enter the main courtyard from the north, you will see many beautifully carved wooden beams. They are said to be one of the oldest beams in the valley, originally they were at the back of the temple and when rebuilt they were moved to their current, more secure position. The temple we see today was probably rebuilt in the 19th century. At the back of the temple is a small stupa in the style of a monkey temple.
HAKABAHAL, WEST OF DUBA SQUARE
Take the road west from the southernmost point of Duba Square, past CafedePatan, and you'll soon reach the HakaBahal, a rectangular building with an interior courtyard. According to traditional custom, the living goddess of Patan is supposed to come from among the daughters of the many priests of this monastery.
Zoo
Nepal's only zoo is located in the southwestern part of Patan, just behind Jawlakhel. The zoo is home to many exotic Nepalese wildlife, including rhinos, Bengal tigers, clouded leopards, pandas, and crocodiles. In some ways, however, it's more of a miserable animal prison, and now the park has taken steps to improve the animals' conditions. The hippos and sloth bears are always waiting with their mouths open for passers-by to throw them food, ignoring the "no animal feeding" signs, and the 60-centimeter pine trees are particularly cute and always a source of excitement for some. The zoo is enjoyed by enthusiastic naturalists, students and children alike. To get to Patan from Kathmandu, you can ride a bicycle, take a cab, public ****car or motorcycle. The bike ride from Thamel to Durbar Square in Patan is very strenuous all the way uphill. Cab fare is about Rsl30.
Electric motorcycles (Safatempo, Rs7, route 14A) leave from near the main post office in Kathmandu's Sundhara district, and depart when full. Be sure to double-check your destination before boarding, as some buses go to MangaIBazar/Durbar Square and some go to Lagankhel bus station. On the return trip, a few motorcycle branches only go to Koteshwar and do not continue to Kathmandu city center.
Local buses run frequently between Kathmandu City Bus Station (Ratna parking lot) and Patan Gate (Rs 7). Buses and faster minibuses depart from Patan's chaotic Lagankhel bus station to the southern cities of the Kathmandu Valley, including GodaVari, Bugamati and Shambhajayang, at full capacity. There is an interesting route back to Kathmandu from Patan: continue northeast from the North Tower along the interesting sankhamul riverside steps, cross the footbridge over the Bagmati River, and come to the large convention center off the Anicor Highway, from which you can take a cab or ride a bicycle back to Thamel. The vast majority of Patan's restaurants are clustered around the Durbar Plaza, oriented toward the short-haul tour groups. Prices are slightly higher, but not outrageous, and all have excellent views during your visit.CafédePatan, a small restaurant just a stone's throw from the southwest corner of Durbar Square, has been popular for a long time. The restaurant has a pleasant courtyard and a rooftop garden (with a dining table on each roof!) . The restaurant serves pizza and Newari dishes.TalejuTeataurant&Bar is located on the five-story terrace hill of the benefit building, just at the southernmost point of the square, and the view from here into the distance is extremely spectacular. Especially on a clear day, the snow-covered GaneshHimal mountain can be seen. This restaurant has some of the most reasonably priced and delicious meals in the Plaza area. The "100% drinkable" organic Ukrainian wines are hard to resist.MuseumCafé Behind the Patan Museum, this stylish outdoor restaurant is run by the Vertex Hotel. Prices are a little higher than other restaurants, but it's worth it to dine in the gorgeous gardens. The organic salads in the restaurant are sourced from this garden. You don't need a museum ticket to dine at the restaurant.
Café de Temple, on the northern edge of the square, serves tapas and set menus. The rooftop has a very nice view, which is far more rewarding than the meal itself. You may want to try the Tibetan herbal Yarchagumpa tea (Rs50), which is served here.OldHouseCafé is similar to the Temple restaurant, but a little cheaper. This old Newari house is located in the northeast corner of the square.ThirdWorldRestaurant is located in the quiet western part of the square, with a rooftop overlooking the Krishna temple.BakeryCafé is located in Jawlakhel, next to the zoo. You can stop by for a refreshing Americano (strong coffee without hot water), a pistachio-milk mix or a snack. The staff here is deaf and the quality of service is excellent.
DhokaimaCafé This cozy restaurant near the Patan gate has a beautiful garden and a bar under a leafy peanut tree. It's a great place to stop by for a little snack after strolling through the back alleys of Patan, or for a nice brunch. The restaurant is part of YalaMayaKendra, a Rana-era warehouse used for temporary cultural events.LaSoonThis relaxed garden restaurant-cum-bar is located in an out-of-the-way alleyway, which is occupied every day at lunchtime by NGO workers. The food is to international tastes, with good pizzas, burrata rolls and peanut soup.NewYorkPizza has 25-inch pizzas, which, according to the owner, are the largest of the world's mass-produced pizzas. A 12-inch pizza is about Rs 340 and delivery is free within Patan. The Vertex Hotel hosts a special barbecue picnic every Friday night when you'll be in for a treat. There's also a market specializing in organic produce on Sundays from 10am to 1:30pm. CafédePatan is close to Durbar Square. Its biggest attraction is the pleasant restaurant below the hostel and the extremely convenient transportation. The best rooms in the hostel are bright, clean and very spacious, but the view is only from the roof. Only two rooms come with private bathrooms.MahabuddhaGuestHouse is southeast of Durbar Square, near the Mahabuddha Temple. This simple guesthouse is in a great location, away from the hustle and bustle. Rooms have bathrooms but are dimly lit, so try to get an upstairs room, preferably near the roof. The single rooms are much smaller than the double rooms. Laundry and breakfast at the hostel is very good value.
PeaceGuestHouse is next to the Mahabuddha Temple and is also very quiet and well run with a variety of rooms. The bathrooms are not in the best of condition, but the west side of the dining lovelies have a view, and a couple of rooms have balconies.MountainViewGuestHouse is located in a small alley off the main road between Jawlakhel and Durbar Square. It's not in great condition, with tiny rooms, a staff of stuffy teenagers, and next to a noisy motorcycle repair store, but the rates here are cheap. The rooms in the back end up. Mid-range and upscale hostels
Some of these hostels allow credit card checkouts.
AlohaInn This old-fashioned inn is warm and hospitable. The rooms are clean and quiet, but ordinary and not cheap. The deluxe rooms are US$5 more expensive than the regular rooms, but with a desk and refrigerator, they are good value for money. This hostel is located in the Jawlakhel area, which is a bit of a walk to the old town.HotelClarion is located on the main street, close to the AlohaInn.He has nine comfortable, clean rooms and a pleasant garden, but it's close to the noisy road, so try to get a room at the back. The hostel's restaurant is good, and you can sip cocktails in the pleasant garden.
Guests staying at SummitHotel know this guesthouse well. It is a stylish hostel run by the Dutch. Long popular, this place is by no means inferior to the hostels in Kathmandu. The lushly planted gardens with carved beams and courtyard walls covered with red tiles add to the relaxed, romantic atmosphere of the guesthouse. The swimming pool is open to visitors in the summer and the open fireplace is cozy and welcoming in the winter. The unique garden-view rooms are small, but all have funky bathrooms and lovely lounge areas and are great value for money. Guests clamor for the Himalayan View rooms around the corner, which have great views, even across the river to Kathmandu. Try not to go for the cheaper rooms.HotelGreenwichVillage is located at the top of Kopundol Hill, near the Vertex Guesthouse, and the surrounding area is very quiet, but of a lower class (and cheap). The guesthouse rooms are a bit dated, but there is a lovely terrace next to the pool, plus the restaurant here is very good. The guesthouse offers money exchange and airport pickup.ShersthaHouseThe ShersthaHouse, restored over the years with the support of UNESCO, will be open to the public in the near future, when it becomes a boutique guesthouse. MokshBar, across from LaSoon, hosts some of the city's best jazz, country and folk music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
BananaCatCafé is a Japanese-run bar with an artsy feel. There's Ayurvedic Japanese tea and creamy afternoon snacks. The bar also has a garden and a rosary hotel, which is very popular with the local foreign women who live there.
Moon Festival at Kambeshwar Temple: During the annual JanaiPurnimafestival in July or August, thousands of pilgrims rush to the Kambeshwar Temple to pay homage to the gold and silver linga that towers over the pond. It is a dramatic scene: people performing bathing rituals are immersed in the pool, members of the Brahmin and Kshatriya castes change the sacred threads they wear on their left arms, and Jhankri (faith healers) wearing colorful headdresses and skirts beat drums and dance around the temple. The whole scene was colorful and lively.
Red Mechen Chola: The idol in the Red Mechen Chola temple looks like a roughly carved piece of red-painted wood, but Red Mechen Chola is Kathmandu's biggest festival, when it is paraded around the city. As the rainy season is approaching, it is believed that the Red Makwan Drona has great power over the rain, and praying for rain is the main theme of the festival. The festival in Patan, like the one in Kathmandu, involves a daily chariot parade around the streets of the old city, but here the procession lasts a whole month, with the idol being loaded onto the chariot in Phulchowki and finally dismantled at the end of the procession in Jawlakhel. Most of the journey of the main chariot is done in the company of a small chariot carrying the idol of Minana, the companion of the Red Makkan Drona. This idol is enshrined in the adjacent temple of Minana.BhotoJatra, or the display of the sacred vest, is a major highlight of the festival. There was a justice about the ownership of the vest, so the jewel-encrusted vest was entrusted to the Red Magun Drona. The vest would be displayed three times so that the owner could have the opportunity to claim it - which in fact no one would. The king will attend the ceremony, which is also a national holiday in Nepal. When the parade reaches its final stop at Jawlakhel, the Red Magunjona idol will not return to the Red Magunjona Temple in Patan, but will be transported on a palanquin to its second home, six kilometers south in the village of Bugamati, where it will be enshrined for the remaining six months. Because of the sheer size of the main chariot and the long parade route, the Nepalese Army is often called upon to help pull the chariot.