Patan has more than a hundred bahals and bahils, the courtyards of Newar Buddhist monasteries. Most were founded as monasteries centuries ago and later filled with the families of their hereditary priests, the Shakyas and Bajracharyas, who still live around the central shrine. From the street, the entrance is often just a low doorway between shops. Step through and you find a paved square with a chaitya, prayer wheels, children playing and someone drying clothes on a balcony carved two hundred years ago.
The walk begins at Kwa Bahal, the Golden Temple, a few minutes north of Durbar Square. Its gilded three-roof shrine, monkey and elephant figures and the turtles that wander the courtyard make it the most elaborate bahal in Patan, and a boy under 12 serves as its priest for a month at a time. From there we continue to Kumbheshwar, the five-roof Shiva pagoda first built in 1392, before crossing back south past the square to Uku Bahal, with its metal lions, griffins and elephants. Remove shoes and leather before the inner shrines.
The last stop is Mahabouddha, the temple of a thousand Buddhas, built of terracotta tiles each moulded with a Buddha image and squeezed into a courtyard so tight that the best view is from a rooftop next door. On the way, metal workshops let you watch artisans chasing fine detail into newly cast bronze. The route covers about 2.5 km of mostly flat lanes and ends near Durbar Square. Small entry fees or donations apply at some temples; check current status before you travel.
Good for
- Photographers
- Solo
- Couples
- Seniors
- Pilgrims
Questions travellers ask
What is a bahal in Patan?
A bahal is the courtyard of a Newar Buddhist monastery, built around a central shrine. Most were founded as monasteries and are now home to families descended from their priests, who still perform daily worship. Patan has more than a hundred of them, from the gilded Golden Temple to quiet residential squares with a single stupa.
Can non-Buddhists visit the Golden Temple in Patan?
Yes. Visitors of any faith are welcome in the Golden Temple courtyard after paying a small entry fee. Take off your shoes and leave leather belts and bags at the door, walk clockwise, and do not touch the shrine or the boy priest. Photography is generally allowed in the courtyard, but ask before photographing people at worship.
Can I buy a bronze statue in Patan?
Yes. Patan is Nepal's main centre for bronze casting, and many workshops sell straight from the bench. Prices depend on size, detail and finish, and fire-gilded statues cost several times more than plain ones. Ask for a receipt, and get a clearance certificate for antique-looking pieces, because objects over 100 years old cannot legally leave Nepal; check current status before you travel.
