Patan, Nepal

Patan, before called Lalitpur has been founded in the third century B.C. by the Kirat dynasty and later expanded by Licchavis in the sixth century.

We didn't get much information on that city, close to Kathmandu, just separated by the river. We walked from Thamel, the touristic area in Kathmandu down to the doors of Patan. While crossing the bridge, we noticed people looking at something in the dirty water. We paid a bit more attention, and looking through all the garbage which was floating on the surface, we could see a dead body, hanging there, black of dirt and swallen by the water... Not really a happy starting of the day, and actually quiet creepy I would say...

After being quiet disturbed with this bad reality, we kept walking toward the city. Then the atmosphere started to get more quiet, less cars and honkings, everything feels more enjoyable. The architecture of the houses, the temples and everything surrounding us let us think a bit of Bhaktapur with the colours and the style of Kathmandu.

We also of course had to go towards Durban Square, the most famous place in Patan which was absolutely amazing. So many towers and carving and details everywhere, we enjoyed walking around and a coffee on one of the many quiet roof terraces around the square. But then we suddenly had to rush back home because of a crazy thunderstorm which exploded just above us suddenly!

 

Bhaktapur, Nepal

Bhaktapur is an ancient royal city in the Kathmandu Valley and the 3rd biggest city of it. Founded in the XII century by the King Ananda Deva Malla, it was once the capital of Nepal until the second half of the XV century.
Bhaktapur is listed as a world heritage by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone artwork. Walking in Bhaktapur was fascinating, wherever we would look at, there was something amazing to see: the temples carving, patchworks everywhere, kids playing in the street... Absolutely wonderfull!
There was something surreal about Bhaktapur, about the atmosphere we were in. It feels like we are in the middle of a theatre scene, lost in the set. We wouldn't have been surprised seeing a machinist changing everything all of a sudden!