Patan is Nepal’s third largest city, after Kathmandu and Pokhara. It is known as Lalitpur. Both names are based on the Sanskrit term ‘Lalitpatan’. The city is located just over the Bagmati River from Kathmandu. Patan’s tiny alleys and courtyards are filled with monuments, temples, and palaces. Also, the Patan Museum is a must-see site in the Durbar Square.
Patan was formerly an autonomous and powerful city-state. It has now become a nexus of two well-known religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. A temple devoted to the Hindu Deity Krishna stands in the midst of the same town whose architecture is dedicated to the Buddhist Dharma-Chakra (Wheel of Righteousness) ideology.
It is a traditional handicrafts centre where you can buy traditional jewellery, Buddha figurines, and masks. Another attraction to visit Patan are the stores and restaurants put up by people, who live in the nearby neighbourhoods to cater to tourists from all over the world. Then there are Patan’s fair-trade stores, which sell outstanding products at reasonable rates.
Patan is famous not just for its architectural heritage but also for the various artisan talents that its residents possess. Several individuals make a living from their handicraft expertise, such as wood carving, metal carving, Thangka painting, handcrafted accessories, Nepali carpet weaving, and so on. They produce everything from scratch, using local materials and labour. Thangka paintings are one of the most popular souvenir items in Patan.
Thangka painting is an old Tibetan Buddhist art genre in which Buddhist deities are depicted. Because it is believed the deities will enter the paintings, the deities must be produced in extremely exact proportions, making them beautiful. Thangkas are utilised for a variety of purposes, including merit accumulation, funeral rites, meditation, and Buddhist ceremonies.
It is said that deities can enter Thangkas during prayer, but only if they are a beautiful piece of art. So, only the proportions established by high Lamas, frequently arising from their visions, are deemed adequate.
Several stores in the Patan area make, exhibit, and sell Thangkas. The majority of them are created by the artists working in their shops themselves. The paintings are stunning and would make an excellent souvenir from Nepal. Thangka gifts are on the pricey side of presents, but they are worth it. Prices vary depending on the size and quality of the Thangka.
Few Thangka Stores in Patan are:
1. Classic Tibetan Thangka Store – Swotha, Patan
Contact no. 9841208549
2. Thangka Art Gallery – Patan Durbar Square, Mangal Bazar
Contact no. 9851084900
3. Tibetan Thangka Centre – Patan, Lalitpur
Contact no. 015525713
4. Pure Land Thangka Centre Pvt. Ltd. – Patan, Lalitpur
Contact no. 015525866
Compiled By: Rebika Boshokarma
Photos By: Wikipedia
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