Patan Museum
Patan Museum
4.5
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
About
It takes all three floors of the meticulously restored royal palace to cover thirteen centuries of Nepal’s religious art history; easily Nepal’s leading museum.
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  • Peter M
    Melbourne, Australia1,293 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Patan Museum
    This is in the Royal Palace Complex in Lalitpur and the entrance fee is 1000 rupees. It is a World Heritage Site. The Patan Museum was inaugurated in 1997 by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written November 7, 2023
  • singhasam
    Weymouth, United Kingdom4,023 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fascinating exhibits.
    THIS museum in the Royal Palace complex really is a pleasure to walk round. There is so much to explore from Hindu and Buddhist art to intricately carved woodwork and fabulous bronzes. The level of workmanship is incredible. The many displays of wood struts were stunning and the information boards explaining what visitors were looking at were very well done. So helpful. What made it slightly eerie for me was the fact that for large parts of my stroll round the many different sections of this museum I was completely on my own. Sound came in from outside but I scarcely saw a single person inside. Well worth a visit because of the quality displays.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written November 25, 2023
  • Sana
    22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must See Museum, for What's Inside and Around the Exhibits
    Highlight of my trip to Kathmandu (or I suppose, Lalitpur!). So much history and life to see inside and around the museum. While some of the exhibits feel duplicative, others are original and so informative! It was a fun and surprisingly delightful maze. At times, I thought the museum was over only to turn a corner or enter a doorway and see a whole new section or pathway. It took me 4 hours total to navigate the experience.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written March 14, 2024
  • selvakumar2015
    Chennai (Madras), India1,037 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A quiet museum in the heart of Patan.
    The brain child of the slain king of Nepal King Birendra and funded by the Danish government, the sprawling museum located in the heart of Patan exhibits various artifacts and paintings of almost 500 years history of Newar, the present day Nepal. One needs a full day to appreciate the various exhibits of the museum. One needs to be fully loaded with refreshments and drinking water to visit the museum as the Restaurant at the museum seems to a permanent work-in-progress. Recommended for those interested in the history of Newar.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written April 9, 2024
  • John B
    76 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Kathmandu excursion
    A very interesting cultural experience. Patan itself is a bustling city, an easy cab ride from central Kathmandu. It's Durbar Square is camera worthy and not crowded. The museum is the highlight, as it has an extensive collection of Hindu sculptures, as well as a fascinating explanation of how the metal work is accomplished. If one has several days in Kathmandu I would recommend adding it to your itinerary.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written September 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles544 reviews
Excellent
329
Very good
172
Average
38
Poor
4
Terrible
1

Kai Wah
Malaysia3,773 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
The entrance fee of NPR1,000 to Patan Durbar Square is inclusive of the Patan Museum. The museum is not huge, but there are good collections such as Hindu and Buddhist Lords, with narration of the religious history in the country, particularly in Patan. Toilet facility available and there is a cafe within the compound of the museum. Good to visit the museum first before going around visiting the architecture at the Durbar Square. There are tour guides around who provides good explanations about the history, culture and architecture at a cost of NPR1,000.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TBSMKS
Northbrook, IL3,329 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Couples
This former palace has amazing displays of architecture and statues. You can see the Kong’s private bathtub which is surrounded by mini statues (I’ve never seen anything like it before) in a large courtyard. The arched doorways and windows display beautiful Hand carved Nepalese woodwork. You will see many gilded statues. The museum will take one to two hours to go through. It is well maintained and well worth the visit. Everywhere you turn there is something new to see!
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ggm
Honolulu, HI1,479 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Severely damaged in the April 2015 earthquake, the restoration since has been phenomenal; much of the original doors, windows, wood carvings and brick work have been put back into place, only replaced by very high quality new work when necessary. This was the palace of the Malla kings of Patan, originally built in 1734 AD by displacing Ha Bāhā, though it has been rebuilt several times since (it was leveled in the massive 1934 AD earthquake, for example). The collection continues to expand, too, as (sadly) other historic structures of Patan are rebuilt without preserving their centuries-old carvings but at least letting the museum display them. There are occasional dances and musical events in the courtyard, and the impressively re-established annual Tantric-inspired Kartik Naach is performed in the fall outside the museum.
Guide not necessary but many people apparently miss the second, separate entrance and even fewer visit the pond behind the palace.
Written July 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hredeyendra
Kohalpur, Nepal6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
When you are around in Patan, Lalitpur in Nepal, I recommend not to miss out to visit the Patan Durbar Square and the most infamous Patan Museum located in the heart of Patan district. It gives you an insight about how the city developed over time. The palce is very clean and kept up to date. I highly recommend visiting Patan Museum at Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur, Nepal.
Written February 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peter M
Melbourne, Australia1,293 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
This is in the Royal Palace Complex in Lalitpur and the entrance fee is 1000 rupees. It is a World Heritage Site. The Patan Museum was inaugurated in 1997 by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah
Written November 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

selvakumar2015
Chennai (Madras), India1,037 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
The brain child of the slain king of Nepal King Birendra and funded by the Danish government, the sprawling museum located in the heart of Patan exhibits various artifacts and paintings of almost 500 years history of Newar, the present day Nepal.

One needs a full day to appreciate the various exhibits of the museum.

One needs to be fully loaded with refreshments and drinking water to visit the museum as the Restaurant at the museum seems to a permanent work-in-progress.

Recommended for those interested in the history of Newar.
Written April 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John B
Santa Cruz La Laguna, Solola, Guatemala76 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
A very interesting cultural experience. Patan itself is a bustling city, an easy cab ride from central Kathmandu. It's Durbar Square is camera worthy and not crowded. The museum is the highlight, as it has an extensive collection of Hindu sculptures, as well as a fascinating explanation of how the metal work is accomplished. If one has several days in Kathmandu I would recommend adding it to your itinerary.
Written September 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hilary H
Cheshire, UK58 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Couples
Much repair going on to the pavement area, be wary of that but a very pleasant exploration inside the Palace and museum.
We learned a lot more about Buddhism, the fabulous wood carving and production of gilt icons/ linga that is a Patan speciality .
Peaceful inner squares.
A good 2 and a half hours spent here and many cafes with good high views of the whole square.
Written November 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

singhasam
Weymouth, UK4,023 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
THIS museum in the Royal Palace complex really is a pleasure to walk round.
There is so much to explore from Hindu and Buddhist art to intricately carved woodwork and fabulous bronzes. The level of workmanship is incredible.
The many displays of wood struts were stunning and the information boards explaining what visitors were looking at were very well done. So helpful.
What made it slightly eerie for me was the fact that for large parts of my stroll round the many different sections of this museum I was completely on my own. Sound came in from outside but I scarcely saw a single person inside.
Well worth a visit because of the quality displays.
Written November 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sana
22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Solo
Highlight of my trip to Kathmandu (or I suppose, Lalitpur!). So much history and life to see inside and around the museum. While some of the exhibits feel duplicative, others are original and so informative! It was a fun and surprisingly delightful maze. At times, I thought the museum was over only to turn a corner or enter a doorway and see a whole new section or pathway. It took me 4 hours total to navigate the experience.
Written March 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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PATAN MUSEUM - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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