Lalitpur, Nepal

Lalitpur Metropolitan City(Nepali:ललितपुर महानगरपालिका,Lālitapura Mahānagarapālikā), also known asPatan(Sanskrit:पाटन,Pāṭana),Yala(Newar:𑐫𑐮), andManigal,is a metropolitan city and fourthmost populous cityofNepalwith 299,843 inhabitants living in 49,044 households per the2021 census.It is located in the south-central part ofKathmandu Valley, a large valley in the highplateausin central Nepal, at an altitude of 1,400 metres (4,600 feet).
It is best known for its richcultural heritage, particularly its tradition of arts and crafts. It has a multi-ethnic population with aHinduandBuddhistmajority. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu. Tourism is an important part of the city's economy and it is renowned for its festivals and feasts, ancient art, and the making of metallic, wood and stone statues. Lalitpur is also home toPatan Durbar Square, which has been listed byUNESCOas aWorld Heritage Site.
One of the most used and typicalNewarnames of Lalitpur isYala.It is said that KingYalamberor Yellung Hang named this city after himself, and ever since this ancient city was known as Yala. There are many legends about its name. The most popular one is the legend of the godRato Machhindranath(also known as Bunga Dyah), who was brought to the valley from Kamaru Kamachhya, located inAssam,India, by a group of three people representing the three kingdoms centered in theKathmandu Valley. One of them was called Lalit, a farmer who carried god Rato Machhindranath to the valley all the way fromAssam,India. The purpose of bringing the god Rato Machhindranath to the valley was to overcome the worst drought there. There was a strong belief that the god Rato Machhindranath would bring rain in the valley. It was due to Lalit's effort that the god Rato Machhindranath was settled in Lalitpur. Many believe that the name of the town is kept after his nameLalitandpurmeaning township.
In May, a chariot festival honoring the deity known asBunga Dyah Jatrais held in Patan. It is the longest and one of the most important religious celebrations in Patan. During the month-long festival, an idol of Rato Machhendanath is placed on a tall chariot and pulled through the city streets in stages.
Lalitpur is believed to have been founded in 249 BC by theEmperor Ashoka.It was further expanded by theMallasduring the medieval period.
Later Lalitpur is said to have been re-established by King Veer Deva in 299 AD, but there is unanimity among scholars that Patan was a well established and developed town since ancient times. Several historical records including many other legends indicate that Patan is the oldest of all the cities of Kathmandu Valley. According to a very oldKiratchronicle, Patan was founded by Kirat rulers long before the Licchavi rulers came into the political scene inKathmandu Valley. According to that chronicle, the earliest known capital of Kirat rulers was Thankot.Kathmandu, the present capital was most possibly removed from Thankot to Patan after the Kirati KingYalambercame into power sometimes around second century AD.
The Licchavi era was followed by theMalla era. Rulers fromTirhut, upon being attacked by theDelhi Sultanate, fled north to the Kathmandu valley. They intermarried with Nepali royalty, and this led to the Malla era. The early years of the Malla era were turbulent, with raids and attacks fromKhasandTurk Muslims. There was also a devastating earthquake which claimed the lives of a third of Kathmandu's population, including the kingAbhaya Malla. These disasters led to the destruction of most of the architecture of the Licchavi era (such as Mangriha andKailashkut Bhawan), and the loss of literature collected in various monasteries within the city. Despite the initial hardships, Kathmandu rose to prominence again and, during most of the Malla era, dominated the trade between India and Tibet. Nepali currency became the standard currency in trans-Himalayan trade.
During the later part of the Malla era, Kathmandu Valley comprised four fortified cities: Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Kirtipur. These served as the capitals of the Malla confederation of Nepal. These states competed with each other in the arts, architecture, esthetics, and trade, resulting in tremendous development. The kings of this period directly influenced or involved themselves in the construction of public buildings, squares, and temples, as well as the development of waterspouts, the institutionalisation of trusts (calledguthis), the codification of laws, the writing of dramas, and the performance of plays in city squares. Evidence of an influx of ideas from India, Tibet, China, Persia, and Europe among other places can be found in a stone inscription from the time of kingPratap Malla. Books have been found from this era that describe theirtantrictradition (e.g. Tantrakhyan), medicine (e.g. Haramekhala), religion (e.g. Mooldevshashidev), law, morals, and history. Amarkosh, a Sanskrit-Nepal Bhasa dictionary from 1381 AD, was also found. Architecturally notable buildings from this era includeKathmandu Durbar Square,Patan Durbar Square,Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the former durbar ofKirtipur,Nyatapola,Kumbheshwar, the Krishna temple, and others.
In 1768, Lalitpur was annexed to theGorkha KingdombyPrithvi Narayan Shahwithout any battle.
Lalitpur is on the elevated tract of land inKathmandu Valleyon the south side of theBagmati River, which separates it from the city of Kathmandu on the northern and western side. The Karmanasa Khola acts as the boundary on the eastern side. It was developed on relatively thin layers of deposited clay and gravel in the central part of a dried ancient lake known as theNagdaha. The city has an area of 15.43 square kilometres and is divided into 29municipalwards.
Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. TheKöppen Climate Classificationsubtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).
The city was initially designed in the shape of theBuddhistDharma-Chakra (Wheel of Righteousness). The fourthursor mounds on the perimeter of Patan are ascribed around, one at each corner of its cardinal points, which are popularly known as Asoka Stupas. Legend has it that EmperorAsoka(the legendary King ofIndia) visited with his daughter Charumati toKathmanduin 250 BC and erected five Asoka Stupas, four in the surrounding and one at the middle of the Patan. The size and shape of these stupas seem to breathe their antiquity in a real sense. There are more than 1,200Buddhistmonuments of various shapes and sizes scattered in and around the city.
The most important monument of the city isPatan Durbar Square, which has been listed byUNESCOas one of seven Monument Zones that make up theKathmandu ValleyWorld Heritage Site. The seven monument zones were included in theWorld Heritage Listin 1979 as one integrated site. The monument zones are declared as protected and preserved according to the Monuments Preservation Act of 1956. The Square was heavily damaged on25 April 2015 by an earthquake.
Lalitpur was planned in Vihars and Bahils. Out of 295 Vihars and Bahils of the valley 56% of them are in Patan. The water conduits,stone spouts,jaladroni(water tanks), artistic gate ways, Hindu temples and Buddhist Vihars adorn the city.
As of the 2011 census,Nepaliis the most common mother tongue in Lalitpur with 44.9% of the population speaking it as their mother tongue.Newaris spoken by 35.2% while the other languages spoken in the city includeTamang(6.2%),Maithili(3.4%),Magar(1.7%),Bhojpuri(1.4%) andRai(1.3%) as their first language. English is also spoken by many, especially as a non-primary language.
The largest group is the nativeNewars, whose various sub-groups combine to make up 39.6% of the population. The second largest ethnic group isChhetri, who account for 15.9% of the population whileBahunsalso known as Hill-Brahmin or Khas Brahmin, represent 11.9% of the population.  Other groups in Kathmandu include the Janajatis, comprising theTamang(8.3%),Magar(3.5%),Rai(3.5%) andGurung(1.5%). NepaleseMuslimsrepresent 0.7% of the population.More recently, otherMadeshigroups fromTeraihave come to represent a substantial proportion of the city's population.
In terms of religion, 82.3% wereHindu, 17.2%Buddhist, 0.7%Christian, 1.00%Kirati, 0.8%Muslim, 0.1%Prakritiand 0.2% others.
In terms of literacy, 86.0% could read and write, 1.6% could only read and 12.4% could neither read nor write.
A substantial portion of thepopulationis engaged in trades, notably intraditional handicraftsand small-scalecottage industries, and some residents work inagriculture. Lalitpur has produced the highest number of renowned artists and finest craftsmen ever recorded in the history of Nepali art. Lalitpur has maintained a culture of craftwork even in the face of rapid urbanization and many social and political upheavals.
The city is less urbanized than Kathmandu, north of the Bagmati river, but is home to many workshops, stores, restaurants, hotels, schools, embassies and other important sectors of the Kathmandu Valley economy.Buddha Airhas its headquarters inJawalakhelnear Patan.
Lalitpur is home toPulchowk Engineering Campus, one of the oldest and most reputed colleges affiliated with theInstitute of Engineering,Tribhuvan University.Patan Academy of Health Sciencesis the only medical university in the city with Patan Hospital as its primary teaching hospital, and there is another private medical school - KIST Medical College in Lalitpur.Other institutions of higher learning in Patan includePatan Multiple Campus, Virinchi Collegeand Kathmandu University School of Management (KU SOM).
Lalitpur is home to few best schools and colleges of Nepal are located in Lalitpur. Every year thousands of students from all over Nepal arrive at Kathmandu to get admission in the various schools and colleges. Among all, the largest and reputed schools areIdeal Model School, Ullens School, Rato Bangla School,Premier International IB World School, British School,St. Xavier's School, Nepal Don Bosco School,Little Angels' SchoolandGyanodaya Bal Batika School.
Other schools include the Hindu Vidya Peeth Nepal, St. Mary's, Graded English Medium School, DAV Sushil Kedia, Adarsha Kanya Niketan, Tri-padma Vidyashram, Adarsha Saral Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Sudesha High School, and Nava Suryodaya English Secondary School.
Nepal National Library which was established in 1957 AD was moved to Lalitpur from Singha Durbar in 2061 BS. It is at Harihar Bhawan.Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya, located near Patan Dhoka, is another library, which awards theMadan PuraskarandJagadamba Shree Puraskarliterary prizes is in the city. There are also numbers of libraries around Lalitpur Metropolitan city such as Deepawali Pustakalaya in Satdobato, Buddhibikash Library in Lagankhel, andSanu Ko Pustakalayain Manbhawan.
Lalitpur is renowned as a very artistic city. Most of the Nepalese art is devoted to gods, and there is an abundance oftemplesandviharas. Notable landmarks include:
All international and domestic flights forKathmandu Valleyare handled byTribhuvan International Airportwhich lies about 7 km from Patan City Centre.
Walking is the easiest method of transportation within the city as the core is densely populated. In terms of motor transport,Kathmandu Ring Roadwhich encircles the central part of the valley is a strategic road in the city. Connection toKathmanduover theBagmati Riveris provided by a host of road and pedestrian bridges. The most trafficked and important bridge connecting to the centre of Kathmandu is Thapathali Bridge. Since pedestrians and vehicles often have to share the same road, traffic congestion is a major problem in Patan. Efforts are being made to widen roads to make them more suitable to vehicular traffic.
Private companies operate a number of routes connecting Patan with other places in the valley. Buses, micro-buses and electric tempos are the most common forms of public transport seen in the city. Lalitpur Yatayat buses connects the touristicThamelarea of Kathmandu with buses stopping at Patan Dhoka, a five-minute walk to Patan Durbar Square. Lagankhel Bus Park is the central transport hub.Sajha Yatayatis another major public vehicle service that connects Lalitpur with its neighboring districts. It also operateselectric buses.
Patan Hospitalis a renowned government hospital in Lalitpur which is also the teaching hospital for thePatan Academy of Health Sciences. Patan Mental Hospital is located opposite Patan Hospital in Lagankhel, which is focused on mental illness patients.Nepal MedicitiHospital, Bhaisepati andB&B Hospital, Gwarko are some renowned private hospitals in Lalitpur.Sumeru Hospitalas kidney hospital located atDhapakhel.
Patan has several local FM radio stations present.
Nepal Squash Rackets Association (NSRA)(Satdobato,
International Swimming Complex (Satdobato),
All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) (Satdobato),
Nepal Taekwondo Association (Satdobato,
Satdobato Youth Club (Satdobato,
Khumaltar Youth Club,
Tennis Complex (Satdobato),
Army Physical Training Centre (Lagankhel),
National Sports Centre (Chyasal),
Satdobato Yog Sadhana Kendra (Satdobato),
Bhelpa Bhairav Yog Sadhana Kendra (Satdobato),
Nakipot Yog Sadana Kendra (Nakhipot),
Dholahiti Yog Sadhana Kendra (Dholahiti)
Bhalu Bhairav Gym (Satdobato)
The native language of Patan isNepal Bhasaof Newars. Though due to the migration of other people from other places to Patan, other languages likeNepali,Tamang, etc. are also spoken.