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Weather in Patan
Ancient Newari city of golden courtyards and crafts
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About Patan
This ancient Newari city preserves golden courtyards where artisans practice metalwork, woodcarving, and textile traditions in family workshops occupying medieval buildings. Durbar Square concentrates temples and palaces displaying architectural perfection while living craftspeople maintain cultural continuity. Patan embodies how heritage thrives when inhabited by inheriting communities.
Best months to visit
November
Things to do in Patan
Explore Patan Durbar Square temples and palaces
Watch craftspeople working in traditional workshops
Learn metalwork and woodcarving techniques
Tour artisan guilds and cooperatives
Shop for hand-crafted souvenirs from artisans
Stay with craft families in homestays
Weather by month
Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.
January
16C
Cool, with occasional showers.
February
18C
Mild and comfortable, with occasional showers.
March
21C
Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.
April
24C
Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.
May
25C
Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.
June
26C
Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.
July
26C
Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.
August
26C
Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.
September
25C
Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.
October
23C
Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.
Recommended
November
20C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
December
17C
Cool, and mostly sunny skies.
Patan, just across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, is the valley's most concentrated showcase of Newar craftsmanship — a Durbar Square crammed with ornately carved temples, a working bronze-casting tradition that still supplies statues to monasteries worldwide, and a pace noticeably calmer than the capital it sits beside. The Patan Museum, housed in a restored palace wing, is widely considered the best in Nepal for understanding the valley's religious art.
Best areas to stay in Patan
Patan Durbar Square
The UNESCO-listed royal square, packed with pagoda temples, stone shikhara shrines and the Patan Museum.
Mangal Bazaar
The lively market street leading into the square, good for metalwork, thangka paintings and street food.
Kumbheshwar
A quieter northern district built around a five-tiered temple and its sacred pond, with traditional pottery workshops nearby.
Jawalakhel
A more residential southern area near the zoo, with a Tibetan refugee handicraft centre and carpet workshops.
Getting to Patan
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Flights
Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu — Patan is a short taxi ride from the airport or city centre.
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From London
~11-12 hours from London with one stop.
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Getting around
Walking covers Durbar Square easily; taxis and ride-share apps connect Patan to Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Patan?
October to April brings clear skies and comfortable temperatures; the monsoon (June to September) brings heavy afternoon rain but keeps the courtyards green and quiet.
How do I get from Kathmandu to Patan?
Patan (Lalitpur) is effectively part of Greater Kathmandu — a taxi or ride-share takes 20-30 minutes from Thamel, traffic permitting.
Is the Patan Museum worth the entry fee?
Yes — it's regarded as the finest museum in Nepal, with beautifully presented bronze and stone sculpture inside a restored 17th-century palace courtyard.
What should I eat in Patan?
Newar specialities like yomari (rice-flour dumplings), bara (lentil pancakes) and choila (spiced grilled meat) are easiest to find around the old town's local eateries.
Is Patan safe to walk around after the 2015 earthquake?
Most of Durbar Square's monuments have been carefully restored or rebuilt and are open to visitors, though some smaller shrines remain under scaffolding.
Traveler reviews
★★★★★
Far less crowded than Kathmandu's Durbar Square but arguably more beautiful — the wood carving on the temple struts is extraordinary up close.
Helen R. · November 2024
★★★★★
The museum alone is worth the trip from Kathmandu. Spent an hour just in the courtyard watching the light change on the bronze statues.
Pradeep S. · March 2024
★★★★☆
Wandered into the backstreets and found metalworkers still casting statues by hand the traditional way — a real highlight of our trip.
Anna K. · October 2023
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