Travel Notes from Patan, Durbar Square, Nepal

9:00:00 AM Pinoy Boy Journals 0 Comments

It was a beautiful, breezy and sunny morning at Swarga Heritage Hotel, and it’s my second to the last day in Nepal. I feel a bit sad that the trip is coming to an end but i also feel hopeful because i want to continue what i’ve started before and that is to come back to Nepal next January and every January of the succeeding years. Almost a year is more than enough time to prepare myself going there. More on this on a separate blog. As i finish my House Set breakfast and nth Masala Tea small pot of the trip, i decided to come visit Patan Durbar Square for ‘ol times sake. In my previous blogs, i mentioned that Patan is actually my favorite of the 3 durbar squares. I find that Patan Durbar Square so charming, relaxed and underrated but filled with many hidden gems. It’s so idyllic. Also, i read in my travel notes 10 years ago, Patan is a good alternative place to base yourself in Kathmandu. Should you feel bored, it’s proximity to Kathmandu is easy not too far, and a good starting point to trips outside the Kathmandu Valley.

I purposely asked the In Drive driver to drop me off a kilometer away from Patan. I remembered before how rewarding it was to start from here snaking your way to the durbar square. This is the best route one could take. One that is not shared in guidebooks because you just get dropped of the entrance and you skirt your way around which in hindsight doesn’t make any sense.

True enough, Patan feels more relaxed when not rushed. More people are outside minding their own business and not minding you at all. What a treat. There were heaps of sellers displaying their brassware, a hit among shoppers in Patan. I wished i could have visited Jawalakhel but i could go there next time so I’m not worried. Somehow, the air is also different here. It’s less polluted and dare i say, cleaner. It’s compact and that’s what i love the most about. You can walk from one end to the other in about an hour’s time and not sweat nor touted.

I passed by the hotel where i stayed before in Patan. And the memories of a couple having sex in the early morning made me laugh. I found it very amusing. The location is very central, and although i could remember how the room was very small and maybe not earthquake proof, i wouldn’t mind staying there again just to keep memories alive.

I don’t know if it’s fatigue or i’m just plain lazy but as soon as i arrived, all i want to do was sit and just people watch. And so i did just that for about an hour. Can you imagine? I still took photos of people, the temples, family, clouds, pigeons, etc. It’s still the same, except maybe of the ongoing construction to some places because of the earthquake. That’s how vast the effect of the earthquake was. It’s more than 10 years, and Patan has not fully healed from it. It has not 100% recovered from it.

It was a Saturday when i went. And in Nepal, this is Sunday from the western world. Sundays are like Mondays, everyone goes back to work or school. There were so many young kids doing the same thing as i was — sitting and people watching. Oh, they’re also chatting which i am obviously not doing. Reminder to learn Nepali. I have about until January next year to prepare myself for this.

I promise to finally visit Jawalakhel next time and score a carpet. I love buying stuff for the home and there’s many trinkets of Nepal in my home now — Tibetan chest drawers, candle holders, incense sticks and brass holder, Hindu signages among others. I wouldn’t mind adding more.

Since the weather has been pretty good and the Himalayas are showing up a bit more now (although not as snowy), i made a detour somewhere near before going back to Kathmandu. And it’s probably one of the most beautiful places i’ve ever been to.