Thursday, November 20, 2008

Patan Museum


PATAN MUSEUM
KESHAV NARAN CHOWK
PATAN DURBAR SQUARE, NEPAL
HOURS: DAILY 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM


Opened to the public in 1997, after 14 years of restoration, the Patan Museum is widely heralded as one of South Asia’s premier art venues. Today, the “Museum Behind the Golden Door” continues to offer visitors a well-articulated look into the cultural and religious heritage of Nepal. If you want to feel like an instant insider, I highly recommend making the Patan Museum one of your first Kathmandu Valley destinations.

Housed in a former royal palace in the heart of the delightful Patan Durbar Square, the museum’s unique architectural plan helps to convey a sense of intimacy not achieved by many larger or more modern galleries. Nepal cultural historian, Mary Slusser, was responsible for choosing 200, out of a possible 1500, objects as the museum’s permanent collection. Newly acquired items augment these remarkable and rare Hindu and Buddhist artifacts—some dating back to the 7th century.
Nine main galleries, each worth exploring in detail, comprise the museum. Of these, one is an introduction to the museum; three are dedicated to Hinduism, and two to Buddhism. The final three galleries display techniques in metallurgy, temporary exhibits, and historical views of Nepal respectively.

Two peaceful, Newar style courtyards are central to the museum’s blueprint. The museum café, locate at the rear of the building, serves continental fair in a subtropical outdoor environment. Tucked away, southeast of the café are the demure yet verdant museum gardens, while the central building is home to the museum gift shop. As the first self-sustaining museum in Nepal, visitors can feel positively about the modest entrance fee, knowing that it is used to support such a wonderful expression of Nepalese history.


CONTACT

ptmuseum@mos.com.np
www.patanmuseum.gov.np
www.asianart.com/patan-museum

RATES
SAARC 75 Npr.
FOREIGNER 250 Npr.
ANNUAL TICKET 1000 Npr.

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