The Patan Museum displays the traditional sacred art of Nepal in an illustrations architectural setting. Its home is an old residential court of Patan Durbar, one of the royal palaces of the former Malla Kings of the Kathmandu Valley. Its gilded door and window face one of the most beautiful squares in the world.

The residential palace compound of Keshav Narayan Chowk which housees the museum dates from 1734, displacing a Buddhist monastery that is still remembered in an annual public rite on the palace doorstep. But both monastery and palace rest on far older foundations that may go back to the Licchavi Period (ca. 3rd to 9th century).

Altered over time to suit other purposes, and partly fallen into decay, the building has undergone a thorough restoration for more than a decade through the joint efforts to His Majesty's Government of Nepal and the Austrian Government. Some parts are new, others were reconstructed to their origina; appearence, and interiors were adapted to the needs of a museum with appropriate modern facilities added. The museum was fanally established and opened in 1997.

The museum's exhibits cover a long span of Nepal's cultural history and some rare objects are among its treasures. Their meaning and contract and context within the living traditoins of Hinduism and Buddhism are explained. Most if the objects are cast bronzes nad gilt copper respousse work, traditional crafts for which Patan is famous. For highlights of the Museum's collection, please visit the Collection Highlights page.