It is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

One of its attractions is the medieval royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided.

There are other temples and structures in and around Patan Durbar Square built by the Newa People.

A center of both Hinduism and Buddhism, Patan Durbar Square has 136 "bahals" (courtyards) and 55 major temples.

Although the Malla Kings of Lalitpur are credited with the establishment of the royal square, it is known that the site is an ancient crossroad.

[1] Some chronicles hint that the Thakuri dynasty built a palace and made reforms to the locality, but there is little evidence of this.

Most of the current architecture is from the 1600s, constructed during the reign of King Siddhi Narsingh Malla and his son Srinivasa Sukriti.

[10] A three-storied structure, it was built in the local variety of Shikhara style called Granthakuta.

[13] It is said that one night the King saw Lord Krishna and his consort Srimati Radha standing in front of the royal palace.

The roof supports are decorated with erotic carvings similar to imagery widespread in Shiva temples in India.

[21] The 14th century chronicle of Gopala kings hints that the Taleju temple was built by the Pradhanas before the Mallas.

Besides these courtyards, the complex boasts impressive temples, religious shrines, and historical places, all noted for their exquisite carvings and beautiful display of ancient Newari architecture.

The doorway to the Shrine of Taleju, on the southern side of the courtyard, is confined by the statues of the river goddesses Ganga, on a tortoise, and Jamuna, on a carved makara (mythical crocodile).

The entrance of the chowk is guarded by the stone statues of Hanuman, Ganesh, and Nara Singha, man-lion forms of Vishnu.