Patan Museum

The Patan Museum is a museum located in Patan, Lalitpur, Nepal.[1] The museum falls under the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.[2] The Patan Museum was inaugurated in 1997 by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.[3] The Patan Museum displays the traditional sacred arts of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. Its home is an old residential court of Patan Durbar, one of the royal palaces of former Malla Kings of the Kathmandu Valley. The royal palace was built in 1734, on the site of a Buddhist monastery.[4] The museum quadrangle is known as Keshav Narayan Chowk.[5]

Indra, a Vedic God in Hinduism. Copper repoussé, gilt with semi-precious stones, 13th-14th century, in the Patan Museum.

The Museum's exhibits cover a long span of Nepal's cultural history and some rare objects are among its treasures. Most of the objects are cast bronzes (mostly sculptures of Hindu and Buddhist deities)[6] and gilt copper repoussé work, traditional crafts for which Patan is famous.[7] The Museum has over 1,100 artifacts, about 200 of which are on permanent exhibition.[8]

Patan Durbar Square was heavily damaged by the earthquake in April 2015.[9]

The entrance fees are 1000 Nepalese rupees for foreign visitors, 250 for SAARC visitors, 30 for Nepali visitors, and 15 for Nepalese students (with identification).[10]

Former International Artists in Residence include Nancy Condon, Jessica Melville-Brown, and Joy Lynn Davis.[11]

The Patan Museum's mission is "the interpretation of Sacred Art, Culture and Iconography of Hinduism and Buddhism  through preservation and exhibition."[12]

The current chairman of the Board of Directors is Mr. Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, from the Ministry of Culture,Tourism and Civil Aviation, Singh Durbar, Kathmandu.[13]