Place · Patan Durbar Square
Golden Temple, Patan (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar)हिरण्यवर्ण महाविहार
A gilded Buddhist monastery with a narrow courtyard, a 5-minute walk from Patan Durbar Square: 20 minutes, quiet, and best in the morning.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 20–30 min
- p95 45 min
- Price
- About NPR 50–100
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Best time
- 06:00
- desk crowd estimate
- 28″ bags
- No
- Patan Durbar Square: forbidden
- Getting there
- A short walk north of Patan Durbar Square
- Gilded monastery
- Courtyard
- Newar Buddhism
- Shoes off inside
- Works with kids
- Hard in a wheelchair
- Mostly indoors
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with …
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Nepal ↗Get visa information only from the Department of Immigration; visa-service lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Nepal ↗At stupas walk clockwise; at temples and homes remove shoes where there is a rack or a raised floor; cover shoulders and knees.
- Nepal ↗Carry Nepalese rupees in small notes: many stalls, taxis and tea shops are cash-only, and shops rarely take foreign notes.
- Nepal ↗Strikes (bandh) and protests can close roads without notice: check the news and your hotel the night before any airport or highway day.
- Kathmandu Valley ↗In the dry season (Nov–Apr) the valley fills with haze and dust: viewpoints often show nothing after 09:00, so go at dawn or skip.
- Kathmandu ↗Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with motorbikes: taxis stop at the edge, so large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Kathmandu ↗Dust and smoke haze is worst around Feb–Apr and can linger in winter: carry a mask rated for fine particles on walking days and move long walks to the clearest morning.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 06:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: About NPR 50–100 (2026 estimate)
- Time to spend
- 20–30 min · up to 45 min if you linger
Know before you go
- Take off shoes and leather.
- Watch for the resident monks and pilgrims.
- The gilded roof and courtyard are the highlights.
- A short stop; combine with the square.
Best time of day
Plan 20–30 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends and public holidays
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
15min
Worthwhile
20min
Typical
30min
p95
45min
Opening days and hours not printed until verified.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- A small entry fee for foreigners (about NPR 50–100, check).
- Dress code
- Modest; shoulders and knees covered.
- Bags & lockers
- Small bags only.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None.
- Photos
- Allowed in the courtyard; not in the inner shrine.
- What's closed
- Ritual timescheckSome areas close during ceremonies; check.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner entry | About NPR 50–100 (2026 estimate) | Check the price at the gate. |
Inside, in order
Entrance and ticket
3 minPay at the gate and remove shoes.
Courtyard
10 minGilded facade, prayer wheels and shrines.
Inner shrine and exit
7 minNo photos in the inner shrine.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- A short walk north of Patan Durbar Square
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- unknown
- Shoes
- Shoes off at the entrance.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Quiet early; small groups mid-morning.
- Sensory load
- 2/5
- Exposure
- low
Bailouts
crowd
Patan side lanes
heat
Cafés nearby
Nearest rescue anchor: A — north-west of the cluster: café or restaurant with seating (field-verify)
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: no · no
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: no · no
- Wheelchair: no · no
- Stroller: no · nopoor
A narrow entrance and steps into the courtyard.
Step-free route
- 1Not accessible: narrow entrance and steps.
Combine with
- 5 minPatan Durbar Square
- 6 minNewari khaja, Patan · eat
Walk the Patan Durbar Square area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Gilded facade | Morning light | Do not photograph the inner shrine. |
Red lines
- Remove shoes and leather at the entrance if asked.
- Do not photograph inside the inner shrine.
- Walk clockwise around the courtyard.
More on the groundFacilities · Who it suits · Skip it if · With kids
With kids
- with kids
- Small and quiet; watch for holy areas.
- child price
- check
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | no | None; use cafés. |
| Lockers or cloakroom | no | None. |
| Café or food | no | Cafés in Patan nearby. |
| Seating | limited | A bench in the courtyard. |
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Culture travellers | good | A living Newar Buddhist monastery. |
| Photographers | good | Gilded details and carved metal. |
Skip it if
- You have little time and steps are hard.
- It is closed for a ritual.
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
How long do I need?
About 20–30 minutes.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it worth the fee?
Yes for the gilding and the quiet courtyard.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I take photos?
In the courtyard, yes; not in the inner shrine.
Is it active?
Yes; monks and pilgrims use it daily.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage