Patan - Manikeshar Chowk

Although Manikeshar Chowk is considered the original nucleus of the present palace, no clue exists as to its date of origin. Formerly modest in size, the court as seen today was probably built after the 1663 fire. Since 1977 the Patan Museum has been housed here and much valuable Newari art is on show. It is one of the loveliest of all Asian museums. Note in particular the rich ornamentation on the central axis of the façade. Flanked by a pair of lions the portal is capped with a gilded bronze torana tilted forward, above which is a triple window over a low balustrade, the center section forming a lion throne beneath a baldachin-like stone arch. The carved panel which replaces the middle window shows Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, amid intertwined snakes. The removable panel enabled the king of Patan to appear in the opening in place of the Bodhisattva.