Patan - Narayan Mandir

Narayan Mandir, a two-storied pagoda on a low platform, stands directly across the square from Manikeshar Chowk; thus the oldest surviving temple in Durbar Square faces the oldest section of the palace. The shrine, commissioned by Purandarashima in 1566, was modeled on the Jagannath Mandir in Kathmandu, constructed three years earlier. Purandarashima's temple was built as a memorial to his father Vishnushima. The carvings on the portal and roof struts are some of the most exquisite in the Valley. Several exceptional pieces of sculpture can be seen near by.