Bidish Walking tours are a great way to learn about the places you visit. With the help of a walking tour, you get to learn the history of the place and the cultural nuances, while also meeting new people and enjoying the beautiful sights. I love walking tours, and I make sure to join them when I am traveling in Europe. I always wondered how great it would be to have this kind of walking tour in Nepal. It turns out NextDoor Hostel has beaten me to it and they offer a lot of walking tours in Kathmandu. I had the opportunity to join a free Ancient Patan walking tour with them, and it was a beautiful experience.
About NextDoor Patan Hostel
NextDoor Patan, located in Kupondole, offers dormitories and private rooms to travelers. They describe themselves as “your artsy, quirky, and relaxed hostel next door!”, and I can genuinely say they live up to this description. I had been following their Instagram account for quite some time, and their posts and stories were just as fun and laid-back as I found them to be during my visit. As a fellow traveler, I feel that staying in a hostel like this is every backpacker’s dream.
Ancient Patan Walking Tour
On a Monday morning, I visited NextDoor Patan for the start of my walking tour. As an outgoing introvert that I am, I brushed aside the nervousness for the excitement of doing something new and meeting new people. I was immediately welcomed by the cozy atmosphere of NextDoor Hostel. The guests were seated at the breakfast table enjoying the morning sun and a warm cup of coffee. Everybody was chilling, making jokes, and there were quite a few laughs to loosen the atmosphere.
We began the tour from NextDoor Patan. We walked for about ten minutes to reach Patan Dhoka, where the tour officially started. Sandip was our tour guide. He was soft-spoken and shared interesting stories about the sites we visited.
Now, I cannot precisely share the locations we visited because Sandip took us along some secret alleyways to reach places I am sure I cannot visit now even if I try to. He took us to the inner courtyards, the inner squares, and shared captivating stories of ancient Patan. He shared how the people of Patan lived in a close-knit community in the past, and how they still pay respect to the traditions passed forward by their ancestors. The stories matched every inch of spirituality displayed by the sights that lay in front of us.
After about an hour of walking through the alleys with hunched backs, we took a short break where Sandip treated everyone to a sweet Nepali tea. The chit chat (or shall I say chiya-guff?) was interesting – with a mixture of jokes, personal stories, and past recollections. Passing our sincere compliments to the vendor, we resumed our tour.
The next places we visited were relatively more popular but probably still fall under the hidden gems of Patan. We visited Pimbahal and enjoyed the sights of a beautiful pond (locally known as Jag Madu Pukhu) on one side and a stupa on the other. The Pimbahal pond is also commonly known as a “pond without any base” and is almost 600 years old. You can read more about its history on Ancient Kathmandu, an institution dedicated to uncovering the history of places and sights around Kathmandu Valley.
The next place we visited was Bubahal, which was the most interesting location of the tour for me. According to legend, Bubahal was founded when a Brahmin widow and her son, Yasodhara, settled there to lead a Buddhist life. Realizing that a devout Hindu had built a monastery complex was a fascinating story, especially for the foreign guests on the tour, who seemed to be softened by it.
We continued down more alleyways, exploring some of Patan’s most beautiful courtyards and hearing stories about the lives of its people. Our tour concluded at Patan Dhoka.
My Review of The Patan Walking Tour
I absolutely loved the tour. Although I’ve visited Patan many times before, I had never seen most of the places we explored on this tour. Bubahal, the inner courtyards, and the ancient stories were the highlights for me. I highly recommend joining this Ancient Patan walking tour if you’re considering a visit to Patan.
Tour Details
The tour takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:30 AM and begins at NextDoor Patan. Sandip from Ancient Kathmandu will be your tour guide. He is highly knowledgeable about the ancient Kathmandu Valley, and you will love his interesting stories.
More Tours Offered by NextDoor Patan
In addition to the Ancient Patan Walking Tour, NextDoor Hostel offers several other tours around the Kathmandu Valley. The following is a list of tours offered by the hostel:
Kirtipur Tour – Traditional Town
Boudha Tour – of Monasteries and Mountains
Bagmati River Heritage Walk – Story of a River
Thamel Tour – Thamel Through Time
Bhaktapur Tour – Tales of Bhaktapur
Pashupatinath Temple Tour – Exploring Life and Death in Pashupatinath
Swayambhu Tour – No End, No Beginning
If you are interested in any of the tours mentioned above or want to inquire about other available tours, you can reach NextDoor Hostel on Instagram or contact them at 9801002972 / 9801002973 for more details!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the Patan walking tour free for everyone?
The tour is free for all guests. If you are not staying at the hostel, you can still join the tour. Simply inquire about the arrangements with the hostel staff by contacting them.
Q. Does it cover all the sights of Patan?
This tour is focused on hidden sights and alleys, taking you to places that are less touristy. Therefore, it does not cover popular destinations in Patan, such as Patan Durbar Square, Patan Museum, and more. My advice would be to use this tour as a head start to get a feel for the town, and then visit the main tourist spots to fully appreciate the sights that await.
