Patan, also known as Lalitpur, is one of the three ancient royal cities of the Kathmandu Valley, sitting just across the Bagmati river from the capital and renowned for having the valley's finest concentration of Newari art and architecture. Patan Durbar Square, the heart of the old city, is packed with intricately carved temples, palace buildings, and the Patan Museum, widely regarded as one of the best-curated museums in South Asia for its collection of traditional bronze and metal statuary.

The city's name, "Lalitpur," translates roughly as "city of beauty," a fitting description given the extraordinary density of temples, courtyards, and traditional Newari houses that fill its old core, many still in everyday use by local communities rather than preserved solely as museum pieces. Patan has long been a centre of traditional craftsmanship, particularly metalwork and thangka painting, skills still practised by artisans in workshops throughout the old city today.

Like much of the Kathmandu Valley, Patan suffered damage during the 2015 earthquake, and restoration efforts have continued in the years since, blending traditional techniques with modern structural reinforcement. For visitors combining a Nepal trek with time in the Kathmandu Valley, Patan offers a rewarding, somewhat less crowded alternative to Kathmandu Durbar Square, with an arguably even richer concentration of Newari artistic and architectural heritage packed into its compact, walkable old city.

Local guides with specific knowledge of this stretch of trail add real value, both for navigation and for the cultural context they can offer along the way.

A gradual, well-paced ascent through this section remains the best defence against altitude-related discomfort further along the route.

Basic but adequate teahouse facilities are typically available, offering a hot meal and a simple bed for trekkers passing through.

Facilities along this stretch of trail remain simple, and trekkers should carry sufficient cash, since cards are not accepted and ATMs do not exist beyond the larger towns.

Mobile signal in the area is patchy at best, and travellers should not rely on constant connectivity once they are this far into the trail network.