Taleju Bell In Hari Shankar Temple At South Entrance Of Patan Durbar Square Editorial Photo

The large bell hanging between two thick pillars was cast by King Vishnu Malla and his wife Rani Chandra Lakshmi in 1736. It was the first of the great bells to be installed in all three of the Valley's Durbar Squares. It was rung during worship at the temples and could also be used to sound an alarm. Some accounts assert that petitioners could ring it to alert the king to their grievances. Behind it is a lotus-shaped pool with a bridge over it. Patan Durbar Square is situated at the centre of Lalitpur city. It is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of its attraction is The Ancient Royal Palace where Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided. The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newa architecture. The Square floor is tiled with red bricks. There are many temples and idols in the area. The main temples are aligned opposite of the western face of the palace. The entrance of the temples faces east, towards the palace. There is also a bell situated in the alignment beside the main temples. The Square also holds old Newari residential houses. There are various other temples and structures in and around Patan Durbar Square build by the Newa People. Lalitpur is believed to have been founded in the third century BC by the Kirat dynasty and later expanded by Licchavis in the sixth century. It was further expanded by the Mallas during the medieval period.