Patan

Patan (="city"), the name of two historic cities in India. One of these, known as Anhilwada Patan, was the capital of the last Hindu dynasty of Gujarat, sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni and finally destroyed by the Mahommedans in 1298. Near its ruins, which are not considerable, has sprung up a modern town, in the state of Baroda (pop. 31,402), which contains many Jain temples (with palm-leaf MSS.) and has manufactures of fine cotton and silk textiles. The other Patan, known as Lalita Patan, was the capital of one of the three Newar kingdoms in the valley of Nepal, conquered by the Gurkhas at the end of the 18th century. It is situated close to Katmandu, on the opposite bank of the river Baghmati. The population is estimated at about 30,000, mostly Newars, who are Buddhists; and the buildings consist mainly of old Buddhist shrines and monasteries.