Patan an independent and mighty kingdom of the Kathmandu is merely 5 km away from the capital , Kathmandu, but, despite such proximity, its 'preserved' ancestral uniqueness distinguishes Patan as a different environment to experience in a short travel. Patan is a melting pot of two influential religions, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Patan is also known as Lalitpur, "City of Beauty", and its unique Durbar Squares, temples, alleys, cuisine, hospitality and religious tolerance justify the pre-historic status of the city. The pious Krishna (Hindu) temple, which rests in the middle of the town; into the very own town, whose entire city's architecture was dedicated to the philosophy of the Buddhist Dharma-Chakra (Wheel of Righteousness) molds Patan, to this date, as a glorious city of culture, religion, art, and heritage. Patan is a city of 55 major temples, 136 Buddhist monasteries, fine metal works, and countless festivals. Patan takes pride in producing great Thanka painters in the country.