Patan is a city where temples are everywhere, and stupas are ubiquitous. For most tourists, Patan is synonymous with Durbar Square and Hindu temples. Separated from Kathmandu by the Bagmati River, Patan is the second largest city in the valley and is also known as the “City of Beauty (Lalitpur)”. With a long Buddhist history, Patan has stupas at each of the city’s four corners, believed to have been built by the great Buddhist Emperor Ashoka around 250 BC. The most magnificent period of architecture in Patan was during the rule of the Malla kings in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The central palace square of Patan is filled with various temples, far more densely packed than Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Different styles of temples can also be found throughout the city of Patan.