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Bahal is a type of courtyard found amongst Newar communities in Nepal. It is the most dominant type of courtyard in Newari Architecture. Bahal is a Buddhist Monastery and derives its name from a Sanskrit word Bihara, meaning joy or enchantment and thus is a place of religious bliss. The entrance to the shrine is marked by two small stone lions and the cella itself is situated so that one can circumbulate it. The bahals are generally constructed by a family and their descendants reside in it for generations. Hence, it is not just a unit of residence but also a unit of kinship. It was designed as a place for training, teaching, preaching epics and to give shelter and food to visiting monks.
The Guthis of Newars have their basis on Bahals. So, they play an enormous role in maintaining the norms of Newari society and lifestyle. Until quite recent times this was a well preserved, Bahi structure with a continuous two storeyed building running right round the quadrangle with open rooms on the ground floor and wooden screens facing the upper verenda. By all accounts this is an ancient foundation, but there are no early inscription or references to this Bahi. There are several number of Bahals spread all over the corner of the Patan.

Kwa Bahal(Golden temple)

Located in north Patan the Golden temple (Hiranyavarna Mahavihara) is perhaps the second most popular attraction here after Patan Durbar Square. The temple was built in 1409 and is in fact a Newari Buddhist monastery and locally known Kwa Bahal. The nickname "golden temple" came about through tourism more than it actually being made of pure gold. Most of the temple is actually polished brass.
The temple gets its name from the gilded metal plates that cover most of its frontage and it is one of the most beautiful in Patan. Outside of winter, look for the tortoises pottering around the compound – these are the temple guardians.The temple itself is a magnificent example of courtyard temple architecture. Two elephant statues guard the doorway and the facade is covered by a host of gleaming Buddhist figures.

Uku Bahal(Rudravarna Mahavira)

South of the Mahabouddha Temple, this ancient Buddhist monastery is one of the best known in Patan,known as Uku Bahal(Rudravarna Mahavira). The main courtyard is jam-packed with statuary and metalwork – dorje (thunderbolt symbols), bells, peacocks, elephants, Garudas, rampant goats, kneeling devotees, a regal-looking statue of a Rana general and, rather incongruously, a pair of Victorian-style British lions that look like they could have been lifted straight from London’s Trafalgar Sq.
Uku Bahal was first constructed between 590-604 by King Shivadev in Patan, Nepal.It has been renovated several times over with the outer gates being built as recently as 1680. The real beauty of Uku Bahal is its incredible collection of artifacts in the main courtyard. Highlights include brass bells, peacocks, dorjes, a statue of a former prime minister, a pair of rather British looking stone lions and a pair of very ornate Garudas.