Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square is the ideal location to experience four separate pre-ruling dynasties’ atmospheres. The Ranas, the Mallas, the Lichhavis, and the Shahs. All of these regimes’ imprints can be seen scattered throughout the area.

Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city, was once one of many small kingdoms scattered throughout today’s united Nepal. And it has a vast history to tell.

The Durbar Square, on the other hand, satisfies that requirement by providing imaginative history, a collection of arts and architecture, contributions and sacrifices of many individuals, unsolved mysteries, legends, and a variety of happenings.

The Kathmandu Durbar Square, also known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar (Palace) and Basantapur Durbar Square, is thought to date back to the lichhavi period. The construction preferences were stated as such.

However, other texts claim that Gunakama Dev erected the city in its current form in 723 A.D. During the reign of King Ratna Malla, son of King Yakshya Malla, it became an independent kingdom.

It was the Malla monarchs’ main home palace until the Shahs invaded in 1769, and the Shah rulers lived there until 1896 when they moved to the Narayan Hiti Palace.

The King Tribhuvan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum are both housed in an ostensibly complex palace in Kathmandu. Aside from them, the Durbar area contains a number of temples, courtyards, quadrangles, monuments, and palaces.

The following are some of the places in Kathmandu Durbar Square that you should not miss.

  • A visit to Akash Bhairab Temple. However, it is only possible if you manage to go there during Indra Jatra because the image of Akash Bhairab is displayed outside the temple for a week only during Indra Jatra.
  • The Taleju temple was built by king Mahindra Malla in 1549 A.D.
  • The gigantic idol of Kal Bhairab, the god of destruction.
  • Basantapur Durbar or Nautalle (nine-storeyed) Durbar was built by king Prithvi Narayan Shah
  • Coronation platform, locally known as Nasal Chowk (a courtyard named after Nasadyo, the god of dances)
  • The hall of public audience (Gaddi Baithak) was made during the Rana regime (Ranas were not throned as kings but yes, they controlled the entire kingdom just by being the Prime minister)
  • The statue of King Pratap Malla, Narasimha and Hanuman
  • The big drums
  • The Jagannath Temple with erotic carvings
  • Numismatic museums and Tribhuvan museums inside the palace, where photography is prohibited. The museums remain closed on Tuesdays and on government holidays.
  • Temple of Panchamukhi Hanuman.
  • Kumari Ghar

Note that because it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you must pay to enter. Or, you could simply book one of the Kathmandu valley tours.