Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square or Basantapur Durbar Square is a complex of palaces in the heart of Kathmandu, Nepal. It is surrounded by an impressive complex of temples, shrines, and palaces of traditional architecture style. It was built during the Lichcchavi period (4th to 8th centuries) and was significantly extended by various rulers of Kathmandu Valley between the 12th and 18th centuries.

The Kathmandu Durbar Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the architectural marvel with its intricate designs. It’s known as Hanuman Dhoka Square or Basantapur Durbar Square. Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is a true cultural and historical landmark.

The palace in the square used to be the royal palace during the Malla and Shah Dynasty (12th century to 18th century). The royal palace was located in this square until 1877 when it was moved to Narayanhity Palace.

The outer complex is renowned for numerous interesting temples such as Kumari Ghar (House of the Living Goddess), Kasthamandap, Talaju Temple, Shiv-Parbati Temple, Jagannath Temple, Swet Bhairav, Big Bell, etc, while the inner complex comprises the old palace area, Hanuman-dhoka, and its courtyards as Nasal Choke, Mul Choke, Sundari Choke, and other.

Handicraft shops may be found in the courtyards around Gaddi Baithak, where you can see a variety of attractive purchasable handicrafts.

Some of the popular places to visit in Kathmandu Durbar Square are:

Basantapur Durbar: it is known as Nau-Talle Durbar (nine-storied palace) built by Prithvi Narayan Shah soon after conquer in valley in 1770 AD. The Nautalle Durbar is today part of the much larger national museum that includes the Tribhuvan Museum and Birendra Museum.

Taleju Temple: The Taleju Temple, also known as the Taleju Bhawani. It is dating back to the 16th century as one of the finest model in pagoda style and dedicated to the goddess Taleju which is one of the manifestation of Durga.

Kumari Ghar: Kumari Ghar is a temple dedicated to the goddess Kumari, who is believed to be the incarnation of Goddess Taleju. It is a residence for young girls who are considered to be living goddesses.

Kasthamandap: One of the famous temples inside Kathmandu durbar square is Kasthamandap made from the wood of a single sal tree. This temple gave name to Kathmandu valley. This temple was built in the 16 century.

Gaddi Baithak: it was built by Janata Chandrashamsher Rana in 1965 BS. Gaddy’s meeting will be used to welcome foreign guests, issue certificates of office, and hold meetings for the state.

Kal Bhairav: The Kal Bhairav statue is made up of a one piece of the stone from the 17th century. It is the most terrifying avatar of Lord Shiva who controls the Birth and Death of humans. The sculpture of Kaal Bhairav is around 12 feet tall, making it the largest in the world.

Most of the buildings in this square were badly damaged by the earthquake in 2015. A lot of restoration work has been done to bring back the original beauty of these structures.

Frequently Asked Questions