Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square (Hanuman Dhoka royal palace) is an ancient royal palace in the Kathmandu valley three royal palaces. Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites out of Nepal's ten world heritage sites.
Several temples and buildings were damaged during the major earthquake on April 25th, 2015. The Durbar square area has been surrounded by attractive architecture and skillful Newar artists for centuries. Two different dynasties ruled Kathmandu Durbar square, the Malla and Shaha. The palace area has some beautiful courtyards, Pagoda temples, and more.
Highlights of the Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Pagoda temples were made twelve to eighteen centuries
- An ancient royal palace with a museum
- Kashthamandap (which was named the city of Kathmandu)
- Living Goddess Kumari
- Black Bhairava (God of death)
- Beautiful carvings on the windows, doors, and around the temples
- Souvenir shops at the Basantapur Dabali
Some of the buildings were made at an earlier age in the Lichhavi period in the third century. They were in different shapes and changed in the Malla period. Only one king ruled the Kathmandu valley, and it was independent in 1484 and ruled by Ratna Malla until 1520. When Prithvi Narayan Shaha from the Gorkha kingdom invaded the Kathmandu valley in 1769 and used this palace to lead the country, other generations of the Shaha dynasty also ruled from here until 1896, then moved to the Narayan Hiti royal palace.
Ratna Malla had made the Taleju temple (Family goddess of royal people) in 1501 on the northern side of the palace. The Nasal Chok (Main courtyard) is used for the royal function. According to the story, the Kashthamandap was made out of the wood of a single tree in the 12 century, and this building was named Kathmandu.
The museum with the works of the kings and other things is inside the main palace, closed after the earthquake to the public. The living goddess is the Hindus, and Buddhists worship a very young virgin lady (formed of goddess Taleju) is good to see and visit this place. The wooden carvings were mainly developed in the medieval period when the Malla kings ruled are attractive.
The quick visit takes about 2 hrs and can take a whole day. Also, around this place and enjoy the sights of this place.
