Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square Conservation Program

Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Rashmila Prajapati, Program Manager

Brochure

World Heritage Site Monument Zone
Most of the cultural centres of Nepal are concetrated around the Kathmandu valley and among those cultural sites, the important one is the Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square. Located at the heart of ancient city Kathmandu, it is a complex of beautiful temples and shrines, both Hind and Buddhist. Most of them are built in the pagoda style embellished with intricately carved exteriors, bilt between 12th and 18th centuries. Until the early 20th century the Durbar Square was the King's residence. The Durbar Square, with its old temples and palaces, epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here that kings of Nepal are crwoned and their coronations solemnized.
The name Hanuman-dhoka Durbar came from the statue of Hanuman established by King Pratap Malla at the entrane of he royal palace in 1672 A.D. But after the erection of nine-storied temple residence by King Prthvi Narayan Shah in 1771, it began to be called Basantapur Durbar. the complex is also known as Kathmandu Durbar Square. The palace was orignally founded during the Lichhavi period, but as it stands today most of it was constructed by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century. The palace was renovated many times in later years. The architectural remans and art objects within the alace complex now existing are from Malla, Shah and Rana periods of Nepal.
The Durbar Square area is actually made up of two sub-areas. The outer complex is renowned for numerous interesting temples as Kumari Ghar, Kasthamandap, Shiv-Parabat Temple, Jagannath Temple, Big Bell etc., while the inner complex comprises the old palacee area, Hanuman-dhoka and its courtyards as Nasal Chowk, Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, Lohan Chowk, Mohan Chowk and others. There are many temples in the nner complex, most notable beeing the Taleju Temple dedicated to female royal deity. The area includes ten courtyards these days, but prior the great earthquake of 1934, the area was expanded upto New Road Gate including thirty five courtyards.
The Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace is included in the Proteted Monument Zone along with other private buildings. This site had been listed in the Worl Heritage Site of UNESCO along with other six monument zones of the Kathmandu Valley in October 1979.
Besides the magnificent temples and shrines, other intersting things are various festivals, cultures and traditions people are following from centuries, which are dding life to Durbar Square. The major festival includes Indrajatra, Dashain, Gaaijatra, Machchhindra-nath jatra etc. These are the occasion people from all over the city gather here to mark their centuries old tradition. All the carvings and architecture in this area are exceptionally fine wich makes the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square among the most important sights for travellers to see.

The mystical charm of the durbar Square allures the visitores to sped hours wondering around the area. Among the dozens of temples, some of the must se sites are:
IMG SRC="dsq-05-400-268.jpg" width=400 height=269 border=4 align="right" alt="Durbar Square">

Mahendreswor Temple [1]
This temple dates back 1561, during Mahendra Malla's reign. This temple lies at the extreme northern of the Durbar square and is dedicated to Shiva. Inside there is a linga, a small image of shiva's bull nandi fronts the temple. This is one of the famous temple of the valley.
Taleju Temple [5]
Built in 1564 by King Mahendra Malla, this is the royal deity for Malla kings. The temple stands over 36.6 metres high, resting on a twelve stage plinth. Its three roofs soar above the rest of the Hanuman Dhoka complex, and until very recent times, it was considered very inauspicious to build a house higher than this temple. At the eighth stage of the plinth, the step broadens out into a platform with twelve miniaure temples. This ultra-sacrosanct temple is opened only once a year during Dashain for the people.

Chasin Dega (Krishna Mandir) [8]
The temple of Bansagopal (which means Krishna in the act of playing the flute) was built in 1649 by Pratapa Malla in memory of his two dead queens. It is architecturally interesting because of its octagonal plan.
Basantapur Durbar [37]
Basantapur Durbar also called Nau-talle Durbar was built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1771. This dominant nine-storey Basantapur Durbar (Kathmandu Tower) was built along with three other towers named after three other ancient city of the valley the Kirtipur tower, the Bhaktapur tower and the Lalitpur tower.
Taga Gan (Big Bell) [11]
This great bell is supported by two stone pillars and has a tiled rof. King Rana Bahadur Shah and his queen Raj Rajeswari built it in 1797. The bell is rung only when worship is being offered in Degutaleju.
Kal-Bhairab [13]
This huge stone image of Bhairab represents Shiva in his destructive manifestation. It is undated, bt was set in its present location by Pratap Malla after it was found in a field north of the city. This is hte most famous Bhairab and it was used by the government as a place for people to swear the truth.
Hanuman Statue [18]
The kneelign figure of Hanuman, the Hindu God who is always depicted in the form of a monkey sits on a tall stone pedestal. It ws consecrated by Pratap Malla in 1672 AD. To the right of this image is the golden main door of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, guarded by a pair of stone lions.
Jagannath Temple [14]
This temple is the oldest structure of the square and is noted for the erotic carvings on its roof struts. The temple dates back to 1563 durng the rule of Mahendra malla. The temple has a three-tired platform and two storeys.
Degu-taleju Temple [24]
This temple forms part of the old palace complex dominating the view of Palace Square. The enshrined deity is a mystic goddess of Tantric origin and was a family divinity of the malla Kings. The temple is built over the second storey and has a retricted access only from the palace.
Shiva-Parbati Temple [21]
This little uncommon shrine is built on a three step brick platform. The two wooden figures, Maadev and parbati, looking from the open central window on the first floor. Constructed during the reign of King Rana Bahadur Shah.
Maju dega [26]
Built in late seventeenth century this temple is one of the most impressive of the storeyed styled. Its nine step brick base gives it the size which dominates the skyline of the square. The wooden doorways, pilars, windows,and struts are all beautifully carved. There are images of Hindu deities both inside and outside the shrine.
Ashok Binayak [28]
Locally called Maru Ganesh, is one of the four most important Ganesh shrine of the valley. It is worshiped both by Hindus and Buddhist. The construction date of this temple is not recorded, but its gilded roof was added in the 19th century. The unique feture of this shrine is it has no finial.
Kasthamandap [30]
Known locally as Maru Sattal,, thishuge open temple was believed to be built by a single tree. This three-otryed building has an open ground floor, nderlining its original purpose as a public building. The central image in Kastha Mandap is of Gorakhnath and at each of the four corners is an image of Ganesh. Constructed in 12th century. Renovated many times and recently.
Silyan Sata [34]
This large house is located south of Kasthamandap.According to legend it was built with the wod left over from the construction of Kasthamandap. This three-storey building enhouses a small temple of Harikrishna used primarily for singing bhajans. Renovated in 1934.
Dhansa [35]
Also called Kabindrapur is built by Pratap Malla in 1673 to start a new masked dance of Narasinha, and incarnation of Bishnu. This multi-storey building serves as shrine as well as guthi house and enhouses a number of seventeen century Hindu sculptures. Renovated at 1934.
Trilokyamohan Narayan [32]
It is built in 1680 by Parthibendra Malla with five-stage plinth and has three roofs. The roof struts are carved with different images, while the temple as a whole is dedicated to Vishnu. There is a large kneeling image of Garud in the western ide. The temple is connected with the Indrajatra festival, during which large crowd come to see the ten incarnations of Bishu, which are enacted on its pedestal.
Kumari-ghar [36]
Built in 1757 by King Jaya Prakash Malla, Kumari Chowk is the home of the "Kumari" or living goddess who is considered to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. The Kumari Chowk is a three-storeyed quadrangle lavishly decorated with fine woodcarving. It is the third sotrey of the building tht is especially attractive with its fine bay windows, in which the Kumari appears from time to time in the company of her guardian priestess to see and be seen by her admirers.
Gaddi Baithak [33]
The eastern side of the palce is closed off by this white neoclassical building. this imported European style builing was built as a part of the palace by Chandra shamsher in 1907 AD during the reign of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah.

For heritage conservation and tourism development, Kathmandu Metropolitan city (KMC) has adopted following strategy:

To contribute to the conservation of Kathmandu's built & living heritages
to make tourism an incentiv for conservation and maximize tourist stay
Adhering to these strategy, KMC has been able to launch a number of successful activities in these yars. KMC is committed to make Kathmandu a truly unique World Heritage City. For a more effective and sustainable conservation activities, KMC has decided to take tourist service charge or visitors coming to World Heritage Site Monument Zone. The revenue generated from the service charge will be utilised for the conservation, restoratin and preservation of the monuments of the area. [ BtK Home ]