Kathmandu Durbar Square was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 AD. It is one of the three Durbar Squares of the Kathmandu Valley. It is also known as Basantapur or Hanuman Dhoka. The palace and temples here showcase the rich Newar architecture, with intricate wooden carvings and pagoda-style rooftops. Located at the heart of the city, it houses important monuments like Hanuman Dhoka, Taleju Temple, Kumari Ghar (home of the Living Goddess), and Kal Bhairav.
The complex was built back in the licchavi period, in the 3rd century, but most of the temples were built in the Malla period in the 12th century. For centuries, the Durbar (palace) was used by the Kings as their royal palace where most of resided and ceremonies were held. Later, when the dynasty started, Prithivi Nayaran Shah built the Nautalle (nine storeys tower) Durbar to celebrate the unification of Nepal. This place is the central hub of culture and religion, a place where one can study the history and architecture in depth. Major festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Indra Jatra are celebrated here.
The prominent structures in the square are –
Hanuman Dhoka
Hanuman (Monkey King) Dhoka was the former palace of the Malla and Shah kings. It gets it name from the statue of Hanuman on the main entrance. The architecture in this building is extremely exquisite, with the woodwork on the windows and doors. It is now a museum of historical artifacts for everyone to see.
Taleju Temple
The Taleju temple is a temple dedicated to the Taleju Bhawani, the goddess who is the royal family’s deity. It is the tallest structure in the Durbar Square. It was built in the 16th century by King Mahendra Malla. The place is only open once a year during Dashain .
Kumari Ghar
This place is the home of the Kumari, the living goddess worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. Legend has it that Kumari is a living form of Goddess Taleju Bhawani. The Kumari will be selected from the Buddhist Shakya clan. People can get a glimpse of Kumari from the windows at specific times.
Kastamandap
The myth is that this temple was built with wood that came from a single tree in the 12th century. Initially, this temple was used as a shelter for the people who came from the countryside to meet the King. Since this shelter was made by a single tree, the name became Kastamandap, and slowly the name changed to Kathmandu, which is the origin name of the Kathmandu Valley. It was destroyed by the earthquake in 2015 but is now completely rebuilt.
Shiva-Parvati Temple
This temple is also called the Navadurga Temple. Built in the 18th century, it is a temple that shows Shiva and Parvati looking outside the window, making it an attractive place for photographers.
Jagannath Temple
This temple is also called Char Narayan temple. It is one of the oldest structures of the complex. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (the protector god of Hindus). It is known for its erotic carving on the roof struts.
Kal Bhairav
Kal Bhairav is considered the fiercest and most powerful manifestation of Lord Shiva. In the complex, you can see the stone carved statue of it. In ancient times, it played a major role in the legal system of the country, where people were made to swear the oath in front of the statue, believing in death if they lied. For this reason, Kal Bhairav is a symbol of justice and truth.
There are other places nearby the Durbar Square that are also worth visiting.
Dharahara
Dharahara is one of the most iconic locations of Kathmandu Valley. It is also called Bhimsen Tower as it was built by Bhimsen Thapa, the prime minister of Nepal in the 19th century. It is a white tower that serves as both a military watchtower and a public viewing platform.
Itumbahar
Itumbahal is one of the oldest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Kathmandu. Itumbaha and Itumbaare are some of the names this bahal (courtyard of a Buddhist monastery) is called by. Its full name in Sanskrit is “Shree Bhaskardeva Samskarit Keshavachandra Krit Paravarta Mahavihara”. This monastery was built in the 11th century, but it is believed that the shrine was built much earlier. This monument encapsulates the centuries of Nepal’s artistic, religious, spiritual, and communal legacy.
Aakash Bhairav
Aakash Bhairav is known as the God of the sky, another manifestation of Lord Shiva, and the spiritual head of the Yalamber King, who was the first king from the Kirat Dynasty. People consider him the protector of the city who grants strength, power, and success to his followers. He symbolizes the destruction of evil and ignorance.
Naradevi
Naradevi temple is dedicated to Naradevi Bhawani, a fierce and protective manifestation of Mother Goddess Durga. Also known as Kali, she is the protector of the city who is deeply respected by both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple is especially sacred to the Newar community, who maintain and worship at the temple regularly.