Durbar Square in Kathmandu Nepal

One of the iconic structures in eastern-Himalayan country of Nepal is the Durbar Square. It is located in the heart of the old city of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. It derives its name from the word ‘durbar’ which translates to ‘king’s court’ and rightly so called because this was the very place that the Malla and Shah King coronations would take place. The construction of these squares dates back to the 3^rd century. The square was still the site for important royal events like the coronation of King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah (1975) and King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah (2001). Most parts of the squares still standing today date back to the 17^th century as a lot of damage was done during the great 1934 earthquake. The recent 2015 earthquake only added more damage to even the restored structures. The Hanuman Dhoka was the most affected site. Reconstruction is still on in certain areas. It was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979 and still attracts a whole gamut of tourists every year.

Durbar square has palace complexes along with courtyards and temples. In fact the whole Durbar Square is absolutely packed with temples. It is remarkable for its spectaluar legacy of traditional architecture. It’s therefore dubbed as the architectural center in Nepal, with a far greater concentration of temples per sq. meter than in Kathmandu or Bhaktapur. It is made up of three connected square complexes. One called the Basantapur Square and the other two both Durbar Squares. Hanuman Dhoka, in the old Durbar Square, is the most visited as it was the Royal residence till the early 19^th century. It contains several temples and towers and even after much damage, is still a marvelous sight. The palace is decorated with elaborately-carved wooden windows and panels and houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum.