Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square (Hanuman Dhoka Durbar) is the historic seat of the kings who ruled the city. The square is an open-air museum of pagoda and shikhara temples, public squares, and palace courtyards (chowks) built largely between the 15th and 18th centuries. It remains a living religious and civic space at the heart of the old city.

Although structures here date to the Lichhavi period, the square took its present form under the Malla kings and was expanded by the Shah dynasty after the 1769 unification of Nepal. The palace is named after the Hanuman statue installed by King Pratap Malla in 1672 at the main entrance. The square was heavily affected by the April 2015 Gorkha earthquake, after which several monuments were rebuilt or are under restoration.

The square hosts the Kumari Ghar, residence of the living goddess Kumari, and is the focal point of festivals such as Indra Jatra and the chariot processions. It is a national symbol of Newar craftsmanship and royal history.

The complex showcases classic Newar architecture: multi-tiered pagoda roofs, carved wooden struts (tunala) depicting deities, latticed windows, and brick-and-timber construction. Notable structures include the nine-storey Basantapur tower, the Taleju Temple, Kasthamandap, and the Jagannath Temple.

Current condition: Active heritage site; several monuments restored after the 2015 earthquake, restoration ongoing

Managed by the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square Conservation Program under the Department of Archaeology. Post-earthquake reconstruction follows traditional materials and techniques.