Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1979) called Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square after established Hanuman statue in 1672 by King Pratap Malla. The former Royal Palace Square, identified even Basantapur Durbar Square and Katmandu City Center, 2 km south of Thamel (50 minutes walk). The temple and palace complex filled the 7th to 18th centuries Lichchavi to Shah dynasties pagoda, shikhara-style monuments, museums and palace towers with stone sculptures, bronze art and exceptional woodcarving. 

The fascinating Newar community celebrates annual festivals with mask dances, Indra Jatra, Ghode Jatra, Dashain, New Year and Yomari Punhi. This palace square owns approximately 50 exquisite monuments, such as Kasthamandap (7th century), Kumari Temple (1757), Shiva-Parvati Temple (18th century), Big Bell (1797), Taleju Temple (1562), Jagannath Temple (1563), Krishna Temple (1649), Degutalle Temple (1671), Gaddi Baithak (1908). Kathmandu Durbar Square entrance fee is 1000 Rupees for foreigners and 500 Rupees for SAARC nationals. 

Kathmandu Durbar Square is near the famous Asan Bazaar. President, Prime Minister and foreign diplomats visit Basantapur Durbar Square to bless Living Goddess Kumari during the Indra Jatra festival. Kasthamandap was a single-tree wooden pavilion (7th century) that corrupted the name of Kathmandu. Maju Dega (17th century) recognised the hippie temple in 1960. Taleju Bhawani Temple (16th century) is the tallest temple (36 meters high) northeast of the square. Jagannath Temple (16th century) depicts an erotic carving showing medieval sexual education and protection from the Lightning Goddess. Tourists spend an hour in Basantapur Durbar Square. 

Kathmandu Durbar Square preserves the nine-storied Kathmandu (1770), Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur towers. The palace museum exhibits ancient artefacts, such as a Royal throne, an arsenal gallery, a hunting trophy and Shah King's portrait. The Nasal Chowk has a coronation spot, Natraj temple, Five-roof Hanuman temple and Narasingha temple. The Malla King resident has a royal bath with the Kaliya Daman statue (7th century). 

The famous freak street (1960 AD) with the Royal Elephant stable lies on Basantapur Dabali. The Living Goddess Kumari can glimpse in the morning (10 am to 12 pm) and evening (4 pm to 5 pm). The historical Kot Massacre (1846 AD) occurred in Kot Ghar near the North Entrance. Restaurants, souvenir shops and shopping malls are near the complexes. The 1934 and 2015 earthquakes damaged and renovated some monuments.