Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is a historic royal palace square situated in the heart of old Kathmandu, which served as the seat of the Malla and Shah kings. The square is an amazing amalgam packed with over 50 temples, palaces, courtyards, and intricately carved wooden and stone structures . The area dates to the 4th century, although most of the buildings in the square date to the 12th–18th centuries.
The square houses numerous temples and other historic structures, with Hindu and Buddhist influences. The place is a living museum and a center for local festivals and spiritual rituals. Durbar Square has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1979).
This photo above shows Nasal Chowk, the courtyard within the Hanuman Dhoka Palace complex. The prominent tower with circular roofs on the right is the Panch Mukhi Hanuman Temple, which is off-limits to the public.
The finely honed features of many buildings in the square are quite remarkable, as you can see from the wooden carvings in this photo:
This photo below depicts the Kumari Ghar (or Kumari Bahal), the historic palace and residence of the living goddess known as the Kumari, which is also located in Durbar Square. The carvings around the windows are fabulous and of sal wood. It was built in 1757 by King Jaya Prakash Malla.
The square was badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake, but major restoration efforts are ongoing. The photos in this post were taken before the earthquake.
