Kathmandu Durbar Square lies in the heart of the Kathmandu city. The locals know this area by its old name Hanuman Dhoka-an ancient seat of the Nepalese Royalty. The Royal Palace during medieval times were not merely for Royal acitivites but also used as the center of admminstration, cultral activites and festivals.
The historocal buildings and temples in the area were erected from the time of King Ratna Malla (1484-1520 AD) to Prithvi Bir bikram Shan (1875-1911 AD) covering the period of Malla, Shah and Rana period of Nepalese history. The entire palace Complex here is name after a monkey god called Hanuman. one can see a huge stone statue of of Hanuman painted all red next to the main entrance (the golden gage) of the palace. Hanuman here is regarded as a powerful protector of the entire Durbar Square.
Prominent Monuments:
Taleju Temple: The temple built by King Mahendra Malla in 1562 AD was dedicated to the royal deity of the malla kings. Resting on a 12 stage plinth, the temple is 36.6 meter high. The temple is opened to the public just once in a year during Dashain (Sep-Oct).
Krishna Temple: This octagonal temple dedicated to Lord Krishna was built in 1649 AD by Pratap Malla in memory of his two dead queens. There is a mention in the epigraph that the temple contains the statue of the King and his queens represting as Lord Krishna and his consorts.
Jagannath Temple: The image of Jagannath was installed in 1563 AD during the reign Mahendra Malla and the temple is famous for erotic carvings.
Stone column: The Stone column represents the statue of King Pratap Malla in praying gesture to goddess Taleju-The Royal Family Deity.
Degutalle Temple: A tantric goddess representing the family deity of the Malla king sis enshrined in the temple and access is restricted to visitors. The temple lies opposite the stone column and was built in 1671 AD by King Shiva Singh and later renovated by King Pratap Malla.
Hanuman Statue: Kneeling Hanuman, the monkey god, seated on a stone pedestal and flanked by a pair of linons symbolize stength and protection against all possible treats. The Hanuman pedestral was eretced by Kind Pratap Malla in 1672 AD.
Shiva-Parvati Temple: The divine couple Shiva and his cosort Parvati look out from the central window of the first floor as the temple was bulit during the rein of King Rana Bahadur Shah.
Big Bell: The bell erected in 1797 AD by King Rana Bahadur Shah is rung only when worship is being offered in Degutalle temple situated nearby.
Kal Bhairav: Shiva in his ferocious from is know as Bhairav. This is one of the largest image of Bhairav and was erected by King Pratap Malla.
Maju Dewal: This temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the late 17th century by Queen Mother Riddhi Laxmi and restes on a nine plinth base dominating the square and commanding a good vieew of the area.
Trilokya Mohan Narayan: This Vishnu temple of late 17th centure near the Kumari Ghar, was built on a fivw stage plinth by King Prithibendra in memory of his deceased brother. There is a kneeling image of Garuda-the vehicle of Vishnu, near the temple. During Indrajatra (Chariot festival) large crowd gaher here to see the ten incranations of Vishnu encated on the pedestal.
Kumari House: Kumari Ghar built in 1757 AD by King Prakash Malla is the house of the living goddess "Kumari" who is believed to be the incarnation fo goddess Taleju the protective deity. Kumari often provide her blessing from the window to the visitors.
Basantapur Durbar: The Basantapur Durbar also known as Nau-talle durbar was built by King Prithvi Naryan Shan in 1770 AD. Alongside there are other high standing pagodas known as Kirtipur Tower, Bhaktapur Tower and Lalitpur Tower.
Gaddi Baithak: This neoclassical building was built by Chandra Shamsher in 1908 AD during the reign of King Prithivi Bir Bikram Shah. Such kind of buildings was constructed because of Nepal's contact with the west in the second half of the 18th century.
Kasthmandap: This 12th century wooden building is said to be constructed form the wood of single tree hence Kathmandu obtains its name from this historic building, Kasthamandap. The building was used for public gathering during those days. The central imgae in the building consists of Gorakhnath and ther are miniature temples of four Ganeshas.
Ashok Vinayak: This temple dedicated to the elephant god Ganesha is revered both by the Hindus and Buddhists alike and is one of the most important shrine in the valley.
Dhansa: This temple was built in 1673 AD by pratap Malla to start a new masked dance of Narasimha, an incarnation of Vishnu.
Source: "World Heritage Sites in Nepal" by Nepal Tourism Board
The historocal buildings and temples in the area were erected from the time of King Ratna Malla (1484-1520 AD) to Prithvi Bir bikram Shan (1875-1911 AD) covering the period of Malla, Shah and Rana period of Nepalese history. The entire palace Complex here is name after a monkey god called Hanuman. one can see a huge stone statue of of Hanuman painted all red next to the main entrance (the golden gage) of the palace. Hanuman here is regarded as a powerful protector of the entire Durbar Square.
Prominent Monuments:
Taleju Temple: The temple built by King Mahendra Malla in 1562 AD was dedicated to the royal deity of the malla kings. Resting on a 12 stage plinth, the temple is 36.6 meter high. The temple is opened to the public just once in a year during Dashain (Sep-Oct).
Krishna Temple: This octagonal temple dedicated to Lord Krishna was built in 1649 AD by Pratap Malla in memory of his two dead queens. There is a mention in the epigraph that the temple contains the statue of the King and his queens represting as Lord Krishna and his consorts.
Jagannath Temple: The image of Jagannath was installed in 1563 AD during the reign Mahendra Malla and the temple is famous for erotic carvings.
Stone column: The Stone column represents the statue of King Pratap Malla in praying gesture to goddess Taleju-The Royal Family Deity.
Degutalle Temple: A tantric goddess representing the family deity of the Malla king sis enshrined in the temple and access is restricted to visitors. The temple lies opposite the stone column and was built in 1671 AD by King Shiva Singh and later renovated by King Pratap Malla.
Hanuman Statue: Kneeling Hanuman, the monkey god, seated on a stone pedestal and flanked by a pair of linons symbolize stength and protection against all possible treats. The Hanuman pedestral was eretced by Kind Pratap Malla in 1672 AD.
Shiva-Parvati Temple: The divine couple Shiva and his cosort Parvati look out from the central window of the first floor as the temple was bulit during the rein of King Rana Bahadur Shah.
Big Bell: The bell erected in 1797 AD by King Rana Bahadur Shah is rung only when worship is being offered in Degutalle temple situated nearby.
Kal Bhairav: Shiva in his ferocious from is know as Bhairav. This is one of the largest image of Bhairav and was erected by King Pratap Malla.
Maju Dewal: This temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the late 17th century by Queen Mother Riddhi Laxmi and restes on a nine plinth base dominating the square and commanding a good vieew of the area.
Trilokya Mohan Narayan: This Vishnu temple of late 17th centure near the Kumari Ghar, was built on a fivw stage plinth by King Prithibendra in memory of his deceased brother. There is a kneeling image of Garuda-the vehicle of Vishnu, near the temple. During Indrajatra (Chariot festival) large crowd gaher here to see the ten incranations of Vishnu encated on the pedestal.
Kumari House: Kumari Ghar built in 1757 AD by King Prakash Malla is the house of the living goddess "Kumari" who is believed to be the incarnation fo goddess Taleju the protective deity. Kumari often provide her blessing from the window to the visitors.
Basantapur Durbar: The Basantapur Durbar also known as Nau-talle durbar was built by King Prithvi Naryan Shan in 1770 AD. Alongside there are other high standing pagodas known as Kirtipur Tower, Bhaktapur Tower and Lalitpur Tower.
Gaddi Baithak: This neoclassical building was built by Chandra Shamsher in 1908 AD during the reign of King Prithivi Bir Bikram Shah. Such kind of buildings was constructed because of Nepal's contact with the west in the second half of the 18th century.
Kasthmandap: This 12th century wooden building is said to be constructed form the wood of single tree hence Kathmandu obtains its name from this historic building, Kasthamandap. The building was used for public gathering during those days. The central imgae in the building consists of Gorakhnath and ther are miniature temples of four Ganeshas.
Ashok Vinayak: This temple dedicated to the elephant god Ganesha is revered both by the Hindus and Buddhists alike and is one of the most important shrine in the valley.
Dhansa: This temple was built in 1673 AD by pratap Malla to start a new masked dance of Narasimha, an incarnation of Vishnu.
Source: "World Heritage Sites in Nepal" by Nepal Tourism Board
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