- Address: Narayanhiti Palace Museum North Gate Rd, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
- Website: tourismkathmandu.com
- Year of construction: 1970
- Architectural style: Neoclassicism
- Architect: Benjamin Polk
The Narayanhiti Palace Museum is one of the most beautiful buildings with a rich exposition of the royal family and serves as an indisputable adornment of the central metropolitan area in Nepal .
Location:
Narayanhiti is located in the center of the capital of Nepal - the city of Kathmandu , in a park area of 30 hectares, surrounded by a high fence.
History of the palace
The former Royal Palace, which now houses the museum of Narayanhiti, in 2001 witnessed a terrible tragedy that struck the whole country. On June 1, the heir to the throne, Prince Dipendra, shot nine members of the royal family from the rifle, and then shot himself. The reason for this terrible event was the refusal of the royal family to bless the marriage of the Prince and Deviani Ran, who was from the family of the King's primordial enemies, who contested his authority.
Seven years after the tragedy, by order of the government of the country, the Royal Palace became a museum, and this event was a symbol of the end of monarchy in Nepal. After the proclamation in the country of the republic, the last King of Nepal, Gyanendra, left the palace forever. The current building of the museum was built in 1970, as in 1915 an earthquake destroyed the former palace.
What interesting things can you see?
The name "Narayanhiti" comes from the words "Narayana", which means the incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu (his temple is next to the main entrance to the palace) and "heathy", translated as "water cannon."
Externally, the palace-museum of Narayanhiti resembles a multi-level Buddhist pagoda. The main decorations of the palace are:
- Golden royal crown with inlaid with precious stones.
- The throne and graceful work of the crown of Nepalese kings, in which there are peacock feathers, yak hair and precious stones.
- A car located in the palace-museum of Narayanhiti and donated by Adolf Hitler.
- An unusual carpet made of tiger skin.
How to get there?
To visit the palace-museum of Narayanhiti, you need to go to the center of Kathmandu , to the Durbar square. The landmarks of the museum are Tundikhel Square and the Kaiser Library .