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- Destinations
- Asia
- Nepal
- Kathmandu
- Durbar Square
Durbar Square
Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durbar Square is the
religious and social heart of Kathmandu's old city and is a complex
of palaces, temples, shrines, statues and courtyards built between
the 12th and 18th centuries by the ancient kings of Nepal. The
square is a queer assortment of the old and the new - elaborately
carved architectural features and curving roofs provide shelter for
cows, beggars and weary tourists; Brahman priests and painted
Sadhus perform rituals and pose for photos, while souvenir sellers
and rickshaw drivers compete for attention among the crowds. Stone
lions guard the gates to the Old Royal Palace that contains a
number of courtyards and the Narayanhity Durbar Museum. Set into
the palace wall is a 17th-century stone inscription written in 15
languages; it is believed that milk will flow from the spout below
if anyone deciphers the entire inscription. On the other side of
the square, the Kasthamandap Temple is an open pavilion topped by a
pyramidal tower, said to be created from the wood of a single tree.
It is purportedly the Valley's oldest building, and the city of
Kathmandu derives its name from this ancient temple.
Information & Facts
Admission
Durbar Square: NPR 1000. Old Royal Palace and museums:
NPR 300
Language
Nepali is the official language. English is spoken in all
major tourist areas.
Money
The official currency is the Nepali Rupee (NPR), which is
divided into 100 paisa. As change can be a problem it is
recommended that visitors have a supply of small notes handy.
Tourist activities are often quoted in US Dollars and it is
advisable to carry new dollar bills in varied denominations. Both
Euro and US dollar travellers cheques are widely accepted in
tourist areas and can be cashed easily in most banks and major
hotels throughout the country. There are ATMs in Kathmandu and
Pokhara. Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards are
accepted in many tourist hotels, shops, restaurants and travel
agencies. Banks and moneychangers are present in all tourist places
and in the major cities; all receipts from foreign exchange
transactions should be kept so rupees can be exchanged back into
foreign currencies on departure. Cash is needed when trekking.
Opening Times
Durbar Square: daily 8am-5pm. Old Royal Palace:
Tuesday to Saturday 9:30am-4pm.