Durbar Square, A timeless journey through architectural marvels

Kathmandu Old City
These are the features of Nepal
4.4

Introduction

In April 25, 2015, Nepal experienced an 8.1 magnitude earthquake, and Kathmandu's Durbar Square suffered damage. The Kasthamandap Temple and Maru Temple completely collapsed, while parts of the old palace also collapsed and became unsafe. Durbar Square is one of the palace squares in the three ancient cities of the Kathmandu Valley, encompassing architectural relics from the 16th to 19th centuries. It includes 50 temples and palaces, made of red bricks and beautifully carved. The best way to experience it is to climb the stairs to the temple's base and enjoy the bustling surroundings with the locals. On the east side of Durbar Square is the old palace, on the west side is the Big Bell that wards off evil spirits, and on the south side is Kumari Bahal, the residence of the living goddess. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the goddess, although photography is prohibited. The southern part used to be the gathering place for hippies, known as "Freak Street", but now only a few hotels and restaurants are still operating. Unless you're looking for a nostalgic experience, it's not recommended to stay in this area. However, you can try Khas-Kasari Restaurant and Snowman Restaurant to explore the footsteps of the hippies from the past.
Address
Kathmandu Old City
Opening hours
Dubai Square is open without time restriction, and the ticket sales point works from 7:00 to 19:00.
Transportation
From Tamil District, walk south through the Old Town for 20 minutes to reach Durbar Square. If you need directions, you can ask for "Durbar Square". Occasionally, some Nepalese may not be familiar with the term Durbar Square, so you can ask for Basantapur instead.