Narayanhiti Palace Museum

The Narayanhiti Palace, also known as Narayanhiti Durbar, is a palace in Kathmandu that for a long time served as the residence and main office of the reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Nepal. The palace, which is located in Kathmandu's capital, served as the venue for official events and royal hospitality. The palace complex, which includes a beautiful and substantial array of courtyards, gardens, and buildings, is situated east of the Kaiser Mahal close to Thamel. King Mahendra constructed the modern Narayanhiti Durbar in 1963.

The words "Narayana" and "Hiti" are combined to form the name "Narayanhiti." The temple of the Hindu god Vishnu, known as Narayan, is situated across from the palace. The landmark known as "Hiti," which is also known as the "water spout" in Newar, is situated to the east of the palace's main entrance and is a well-known location in local myths.

Narayanhiti Palace

Inside Narayanhiti Palace Museum

The Narayanhiti Palace structure is designed in the pagoda style. It has three wings: the Private wing, the Guest wing, and the State wing. The palace has 52 rooms in all. The names of Nepali districts appear on the rooms. The Narayanhiti Museum's chambers and hallways are embellished with priceless objects and antiquities.

The Kaski Sadan, sometimes referred to as the Reception Hall, is a sizable space that is adorned with tiger skin, a series of the King's portraits, and several statues of gods. Sindhuli is the name of the Queen's makeup room. Jhapa is the name of the area where guests wait to meet the King.

Meetings with distinguished guests might be held in Ilam. Janai Purnima ceremonies were carried out in the Sunsari chamber. It was customary to celebrate birthdays in the Saptari room. Offering tika to ministers and officials at Dashain was done through the Dhanusha Baithak. The space was often used for prize presentations. The Gorkha Baithak, the throne room, is 60 feet tall. Its pagoda-style construction is encircled by enormous paintings of Hindu deities and features a big chandelier. The lavish chandelier conceals the gold and silver throne of the King underneath.

Crown Kept for Display in Narayanhiti Palace Museum

Rooms in Narayanhiti Palace

Narayanhiti Durbar has 52 conference rooms in total. By 2068 BS, just 19 of them had been made accessible to the general population.

Major Attraction of Narayanhiti Palace

1. Kaski Room

One arrives at the Kaski meeting area after passing through the extremely tall Gaurishankar gateway, which is situated on the palace's main face. The Kaski meeting includes formalities like receiving foreign heads of state on state visits to Nepal, installing prime ministers and heads of constitutional bodies, and presenting ambassadors to the former king with office certificates.

2. Tanahu Room

You get to the Tanahu meeting just in front of the Kaski meeting after ascending a curved ladder covered in a deep red carpet. Above the ladder is a huge glass window.

3. Gorkha Room

It was reported that Yuvaraj had grown old in the Gorkha meeting room. The 2047 BS constitution was declared by King Birendra while seated on the throne in the same room.

4. Myagdi Room

In the Myagdi Room, refreshments were served to the ambassadors and heads of the constitutional.

5. Parbat Room

In the Parbat Room, various signing ceremonies were place.

6. Rukum Room

Dignitaries who were receiving foreign heads of state waited in the Rukum Room.

7. Rolpa Room

The meeting took held at the Rolpa Room. Photos of the then-King Virendra and Queen Aishwarya with foreign heads of state who spent the night at the palace are hung in the hallway connecting the Rolpa Room to the Baitadi Room.

8. Dailekh, Baitadi, and Achham Rooms

The foreign president used to rest in the Dailekh room on a luxurious bed, while his wife slept in the Baitadi room and close family members in the Achham room.

9. Bajura & Jumla Rooms

The foreign chiefs ate in the Bajura Room and then took a nap in the Jumla Room thereafter.

10. Dolpa Room

During important occasions at the Gorkha meeting, the Dolpa Room served as a secret location for other members of the royal family to visit.

11. Mugu Room

The Mugu Room is where King Tribhuvan's tools are stored.

12. Lamjung & Gulmi Rooms

The Lamjung Room served as the dining area, and the Gulmi Room served as the former king's personal office.

13. Dhading & Dhankuta Rooms

The king's bed was in the Dhankuta chamber, while the Dhading chamber served as his resting place.

Dhankuta Room (the royal bedroom), as displayed in the Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

14. Dhanusha Room

On the day of Vijayadashami, the tika was received in the Dhanusha chamber. The royal family is depicted in a group photograph in the room on 4 Bhadra, 2055, and 10 Magh, 2059. Under the photo, each member had signed their name.

15. Tribhuvan House

Another sight that is currently open is the Tribhuvan House. King Tribhuvan lived in the palace, where on Jestha 19, 2058, the Durbar massacre took place. King Birendra, and his entire family, including Prince Dhirendra Shah, were all slaughtered in the incident. The building was destroyed in 2061. Currently, bricks cover the building's base. The precise locations where Virendra, Aishwarya, and Dipendra were hit by the bullet were mentioned.

16. Fountain Garden

Another highlight is the fountain garden, which is located behind the Narayanhiti Palace. Tribhuvan built that particular garden. In the center of the garden is a tiny water tank. There are circular and rotating homes. A luncheon was held in the same garden during the first South Asian Conference in Nepal in honor of visiting heads of state. On a special festival, Gyanendra Shah liked to host an afternoon gathering in the garden.

Massacre of the Royal Family of Nepal

On June 1st, 2001, the tragic Royal Massacre occurred in Narayanhiti Palace. It is regarded as a somber moment in Nepali history that would forever cause people's hearts to ache when it is brought up, even 20 years afterward.

King Birendra's entire family was slain in this royal slaughter. Ten members of the Royal family, including the Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, Princess Shrustic, and Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah Dev, died in the mass shooting.

First houses on the site

The Kaji Dhokal Singh Basnet family resided on the site of what would become Narayanhiti Palace during the early Shah era. Many different people have owned the property over the years; following Dhokal Singh Basnyat, Chautariya Fateh Jung Shah, the sixth prime minister of Nepal, and his family moved here. Both Prime Minister Chautariya, Fateh Jang Shah, as well as his father, Choutaria Pran Shah, and brothers, were either slain or sent into exile outside of Kathmandu during the Kot massacre on September 19, 1846. Following the slaughter, the future prime minister and Colonel Ranodip Singh Kunwar, the brother of Jung Bahadur Rana, took control of Narayanhiti Palace.

Home of the monarch

The Old Narayanhiti Palace had been demolished in 1958.

On November 22, 1885, Prime Minister Maharaja Ranodip Singh Kunwar passed away. Bir Shumsher JBR evaluated the position and assumed control of Ranodip Singh's Narayanhiti palace. In 1886, Bir Shumsher demolished the entire Narayanhiti Palace and had a brand-new palace constructed for his in-law, Maharajadhiraj King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, by the renowned Nepalese architect Jogbir Sthapit. Consequently, the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar royal residence of the Kingdom of Nepal's current monarch was relocated to the Narayanhiti Durbar.

Narayanhiti Palace in the Earthquake of 1934

Narayanhity Palace suffered some damage during the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake, which resulted in the deaths of two infant princesses who were the daughters of King Tribhuvan. Under Colonel Engineer Surya Jung Thapa, repairs and renovations were carried out, and a new portico and grand staircase were constructed.

Current Narayanhiti Palace museum

King Mahendra commanded the old palace's destruction and the building of the new palace in 1963. Benjamin Polk, a Californian architect working out of India at the time, designed the new palace in the manner of Nepalese architecture. The palace's ten-year construction project came to a finish in 1969. On February 27, 1970, Prince Birendra, the then-imminent heir to the kingdom, married in a Hindu ceremony, marking the occasion for the Griha Prabes performed at the new palace.

Opening Hours of Narayanhiti Palace

Wednesday to Monday – 11.00am to 4.00pm
Tuesday – Closed (It remains closed on public holidays too.)