Hanumandhoka Durbar Square

Most of the cultural centers of Nepal are concentrated around the Kathmandu valley; among those cultural sites, the important one is the Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square or Kathmandu Durbar Square or Basantapur Durbar Square, is located at the heart of ancient city Kathmandu. It is the place in front of the Old Royal Palace of the Kathmandu Kingdom and is one of the three durbar (Royal Palace) square in the Kathmandu valley in Nepal. All of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hanuman-dhoka (monkey door), with several complexes spread over an area of about 5 acres, is the social, religious, cultural, historical and urban focal point of the city. The square is the complex of palaces, courtyards and temples that were built between the 12th to 19th centuries by the ancient Malla King of Nepal. The durbar is divided in to two courtyards, the outer comprising Kasthamandap, Kumari- Ghar (Living Goddess), Durga temple, Maju dega, Erotic temple, God of alcohol, God of law & justice etc. and the inner consisting of Hanuman-dhoka and the main palaces of the courtyards. Now it is also palace museums. Important ceremonies including the coronation of the Nepali monarch used to held in the Hanuman-dhoka.