Hanuman Dhoka

Hanuman Dhoka is a network or complex of attractive structures also consisting of Royal Palace of Malla Kings and Shah Dynasty, which is located in central Kathmandu of Nepal. The fact behind the name of the palace is there is a stone image (statue) of Hanuman (a Hindu Deity) near the main entrance of the palace. This statue of Hanuman was believed to be dated from 1672 and face of the Deity has been long disappeared under a coating of orange vermillion paste applied by generations of devotees. There are gaudy stone lions, one ridden by Shiva, the other by his wife Parwati on each side of the palace gate. Above the gate, there is a beautifully painted tantric version of Lord Krishna. The Hanuman Dhoka originally housed 35 courtyards, but from the effect of the 1934 earthquake, there are only 10 courtyards in today’s palace.

Hanuman Dhoka is considered to be a very important historical palace with historical facts and monuments. The present structure symbolizes the height of perfection reached by medieval eras. The Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum is housed in the Hanuman Dhoka Palace and run by the Nepalese government, which is considered to be a part of larger Hanuman Dhoka Durbar. There is Nasal Chowk adjoining the Hanuman Temple, which is named after the image of dancing Shiva, is also a square where King Birendra was crowned as King. At the side of this square, there stands a nine-storeyed Basantpur Tower. On the west side of the Nasal Chowk, there lays Tribhuwan Museum, exhibiting the items of the grandfather of King Birendra. The museum house various important items that should be preserved like as stone carvings with several impressive thrones and jewel-studded ornaments, which are used for coronations, along with different weapons, furniture, wooden temple carvings and a coin collection which are valued from that period of time.