|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Museums
|
|
|
 The National
Museum
The National Museum located on the way
to Swayambhunath Hill is most popular
among the Kathmandu people. It holds not
only ancient artifacts, but also
interesting mementos of recent kings and
recently used firearms. A visitor to the
museum will understand much about the
way wars were fought in this part of the
world and the type of firearms that were
used to conquer Nepal and later to
protect it from the British Raj. Other
artifacts include ancient statues,
paintings, and murals. You may be
interested in the doll collection as
well as the stuffed animals there. The
collection of coins in the complex
includes coins going back to the second
century BC as well as excellent samples
from dynasties that ruled Nepal after
the birth of Christ.
Timings:
From 10:30 am to 3 pm, except on
Tuesdays and govt. holidays.
From 10:30 am to 2 pm, on Fridays. |
The Tribhuvan
Museum
It is located in the Hanuman Dhoka
Palace. This palace was the main seat of
the Shah kings for many years. Here is
an exhibit that highlights the life of
King Tribhuvan. King Tribhuvan is best
remembered for his valiant efforts in
liberating the nation from the rule of
the Rana prime min isters. You may also
wish to look out over Kathmandu from the
Basantapur Tower in the complex. It is
said that a benevolent king used to keep
watch over his people from this window
to make sure that food was being cooked
in every home (the smoke coming from the
roof-tops told him whether or not a
cooking fire was on in every house). You
may also wish to see the section that
carries the mementos of King Mahendra
and observe the Malla architecture and
carvings.
Timings:
From 10:30 am to 3 pm, except Tuesdays.
From 10:30 am to 2 pm, on Fridays |
The Museum of
Natural History
This museum is nearby the Swayambhunath
Hill and has a fine display of Himalayan
butterflies, snakes and plants. Though
it is among the least frequented museums
in the Valley, a visit to the museum
will show you many rare birds and insect
species.
Timings:
From 10 am to 4 pm, except on Saturdays
and on official government holidays |
 Kaiser Library
It is near Thamel, the main tourist
center of Nepal. It contains a
collection of 30,000 books of Kaiser
Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana. Many of the
books are romances and
adventure-writings from Europe and were
imported all the way from England by
special order. It is said that Kaiser
Shumsher knew many of the books by heart
and took pride in the diversity of the
collection. The topics range from
esoteric religion to law. The gardens at
the back are also interesting and the
Ministry of Education is located in the
complex.
Timings:
Open daily,except on Saturdays and on
official holidays. |
 The National
Bronze Art Museum
Museum has a collection of some of the
finest pieces of bronze created by
Valley artisans and the number of items
is about 900. With good representations
of both Hindu and Buddhist religions,
the art work ranges from Malla to the
later period. The oldest work of art
there is believed to be from the llth
century AD.
The National Art Gallery
This museum is in the Palace of
Fifty-five Windows. This palace is
believed to be the first in the
Kathmandu Valley to use glass, much
coveted by the ancient rulers. Within
the palace are beautiful paintings of
erotic motifs, paubhas, and animals. The
stonework is especially fine and a room
outlines the life and times of the Shah
kings of Nepal. There are also samples
of everyday items used in the past by
famous people. Among the displays are
scriptures that are among the most
valuable in the kingdom.
Timings:
From 10 am to 4 pm, and
From 10 am to 4 pm, on Fridays. |
The National
Woodworking Museum
The National Woodworking Museum in
Dattatreya Square often surprises
visitors. Upon entering the museum,
guests ask for the exhibits. However,
the building itself is the museum and
contain very finely carved pillars,
windows, doors, and struts. Also, there
are wood carving samples that go back to
the l5th century. Wood was a major
constructing item long before that time
but not much survives due to the adverse
effects of time and weather. The
building was constructed in the l5th
century by King Yaksha Malla. It is
called the Pujari Math and outside the
Math, you have to get out of the museum
and walk along an alley where the
ceiebrated Peacock Window is situated.
Timings:
From 10 am to 4 pm, except on Tuesdays. |
The Bronze and
Brass Museum
It is housed in a newly renovated
building near the Pujari Math, Much of
the dis- plays have been restored and
are in excellent condition. Among the
displays are items of everyday use to
the ordinary people as well as items
used by the rich and the famous of Malla
times. Platters for worship, lamps,
water pots, horns, and other items tell
the visitor how the people in Bhaktapur
led their ordinary iives. An ornate ink
pot also tells us that the kings of
yesteryears were very much interested in
learning and writing. One such king is
supposed to have learned seventeen
languages and wrote verses in them.
Timings:
Open daily, except on Tuesdays |
Asa Archives
It is located on the western fringe of
the old part of Kathmandu, the archives
possess an exceptional collection of
over 6,000 loose leaf handwritten books
and 1,000 palm-leaf documents. The rare
collection is an insight into the
literary tradition of medieval Kathmandu.
The oldest manuscript here dates back to
AD 1464. Most of the manuscripts are in
Sanskrit and Nepalbhasa languages.
Timings:
from 11 am to 5 pm, except Saturdays and
holidays. |
 The Patan
Museum
It is inside Patan Durbar in the Durbar
Square specializes in bronze statues and
religious objects, which add up to
nearly 900 items. Some of the art goes
back to as early as the llth century,
and there is evidence that certain
objects date from the period of the
Lichhavi kings. Most of the statues are
of Buddha, Bishnu, Lokeswar, and Devi,
covering both the Hindu and the Buddhisf
iconology. The museum has recently been
completely renovated which has enhanced
its appeal.
Timings:
from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, except
Tuesdays and holidays |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
