Durbar (Central) Square

The Durbar Central Square of Kathmandu is where the city’s kings were once crowned and legitimized. ‘Durbar’ meaning palace, marks the centre from where the kings ruled. The square remains the traditional heart of the old town and one of Kathmandu’s most spectacular legacies of traditional architecture. The square bore the brunt of Kathamandu’s 2015 earthquake damage, and half a dozen temples collapsed, but it’s still one of the most fascinating complexes.

The entire square was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1979. The Durbar Square area is actually made up of three loosely linked squares.

Towards the south of the Square is the open Basantapur Sq area, which is a former royal elephant stable that now has souvenir stalls. Running northeast is a second part of Durbar Sq, which contains the entrance to the Hanuman Dhoka and an assortment of temples.

Major Highlights
One of the biggest highlights of this place is the concentrated mass of temples in this region. One can find a stunning display of Newari architecture here. The Durbar Central Square is one of the perfect places where you can wander around for hours, looking at magnificent buildings.