Museums

A land that is home to the highest peaks on earth, including Mt. Everest, Nepal is also home to some of the ancient and most beautiful museums. A great repository of medieval art and architecture, Nepal is also the cradle of two major religions of the world, Hinduism and Buddhism. The unique cultural legacy of Nepal has resulted in a development of a great array of art and artifacts. The museums of Nepal have some of those rare specimens, artifacts, weapons dating from the bygone era. Below are some of the prominent museums of Nepal.

Patan Museum
A must visit museum for all people in Nepal; Patan Museum is located in the old royal palace at Patan Durbar Square. The museum has been called the best museum in South Asia, and as soon as you step inside you get to know why. The entire interior of the museum has been beautifully restored with interesting display about the architecture of the Kathmandu Valley.

National Museum
Located in the western end of Kathmandu, the National Museum is considered the most important museum of Nepal. With a large collection of weapons, art and antiquities of historic and cultural importance, the museum boasts of an extraordinary collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century weapons, firearms locally made and captures from various wars, leather canons and relics of natural calamities.

Narayanhiti Palace Museum
Built in the 1960’s, the Narayanhiti Palace Museum with its tall white tower and design that resembles the traditional pagoda architecture of Nepal is also a popular museum in the region. The display of the museum inside reflects the somewhat dated glamour of Nepal’s erstwhile royal family. The Narayanhiti Palace Museum is located a short walk from Thamel, at the northern end of the (slightly) upscale Durbar Marg area.

Taragaon Museum
Operating with the aim of documenting the cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley whilst supporting historic preservation, the Taragaon Museum is another popular museum of Nepal. Displays and events here change periodically so it’s not always open. But, the red-brick modernist architecture is perhaps the highlight: the building opened in the 1970s as a hostel and the circular windows are certainly distinctive.

Natural History Museum
Situated at the Southern foothills of Swoyambhunath, the Natural History Museum is a window to the natural history of Nepal. With a serial display of diverse life species from prehistoric shells to the stuffed animals, birds, crocodiles and many other interesting exhibits, the museum is open on all the days except Saturdays and government holidays.

The National Art Gallery
The National Art Gallery is a unique museum and consists of some of the rarest paintings of Nepal and a wide array of manuscripts with painted covers and illustrations. Primarily a museum of paintings from early to late Malla period, the museum also contains bronze brass, stone and wooden images. The gallery is the virtual treasure house to explore the medieval art tradition of Nepal, and remains closed on Thursdays and government holidays.