The Best Architectural Showcases in Durbar Square

The Best Architectural Showcases in Durbar Square

Durbar Square is located at the opposite of the old royal palace in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was built between the 16th and 17 century. The site is filled with different temples, palaces and courtyards visited by the locals and foreign visitors each day. The Durbar Square is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The popular square is where the country's religious, social and other urban activities are held. During the construction of the palace square, King Ratna Malla, who was Kathmandu's first king after its independence, ordered his subjects to build the Taleju temple. The temple was built in "vihara" style following the style of the palace surroundings. Some of the square's oldest temples: Taleju temple, Mahendreswara temple and Mahadev temple were built by Mahendra Malla from 1560 to 1574. He used the distinctive architecture design of the Newari people. It has elevated platforms with a pyramid-like structure. The Goddess was very pleased with the Taleju temple and asked Mahendra Malla to build another one inside the Durbar Square. Thus, the architect built the temple and dedicated it to the Goddess. Mahendra Malla's great grandson Pratap was the one who developed the Durbar Square during the 16th century. Because of his passion in building, he later enlarged the royal palace and expanded the temples and built more stupas and shrines around the kingdom.

Pratap Malla built traditional small entrances with a narrow and low Newari style inside the palace. He decorated the door with remarkable paintings and carvings of songs and deities. All the statues built inside that door have a purpose. For instance the statue of Hanuman was built in order to protect his kingdom and strengthen his army. That entrance is where royal events like holy fire rituals, coronation, performances and yagyas took place.

The Sundari Chok is one of the greatest treasures of Durbar Square. Pratap Malla built a slab with lines of fifteen languages engraved on its surface. The temples' architecture was designed not only to emphasize the kingdom's and Pratap's luxuries. It was more about his devotion towards the deities. Through his life, he continued to renovate the temples and made even more splendid designs on them. Apart from beautifying the temples and palaces, the genius architect also built ponds, fountains and baths around the square. Since the death of the magnificent Pratap Malla in 1674, the people of Nepal tried to preserve his works. These have survived the test of time and are still standing in the capital of Nepal where thousands of visitors from all over the world are amazed by Durbar Square's architecture showcase.

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