The best museums Nepal

Certainly the finest museum in the country, dedicated to the religious arts of Nepal, it's well worth a visit. Housed in the former palace of the Malla kings, built in 1734, the museum was inaugurated in 1997. It boasts a unique site, a haughty testimony to traditional Newar architecture. Although, like all the buildings, it was only slightly damaged by the 2015 earthquake, it has now been renovated and is fully open. You'll need to take the time to explore both floors and the first floor, and to read the many detailed explanations, both religious and historical. Alcoves and showcases highlight the exhibits (over 200 devotional objects, statues and sculptures). The whole is highly instructive, and the objects well displayed. Visitors learn how to recognize the gods: their positions, finery and clothing, and their attributes. The well-presented explanations help you find your way through the multitude of gods. The visit provides an interesting insight into Buddhism and Hinduism, a glimpse of the links between these two religions and, more generally, a different approach to Nepal's history. The exhibition also presents the different techniques used to create these remarkable pieces. Allow a good two hours to get the full picture. And don't forget to take a close look at Gallery H, where you'll discover that Durbar Square hasn't changed much in over a century.

This white complex, located on the hill overlooking the lake, is very visible from Pokhara. Placed at the cardinal points, four stupas were offered by different countries: To the east, Japan, which initiated the construction, Thailand to the north, Sri Lanka to the west and Nepal to the south. The World Peace Stupa can be reached by crossing the lake by boat and then climbing the hill on foot (stay in a group, as there have been attacks), or by taxi. Up there, there are several cafes and a magnificent view of the mountain range.

Crowned by its five roofs and dominating the whole city from the top of its 30 m, the Nyatapola pagoda is probably the most beautiful of the valley and the highest. It is located on Taumadhi Square and rests on five pyramidal pedestals. Its solidity has enabled it to resist earthquakes. Each pair of animals framing its staircase is ten times more imposing than the pair above, so the two Malla wrestlers at the bottom are the largest. At the top of the staircase are statues of the goddesses Baghini and Singhini. Built in 1703 by King Bhupatindra Malla, the shrine is dedicated to Siddhi Lakshmi, a mysterious Tantric goddess, incarnation of the goddess Durga (Parvati), who is so terrifying that she appears only in the dark to Brahmin priests. She is represented in her many forms on the 180 sculpted and painted props. The power of the Tantric goddess is contrasted with the terrifying power of Bhairav, to whom the rectangular, three-storey temple of Kasi Bishvanat is dedicated. Her 30 cm high statue stands in a niche one metre above the ground. You can see his mask by looking out of an upstairs window, but it is probably another mask that is carried in great pomp during the Bisket Jatra festival in mid-April. A vaulted passage leads to the temple of Mahadev Narayan (a form of Vishnu, called Tilmadhav), which has attracted pilgrims since time immemorial.

A museum entirely dedicated to the mountain and its peoples. It presents not only the different ethnic groups that inhabit these mountains, but also the fauna and flora that flourish there. The museum is divided into four large rooms, where you will find the trades practiced by the different ethnic groups of Nepal, the main peaks over 8,000 m and the great Himalayan ascents. The opportunity to relive the adventures of Herzog and his companions.

Located in the western part of the Palace, the entrance to this beautiful museum is guarded by two male and female lions. Beside them stand the sculptures of Hanuman, the monkey god. The museum also exhibits sculptures of Narsingha dating from the 17th century, beautiful thangkas and paubhas, painted banners of mythological and religious scenes according to the Newar tradition, as well as prayer books illustrated with palm leaves. There are also portraits of all the Shah Kings who succeeded each other, which allows us to visualize the Nepalese monarchy.

Opened a few years ago in Kathmandu, MONA is the first museum dedicated to contemporary and traditional Nepalese art. Its mission is to showcase local artists, past and present, and raise public awareness of Nepal's rich cultural heritage and its age-old artistic practices and traditions. Located within the Kathmandu Guest House, the museum hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions. An opportunity to highlight the historical and cultural influences that have shaped Nepalese art over two millennia.

Uku Baha is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Patan, although some of the buildings date from the 19th century. In operation since the 6th century, the temple houses authentic treasures donated by the faithful. It is also distinguished by a bronze lion from the Victorian period and a statue of Judda Shamsher, a rana Prime Minister, in ceremonial dress. Shamsher had contributed to the renovation of the temple after the 1934 earthquake.

The Tanga Baha temple protects the ancient Buddhist sanctuary of Minnath, which dates back to the Lichavi period. Tanga Baha is a brightly painted, double-roofed temple dating from the ^16th century. It houses the deity, a red Lokesvar idol identical to that of Macchendranath. During the procession, his smaller chariot follows that of Macchendranath. Mandalas, stone lion statues and a large prayer wheel can all be seen here.

Less than 10 minutes' walk from the Swayambhunath stupa on the south side of the hill, this large, old-fashioned building houses Nepal's first public museum. If you have a little time, it's well worth a visit, especially for archaeology and history buffs. You'll come across lovely stone, bronze and terracotta statues of Nepalese deities, Hindu paintings on canvas, interesting bas-reliefs and plenty of artifacts from local excavations. The life-size statue of Jayavarma is well worth a visit.

Opened just after the abolition of the monarchy - the last king, Gyanendra, left Narayanhiti on June 11, 2008 - this museum is housed in the fortified royal palace north of Durbar Marg named Narayanhiti. A composition of "Narayana" (the Hindu god Vishnu) and "Hiti", which means "water spout" in the Newar language and represents a traditional fountain. It's huge: 3,800^m2, divided into three parts: the guest wing, the state wing and the private wing.

History. Its existence at this location goes back many centuries, since in 1846 Prime Minister Fateh Jung Shah was assassinated in this palace during the Kot massacre, along with some forty civilians. In 1886, Prime Minister Rana Bir Shumsher ordered its demolition and reconstruction as the residence of King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, his son-in-law, moving the royal residence from Hanuman Dhoka to Durbar Square here in Narayanhiti. Damaged by the earthquake of 1934, during which two of King Tribhuvan's granddaughters died, it was renovated and a staircase added. However, King Mahendra ordered it demolished and rebuilt in 1963 by Benjamin Polk, an American architect living in India, who completed the building in 1969. A house-warming party (Griha Pravesh) took place within these walls on February 27, 1970, for the marriage of Crown Prince Birendra. In 1972, Mahendra declared the palace a royal office and bequeathed it to the Nepalese government as a dowry from his grandmother Queen Divyeshwari. On June¹, 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra murdered several members of the royal family in the palace, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, before committing suicide. A tragic end.

Visit. This museum traces the history of the royal family right up to the abolition of the monarchy. The visit is long (1h30 to 2h minimum), so make sure you're in good shape: nineteen rooms used by the royal family are open to the public and feature a vast collection of exhibits. Don't miss the Gorkha Baithak throne room, with its immense chandelier, and the reception hall, with two stuffed Bengal tigers in hunting posture, killed by kings Mahendra and Birendra. Also on show: relics of the monarchy (full-length paintings of the kings and ceremonial photographs), a collection of vintage royal cars and the centerpiece: the crown jewels, on display since 2018. The tour is educational, with explanatory panels.