- Address: Chhauni Road, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
- Phone: +977 1 42 71 478
- Website: www.nationalmuseum.gov.np
- E-mail: info@nationalmuseum.gov.np
- Foundation date: 1928.
- Opening hours: November-February 10: 30-15: 30, February-November - 10: 30-16: 00, Fridays (all year round) 10: 30-14: 30, closed on Tuesday
- Cost of visiting: 100 Nepalese rupees ($ 1)
Not far from the palace of Hanumandhoka and the Buddhist shrine Swayambhunath is one of the first museums in Nepal (and the first one that was opened to the public) - the National Museum of Kathmandu.
Exposition of the museum
The National Museum of Kathmandu is a complex consisting of several buildings and offering visitors to get acquainted with the nature, religion and art of Nepal. The buildings that make up the museum are:
- The main building in which you can see images of the Buddha and other deities. The building carries features of the French style;
- Buddhist art gallery , the exposition of which represents various religious subjects. The gallery consists of several floors. The first floor is divided into 3 sections: South-western Taray (the place where the Buddha was born), the Kathmandu valley (which is the center of Buddhism in Nepal) and the northern Himalayan zone. In the section of Taray you can see very valuable art objects discovered during the excavations of Kapilvastu and Lumbini ;
- art gallery , where there are paintings and sculptures of Nepalese and other artists. The main entrance to the gallery is decorated with an image of the birth of the Buddha, as well as the image of the churning of the Ocean - such as it is represented in Hindu mythology. The main entrance is a copy of the stupa in Sanchi (India);
- Museum of Natural History , which contains a rich numismatic collection, a collection of weapons and military equipment, as well as a variety of archaeological finds made in the territory of Nepal, and cult objects of Buddhism and Hinduism.
A bit of history
The museum was created in 1928, but for a whole decade only specialists had access to the valuables stored here. And only in 1938 it was open to the general public. The main building of the museum is the Historical Gallery - a building in the French style. It was built as a barracks under the first prime minister, Bhimmene Thapa. Until 1938 the building was used as a repository for weapons collection, and the museum itself was originally planned as the Arsenal Museum (Slihaan). In the courtyard of the building there are still various Buddhist rituals.
The Art Gallery was designed and built as a museum building. It is called Juddha Jatiya Kalashal in honor of the Prime Minister of the country, Rana Juddah Shumsher, under which it was erected, and who invested his own money in its construction.
Artistic Buddhist Gallery - the newest of buildings. It was erected in 1995 with the participation of the Government of Japan . The gallery was opened on February 28, 1997 by His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino.
How to visit the museum?
The National Museum of Kathmandu is located in the south-west of the city, near the Soaltee Dobato Chowk bus station. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and on national holidays . The visit will cost about 1 US dollar. It can be reached via Museum Marg, which can be reached via Ring Road.