Museums and galleries in Kathmandu

Museums and galleries in Kathmandu

1. SeeWest

   Garden of Dreams

   Swapna Bagaicha

   Relax in this beautiful and peaceful walled garden close to Thamel and the former Royal Palace. Beautifully renovated in partnership with the Austrian government. It has two pavilions depicting two of the six annual seasons in the Hindu calendar. There is a mini exhibition showing old photos of this garden. There is a restaurant (Kaiser Cafe) in it. You are not allowed to bring own food into the garden and even if you just want to go to Kaiser Cafe you still need to buy the ticket for the garden. Nice toilets.

   Daily 09:00-21:00·Rs400 for non-Nepalese, Rs150 for Nepalese

2. SeeCentral

   Narayanhiti Palace Museum

   Narayanhiti comes from Narayana, a form of the Hindu god Lord Vishnu, and Hiti, meaning "water spout" (Vishnu's temple is located opposite the palace, and the water spout is located east of the main entrance to the precinct). Narayanhiti was a new palace, in front of the old palace built in 1915, and was built in 1970 in the form of a contemporary Pagoda. It was built on the occasion of the marriage of King Birenda Bir Bikram Shah, then heir apparent to the throne. The palace area covers (30 hectares) and is fully secured with gates on all sides. This is the former Royal palace which was turned partly into a museum, and partly into the Foreign Ministry in 2009 after the abolition of the monarchy. Now you can visit the splendid Halls of the main building of the palace. Giant fruit bats hanging from the tall trees and 20 foot-tall bamboo around the otherwise modern (and still well secured) former palace are a sight, especially around sunset when the bats depart en masse.

   Foreigners: Rs500

3. SeeWest

   National Museum

   Chhauni Museum

   This in an historical building. It was constructed in the early 19th century by General Bhimsen Thapa. It is the most important museum in the country, housing an extensive collection of weapons, art and antiquities of historic and cultural importance. The museum was established in 1928 as a collection house of war trophies and weapons, and the initial name of this museum was Chhauni Silkhana, meaning "the stone house of arms and ammunition". Given its focus, the museum contains an extensive quantity of weapons, including locally made firearms used in wars, leather cannons from the 18th–19th century, and medieval and modern works in wood, bronze, stone and paintings.

   Closed on Tuesdays

4. SeeCentral

   Nepal Art Council Gallery

   This gallery contains artwork of both national and international artists and extensive halls regularly used for art exhibitions

5. SeeWest

   Swayambhunath

   स्वय म्भू AKA the Monkey Temple

   Perched on a hill overlooking Kathmandu, Swayambhu is a revered site featuring a grand stupa surrounded by Buddhist and Hindu iconography. According to legend, a former Buddha visited the valley, which was then a vast lake. The Buddha planted a lotus seed in the clear waters that bloomed after 84,000 years, crowned with an eternal flame. Drawn by the flame from Mount Wutai in China, the bodhisattva Manjushri drained the lake by cutting through the valley wall, making the site accessible for pilgrims. The stupa now stands where the lotus once blossomed, making Swayambhu one of Nepal’s most sacred Buddhist sites. The hilltop can be reached by climbing 350 steps, with a gentler but less scenic back route also available. A 30-minute walk from Thamel leads to the base, though a map is helpful due to several confusing intersections; taxis and bikes are also options. The site teems with monkeys—keep food hidden—and hosts ancient temples, souvenir stalls, cafes, and restaurants offering Nepali and Tibetan cuisine. For those with limited mobility, parking at the rear entrance minimizes the climb. Swayambhu is one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley and includes the Swayambhu Buddhist Museum.

   Foreigners: Rs200 for single entry; Rs750 for a multiple entry pass

6. SeeEast

   Taragaon Museum

   turn it into a do umentation centre documenting what artists, photographers, architects, anthropologists and Samskritists from abroad had contributed in the second half of the 20th century to identify, highlight and preserve the cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley.

   Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-17:00

7. SeeWest

   The Natural History Museum

   Natural Science Museum of Tribhuvan University

   This museum has a sizeable collection of different species of animals, butterflies, and plants. The museum is noted for its display of species, from prehistoric shells to stuffed animals.

   Mon-Fri

8. SeeWest

   Tribhuvan Museum

   contains artifacts related to the King Tribhuvan (1906–1955). It has a variety of pieces including his personal belongings, letters and papers, memorabilia related to events he was involved in and a rare collection of photos and paintings of the Royal family.

9. SeeCentral Not mapped

   J Art Gallery

   Displays the artwork of eminent, established Nepalese painters.

10. SeeWest Not mapped

    Mahendra Museum

    This museum is dedicated to King Mahendra of Nepal (1920–1972). It includes his personal belongings such as decorations, stamps, coins and personal notes and manuscripts, but it also has reconstructions of his cabinet room and office chamber.

11. SeeWest Not mapped

    Moti Azima Gallery

    In a three-story building which contains an impressive collection of traditional utensils and handmade dolls and items typical of a medieval Newar house, giving an important insight into Nepalese history.

12. SeeCentral Not mapped

    NAFA Gallery

    This is housed in Sita Bhavan, a neo-classical old Rana palace.

13. SeeWest Not mapped

    Nasal Chowk

    Statues, temples and the Rana museum in the Hanuman Dhoka former palace complex. The courtyard was used for royal coronations until 2001.

14. SeeWest

    Military Museum

    Chhauni Rd

15. SeeCentral

    Nepal Children's Art Museum

    Hattisar Sadak

    Tue-Fri 11:00-17:00, Sat Sun 12:00-16:00

16. SeeWest

    Royal Mahendra Museum

    Durbar Square

    Entry is free if you have a ticket for the Durbar Square for Rs1000

17. SeeWest Not mapped

    Museum Of Nepali Art

    Mostly paintings by current Nepali artists.

    Rs500

18. SeeCentral Not mapped

    National Art Gallery

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kathmandu (CC BY-SA 4.0).