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Nepal’s museums are of great historical value as they showcase artifacts covering many centuries and various dynasties that ruled the country. Libraries that started as private collections are the most interesting among libraries and there is no dearth of art galleries.

List of Museums

  1. Patan Museum
  2. Hanuman Dhoka Museum
  3. The exhibition Halls
  4. Natural History Museum
  5. Narayanhiti Palace Museum
  6. National Library

1) National Museum

One of the most interesting museums is the National Museum of Nepal in Chauni near Swoyambhu, which was established in 1928 as an Arsenal Museum in a historical building constructed during the premiership of General Bhimsen Thapa. The museum was initially known as Chhauni Silkhana which literally means "the stone house of arms and ammunitions". It was opened as a public museum in the year 1938 by the then Prime Minister Juddha Shumshere JBR who made it possible for Nepalis to visit the museum paying very little as entrance fee. He also established the art museum and named it after himself ‘Juddha Jatiya Kalashala’. Until then the only people who had access to this wonderful collection of art had been visiting scholars/dignitaries and invitees or guests of the Rana Prime Minister. Later in 1967, during the reign of King Mahendra, it was renamed Rashtriya Sangrahalaya, the National Museum of Nepal.

2) Patan Museum

The Patan Museum is a remarkable example of successful restoration work. Part of the old palace built by the Malla dynasty, it has a resplendent gilded door facing the fabulous Krishna Mandir in the Durbar Square. It showcases superb pieces of metal sculpture especially in the statuettes that have been painstakingly restored by a project jointly undertaken by the Austrian and Nepali governments.

This palace compound which houses the museum is known as Keshav Narayan Chowk and dates back to 1734. The whole courtyard has been beautifully restored and has become a favorite venue for concerts and other functions. After years of neglect this section of the palace had been slowly deteriorating and the woodwork decaying until the restoration project came to its rescue. As a result of dedicated work of restorers, the museum was finally opened in 1997.

The exhibits cover a long span of Nepal's cultural history and some rare objects like the Malla era throne are among its treasures. The significance of much of the artifacts within the living traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism are explained here. Some objects such as cast bronzes and gilt copper repoussé pieces represent the finest of Nepal’s metal work from the past centuries. Metal craft of this nature is a living tradition in Patan. The artistry of metal craft has been handed down from generation to generation and Patan is still famous for its statue making.

The Museum covers a long span of Nepal's cultural history and among its treasures are some rare objects. Their meaning and context within the living traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism are explained in extensive captions. Most of the objects are superb cast bronzes and repoussé work in copper.

From an existing national collection comprising more than 1500 objects, some 300 were selected for permanent exhibition here. A majority of exhibits are sculptures of Hindu and Buddhist deities that were created in the Kathmandu Valley, many in the nearby workshops of Patan itself. Other objects include those that originated in India, Tibet and the western Himalayan regions. They are accompanied by written commentary by scholar and author Mary Slusser (of ‘Nepal Mandala’ fame) that attempts to explain their artistic, spiritual and historical significance as part of the cultural heritage of Nepal. The exhibits are also designed to assist in interpreting the living culture that lies beyond the museum's walls.

3) Hanuman Dhoka Museum

Tribhuvan Museum at the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, Kathmandu Durbar Square highlights the life of King Tribhuvan (1906-1955) who helped free the country from the Rana regime. The gallery displays rare photographs and paintings of other Shah rulers. Of special interest are the personal effects of the late king such as his bicycle, photographic equipment including boxes of Kodak chemicals. The gallery also has photos depicting the funeral of the king. The Mahendra Museum sheds light on the life of late King Mahendra (1955-1972). Displays include his personal belongings such as his imported clothes, decorations, gifts and his literary creations. Both the museums can be visited with one ticket.

4) International Mountain Museum

While in Pokhara make it a point to visit the International Mountain Museum (IMM) that records, documents, exhibits and chronicles the past and the present development of mountains and mountaineering activities in the world. Built by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), much support was received from various mountaineering clubs and associations as well as individual donors from around the world. The museum primarily provides information and exhibits everything related to Man, Mountain and Mountain activities from around the world. The museum is divided into two sections namely: Mountain People and Mountain.

The exhibition Halls:

Hall of Mountain People: This hall showcases the customs, traditions, heritage, culture and way of life of the mountain peoples.

Hall of World Mountains:

This hall introduces visitors to all fourteen peaks over 8000 m. (known as eight-thousanders) and geological facts about the origin of the world mountain systems. The hall also displays and explains the flora and fauna of the Himalayan region. A section of the museum is dedicated to prominent personalities such as Kumar Khadga Bikrum Shah (founder president of NMA), Dr. Toni Hagen (Renowned geologist who published the first pictorial on the country entitled "Nepal"), Reverend Kawaguchi Ekai (The first Japanese who entered Nepal in 1899), and Dr. Harka Gurung (Renowned scholar, geographer, writer, development planner and first Tourism Minister of Nepal).

Hall of Mountain Activities:

This display dwells on the historical ascents and explorations in and around the mountainous regions, trekking etc. The exhibition also showcases the development of climbing gear and the usual equipments required for mountaineering.

5) Lumbini Museum

The Lumbini Museum, located in the Cultural Zone in the tarai has on display, Mauryan and Kushana coins, religious manuscripts, terracotta fragments, and stone and metal sculptures. It also possesses an extensive collection of stamps from various countries depicting Lumbini and the Buddha.

Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI), located opposite the Lumbini Museum, provides research facilities for the study of Buddhism and religion in general. Run jointly by the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) and the Reiyukai of Japan, LIRI has some 12,000 valuable books on religion, philosophy, art and architecture.

Kapilvastu Museum is situated 27 km west of Lumbini in the village of Tilaurakot. The museum has on display coins, pottery and toys dating from the 7th Century B.C. to 4th Century A.D. The museum also showcases a very good collection of jewelry and other ornaments of that period.

6) Natural History Museum

Before the establishment of the Natural History Museum (NHM), specimens collected by foreign scientific expeditions were allowed to be taken out of the country for lack of a proper repository facility in Nepal. As a consequence, much of the scientific research in the natural history of Nepal was done in other countries. Nepali scientists, students, and teachers had limited access to the information on their own country's natural inheritance. The museum was established in 1975 with the objective of serving as a research and education facility in Nepal for foreign and Nepali scientists, students and teachers. The museum was built on the premises of the former Ananda Kuti Campus. Today, it houses about 40,000 zoological specimens, 7,000 botanical specimens, 400 fossils and 100 skeletons.

7) Narayanhiti Palace Museum:

The Narayanhiti Palace opened as a museum from 26th February 2009, nine months after the abolition of monarchy. This is the newly formed museum of Nepal Federal Republic of Nepal. The museum was officially inaugurated by then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. It is previous Royal Palace and Symbol of the Shah Dynasty of Nepal which took 240 years. This is strange experience for other people to get a look inside the museum that used to be the seat of King until the monarchy was abolished. Nineteen different blocks used by the former royal family, most of them named after the districts, including Tribhuvan Sadan where the 1st June 2001 palace massacre took place, are open for visitors. While parts of the museum are yet to be opened for visitors, the museum currently showcases the belongings of former kings and other royals who lived at the palace. Former King’s chambers, Mangal sadan and the library will also be accessible to visitors. The car gifted by Hitler to Late King Tribhuvan and medals decorated on the former kings will be on display. The chambers used by foreign dignitaries will also open to visitors.

Out of the three hundred 18 ropanis of land, one hundred 62 ropanis will be open to the public for now. Ministry for culture says entrance fees will be accessible for the general public, students, South Asia and China and for the rest of the world.

Entry fee: Nepalese Rs. 100 ( Rs 20 for students); Rs 250 for SAARC Nationals and the Chinese; Foreign Nationals Rs 500. Open from 11 am till 4 pm (Tuesday & Wednesday close).

8) Kaiser Library

The famous Kaiser Library consists mostly of Kaiser Shumshere Rana’s vast collection of more than 45,000 books and magazines that cover an amazing number of topics such as astrology, law, gardening, history, art, hunting, religion and philosophy besides literary works of the world’s greatest writers, dictionaries and encyclopedias. Of special interest are also the numerous wall maps that depict Europe and other regions during the early 20th century.

During the last days of the Rana regime Kaiser Shumshere was a Field Marshal in the Nepalese army. From an early age, Kaiser Shumshere had been interested in buying and collecting different types of books and newspapers. On his visit to England with his father Maharaja Chandra Shumshere, he was very impressed by the ruling system of England and also by the library system and the proper management of books there. He brought a large number of books from England. Even though the books in his library grew in number they were his personal property and out of reach of ordinary people. Access to the library was limited to members of his family, important people of the nation and special visitors from abroad. However, before his death in 1964, he bequeathed his library to the government, thereby making it a national property. Besides his invaluable collection, the library also features current newspapers and magazine for daily visitors.

9) National Library

The Nepal National Library was first established in 1957 at Singha Durbar with the personal collection of the king’s Preceptor, the late Hem Raj Pandey. It was later moved to its present location at the Harihar Bhawan in Pulchowk, Lalitpur. At the outset, the library had an impressive collection of 43,000 books and periodicals, including those brought in as a result of the amalgamation of the Central Secretariat Library. The library has an impressive collection of more than 82,000 books, documents and periodicals in different languages including Nepali, English, Sanskrit, and others. Copies of old newspapers have also been well archived here.