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| History of Narayanhiti Durbar |
The name Narayanhiti is derived from two words in the Newar language: Narayan, symbolizing Lord Vishnu, and Hiti, meaning a traditional water spout. Thus, Narayanhiti signifies "the water spout of Lord Vishnu."
Early Land Ownership
The land where Narayanhiti Durbar stands today originally belonged to Shreepali Basnet, who owned an estate of about 753 ropani and resided there. Later, the land was forcibly taken by Fateh Jung Shah, who built a palace for his father. However, following the Kot Parva massacre, Fateh Jung Shah and his family were killed, and his surviving nephews fled to India.
Rana Period
The estate was then seized by Jung Bahadur Rana, who constructed a palace for his personal residence in a foreign architectural style. Afterward, the property came under the control of Ranodip Singh Kunwar, the younger brother of Bir Shumsher. Initially, Ranodip Singh carried out simple renovations, but after becoming Prime Minister, he expanded and lavishly decorated the palace. His life ended mysteriously inside the Durbar itself.
Following his death, Bir Shumsher took possession of Narayanhiti Durbar. He commissioned top Nepali architects to renovate the palace with a Nepali art-based design, blending traditional craftsmanship into the interiors. Upon completion, Bir Shumsher offered the palace as dowry to King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, marking the migration of the Shah royal family from Hanuman Dhoka to Narayanhiti Durbar as their permanent residence.
20th Century Transformations
The great earthquake of 1990 B.S. (1934 A.D.) did not cause structural damage to the Durbar, but tragically, two daughters of King Tribhuvan lost their lives during the disaster.
In 2020 B.S. (1963 A.D.), King Birendra initiated plans to demolish the old Durbar and construct a new palace reflecting Nepali culture and identity. For this ambitious project, the renowned American architect Benjamin Polk was hired. The construction was completed in 2027 B.S. (1970 A.D.), after which the palace was handed over to King Mahendra and inaugurated a few months later.
Transition to Museum
Later, King Birendra sold the palace to the Government of Nepal for 7 crores. The palace also became the site of the royal massacre of 2048 B.S. (1991 A.D.). Eventually, with the abolition of the monarchy and the people’s movement for democracy, the palace was officially transformed into a museum.
Today, the Narayanhiti Palace Museum allows visitors access to 19 rooms out of a total of 52, with the rooms named after different districts of Nepal. The palace, situated in the heart of Kathmandu, remains an important historical and cultural landmark, symbolizing Nepal’s monarchy, political transitions, and national heritage.