Kathmandu Durbar Square

The word “durbar” translates from Nepalese as “palace”. In the Kathmandu Valley there are three durbar squares: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhakhtapur. We’re going to see all three but today we’re just visiting Kathmandu and Patan.

The 2015 earthquake was measured at 7.8 and killed nearly 9,000 people. Scores were killed in Kathmandu Durbar Square when the centuries old buildings that made it such a draw collapsed into heaps of rubble. In some cases they are rebuilding what they can, but in others the entire structure collapsed and so are lost forever.

By the way, if there is any doubt that China has replaced the U.S. as the country the world relies on to help rebuild then take a look at this sign.

Once upon a time it would have been Americans that stepped up and helped earn the trust and admiration of an entire country. Now everywhere you look in Kathmandu you see signs of “China Aid”. Schools, parks, hospitals, and streets are all being financed with Chinese money.

As we walked around Kathmandu Durbar Square you couldn’t help but feel heartbroken at what was lost in that earthquake. The Square used to be filled with palaces such as this.

Or these beautiful buildings.

And this gorgeous Bhuddist stupa, which are used as places of meditation.

Nevertheless there are still sites to see and we were able to see some treasures of the smaller variety.

Those palaces that remain have incredible details either built, carved, or affixed to them. It was a feast for the eyes as you walked around.

Gorgeous, gorgeous things.

Look closely here, the carving work is amazing.

Some carved into wood.

The doorways to many of the palaces were works of art. Here is Jeffrey standing guard at one of them.

And here is a colorful lion standing guard at another.

We saw traditional Bhuddist prayer wheels everwhere and even were able to spin one or two.

When you spin a Bhuddist prayer wheel you spin it left and spin it either one or three times.

Many of the buildings that are left standing are braced from further collapse which makes the whole place seem so very precarious.

Even the courtyard of the Kumari goddess is braced.

She is known as the Kumari Devi, or Living Goddess and is the manifestation of divine female energy in the Hindu religion. She is also very fussy about photographs.

At the entrance to many of the palaces stand Nepalese ghurkas. Ghurkas are known as fearless fighters and made such an impression on the British empire that after fighting them for years they were elisted by the British Army to fight as allies. Here is one in traditional garb.

After seeing what we could of Kathmandu Durbar Square we hopped back into our guide’s tiny, little, eenie, weenie automobile to head to Patan Durbar Square. Imagine sitting in the front seat as we careened through Kathmandu traffic.

See you in the next post!