Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of three durbar square listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley which is also known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square because of the establishment of a Hanuman statue at the entrance of the palace by the King Pratap Malla in 1672 A.D. The nine storied building built by the Shah dynasty known as Basantapur Durbar is another famous structure to visit. This durbar square is located in the heart of Kathmandu and is surrounded by Hindu and Buddhist temples. Temples are built in pagoda style with sophisticated carvings throughout the square area. These structures are from the 15th to 18th century and the art carvings on temples resembles the cultural and religious lifestyle of the local people.
The major attraction of Kathmandu Durbar Square is the Kumari Ghar where the living goddess kumari an incarnation of the demon slaying hindu Goddess Durga resides. She is chosen through a mystical and ancient process 32 auspicious signs of divinity (mostly to do with natural perfection and symbolically significant features). She is kept in that house and worshipped only gets revealed in certain period during festival. Other attraction includes Mahadev Temple, Kasthamandap, ,Shiva Parvati Temple which was built by the Shah kings and Bhagwati Temple You can also visit the Old palace, Krishna Octangular Temple, Saraswoti temple, Big drums, Jagannath and Taleju Temple, Kal Bhairav and many more. Apart from the temples and monuments, tourists also can get involved in local festivals, cultural activities and chat with traditional peoples. Some of the major festivals you can enjoy and be a part of are Gai Jatra, Indra Jatra, Dashain, Machhindranath Jatra, etc. Since it is a preserved national heritage site, not all the area of the temple and the site is accessible to everyone. Some temples are open only to Hindu and Buddhist devotee.
