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Thapathali Durbar
Thapathali Durbar
थापाथली दरवार
General information
Architectural style	Fusion of Mughal and European styles of architecture
Town or city	Kathmandu
Country	Nepal
Cost	Unknown
Client	Nain Singh Thapa (Thapa dynasty), Jung Bahadur Rana
Technical details
Structural system	Brick and Mortar
Size	80 ropanis
Design and construction
Architect(s)	later additions by Ranasur Bista

27°41′28″N 85°18′57″E / 27.691111°N 85.315833°E / 27.691111; 85.315833Thapathali Durbar (Nepali: थापाथली दरवार) was a palace complex in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Thapathali means abode of the Thapas. It was initially built by Nain Singh Thapa of the Thapa dynasty but was later occupied by Jung Bahadur Rana, as prime minister, the executive head of Nepal. The palace complex, located north of the Bagmati river, consists of a large number of courtyards, gardens, and buildings.

History

The palace complex lay in the heart of Kathmandu, to the north of the bagmati river.^[1] The history of the palace is closely linked with the history of Nepal and its rulers.

Under Thapa dynasty

Nain Singh Thapa was credited with initiating construction of the palace complex.

Under Rana dynasty

In 1887, Juddhapratap Jung was murdered by the Shumsher Ranas. Chandra Shumsher JBR captured Thapathali Durbar and occupied it for 18 years until 1904. After Chandra Shumsher's death, his son Singha Shumsher JBR inherited and renamed the complex to Singha Mahal.^[2]

Singha Mahal

After Chandra Shumsher's death, his son Singha Shumsher JBR inherited the Thapathali Durbar Complex and named it Singha Mahal.^[2] Singha mahal is currently occupied by Nepal Rastra Bank.

Thapathali Vaidyakhana (Hospital)

Kal mochan temple

Kalmochan temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Vishnu the preserver, was a part of the Durbar complex. It was built around the mid-19th century outside the walls. It was built in the Moghul Kathmandu-Gothic architecture style and has Mughal art and Nepali art. It is also known as Janga Hiranya Hemnarayan mandir. It is located at kalmochan ghat in Thapathali. It was built by Rana prime minister Jung Bahadur Rana. He named it after his two wives Hiranya Garbha and Hem, whereas Narayan means god Bishnu. He built this temple to attain inner peace (mochan) as he was involved in many murders. It is believed that Jung Bahadur Rana had buried the dead bodies of people who died in Kot (Arsenal) Parva (massacre) under this temple.^[3]

The April 2015 earthquake of Nepal reduced this temple to rubble. The temple was not in good shape for quite some time. The visual scars were evident in this structure, a large shear crack on the eastern wall and along edges of the roof after 2011 Sikkim earthquake of India. The entire Kalmochan Ghat is in a dilapidated situation after the last quake.

References

^ "THE HISTORIC DURBARS OF KATHMANDU". 19 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
^ ^a ^b JBR, Purushottam Shamsher (2007). Ranakalin Pramukh Atihasik Darbarharu [Chief Historical Palaces of the Rana Era] (in Nepali). Vidarthi Pustak Bhandar. ISBN 978-9994611027. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
^ "A temple of dubious reputation". 25 July 2000. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.

[1] "THE HISTORIC DURBARS OF KATHMANDU". 19 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.

[PurushottamShamsher2007-2] JBR, Purushottam Shamsher (2007). Ranakalin Pramukh Atihasik Darbarharu [Chief Historical Palaces of the Rana Era] (in Nepali). Vidarthi Pustak Bhandar. ISBN 978-9994611027. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

[3] "A temple of dubious reputation". 25 July 2000. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.

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Thapathali Durbar