Kathmandu - Hanuman Dhoka

Originally founded in the 4th century, but expanded greatly by King Pratap Mala in the 17th, the sprawling palace complex was unfortunately badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake (the 1934 earthquake was also very bad!). A red cloaked Hanuman monkey god statue marks the entrance which leads to the Nasal Chowk courtyard; on the left is the Audience Chamber with the five-roofed Panch Mukhi Hanuman temple next to it. The white 19th century palace wing holding the Trubhuvan Museum is damaged and closed, as is the nine-storey Basantapur Tower in the south eastern corner. The Lohan Chowk and Mul Chowk courtyards can be visited, but the Mohankali and Sundari Chowks are closed.

We had our Dragoman group meeting on the evening of Saturday 19th October; there are 12 in the group, not including Alex and Julie, our Dragoman crew (not to forget Rashida, our truck).Read more