Travel Nepa

At The Museums
After you have had fill of watching the mountains, touring the monuments and ransacking the shopping centers, there’s nothing like browsing around the museums for some quite indoor relaxation. One of Nepal’s delights is the variety of museums found in the country, especially in the Kathmandu valley.
National Museum: Newly renovated and filled with treasures, including a charming dancing Ganesh , breathtaking bronzes, and a rich collection of paubha scroll paintings. The National Museum at Chhauni near Swayambhu also has an extraordinary collection of ancient firearms, leather cannons and relics of the Great Earthquake of 1934. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Entrance fee additional charge for camera.
The National Numismatic Museum: Housed in the Mahendra Memorial Building of National Museum at Chhauni, contains an exceptional Nepalese coin collection spanning the Lichhavi and Malla dynasties (2nd to 18th century AD) as well as the shah dynasty. The museum also holds unique pieces dating back to the second century BC. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Your ticket to the National Museum entitles you to visit the coin museum also.
The Tribhuwan Museum: Inside the Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu Durbar Square high lights the life of King Tribhuvan (1906-1955) who helped liberate the country from the Rana regime in 1951.The galleries also have rare photographs, paintings and portraits of other Shah rulers and members of the Royals family .Cameras are not allowed . Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm .Friday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm .Entrance fee is Rs 250.
The Mahendra Museum: Yet another attraction in the historic Hanuman Dhoka Palace complex, vividly sheds light on the life of late king Mahendra (1955-1972).His cabinet room, office chamber and personal belongings such as medals , decorations, gifts, coins, stamps, and his literary creations are on exhibition in the museum. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm .You can visit the Mahendra Museum with your ticket to the Tribhuvan Museum.
The Birendra Museum: Situated in the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, contains personal possessions, royal attires that he had donned during various state occasions. Also on display are gifts, medals and honorary titles received from various foreign governments and institutions. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm .your ticket to the Tribhuvan Museum entitles you to visit this museum also.
The Museum of Natural History: Behind the Swayambhu stupa has exhibits on animals, butterflies, and plants. Stuffed animals, birds and crocodiles are a big draw in the museum .The entrance fee is necessary and additional for cameras. Open daily, except Saturday s and holidays, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm .The entrance fee is Rs10 and an additional Rs 20 for cameras.
National Library :Located inside Harihar Bhavan in pulchok, Patan , the National Library contains about 70000 books most of which are in English, with a smattering of books in Sanskrit, Nepali, Hindi and Nepalbhasa. The National Library preserves some rare scholarly books in Sanskrit and English dating from 17th century. Open daily except Saturday s and holidays, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Kaiser Library: Collections of a single man, Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1891-1964), adorn this palatial building near Thamel. The repertoire of books here (over 45000 altogether) covers as unrelated topics as astrology and law, with history, hunting, religion and philosophy in between. Open daily, except Saturdays and holidays, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm .Friday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Asa Archives: Located on the western fringe of the old part of Kathmandu, the archives possess an exceptional collection of over 6000 loose-leaf hand written books and 1000 pal,-leaf documents. The oldest manuscripts are in Sanskrit and Nepalbhasa languages. Asa Archives (Asa Saphu Kuthi), located at Kulambhulu west of Nhokha Tole, are open daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm except Saturdays and holidays.
Patan Museum: Inside Patan Durbar in the Durbar Square specializes in bronze statues and religious objects, which add up to nearly 200 items .some of the art goes back to as early as the 11the century. Most of the statues are of Buddha, Vishnu, Lokeswar and Devi, covering both the Hindu and the Buddhist iconology. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm .Entrance fee is Rs 30 for SAARC nationals and RS120 for other foreign visitors.
The National Art Gallery: In Bhaktapur is housed in the old MallaPalace of 55 windows in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square.The museum has a rich collection of paubha scroll paintings, bronze, brass, stone and wooden images. . Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:05 am to 5:00 pm .Friday 10:05 am to 3:00 pm .Tickets cost Rs 10 for Indian nationals and Rs 20 for other foreign visitors and an extra Rs 20 for cameras.
The National Woodworking Museum: In Tachapal Tole (Dattatreya Square), Bhaktapur, is in the restored 15th century Pujari Math building built by the Malla king, Yaksha Malla. The Pujari Math is a museum in itself, with the very finest of Newar woodcarving including the famous peacock window. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:05 am to 5:00 pm .Friday 10:05 am to 3:00 pm .Tickets cost Rs 10 for Indian nationals and Rs 20 for other foreign visitors and an extra Rs 20 for cameras.
The Bronze and Brass Museum: It is housed in a 15th century Math opposite the Pujari Math at Tachapal tole, Bhaktapur. A rich collection of domestic and ceremonial metalware is exhibit in the museum: Kalas (ritual jars), ink-pots, spittoons, and ordinary and rituals lamps. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:15 am to 4:45 pm .Entrance fee is Rs 5 and extra Rs 10 for cameras.
Narayanhiti Palace Museum: The Narayanhiti Palace opened as a museum from 26th February 2009, nine months after the abolition of monarchy. The museum was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Ministers, foreign delegates, lawmakers, government officers and other senior citizens attended the inauguration function.
A long line of curious visitors lined up eagerly outside the museum gates when it opened for the public on 27th Feb. Visitors formed long queues to get a look inside the museum that used to be the seat of King until nine months ago when the monarchy was abolished. Nineteen different blocks used by the former royal family, most of them named after the districts, including Tribhuvan Sadan where the 1st June 2001 palace massacre took place, are open for visitors. While parts of the museum are yet to be opened for visitors, the museum currently showcases the belongings of former kings and other royals who lived at the palace.
The whole area covers an area of over 700 acres, the Palace have various historical relics, artifacts, sculptures and wildlife trophies on display for the public. The visitors also get to see the diamond-studded crown and the wardrobes of the former royals. Still there is much to be known about the complete resources the Palace possesses. The entry fee for Nepalese is Rs 100 (Rs 20 for students), Rs 250 for SAARC nationals and the Chinese while for other foreign visitors a trip inside the museum will cost Rs 500. The museum is open from 11 am till 4 pm.
Outside Kathmandu
Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI): Located in the International Monastery Zone in Lumbini, Provides research facilities for the study of Buddhism and religion in general. Jointly run by the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) and the Reiyukai of Japan,LIRI contains some 6000 books on religion, philosophy , art and architecture. Residential facilities for scholars are available on the premises.
Kapilvastu Museum: It is situated 24 km west of Lumbini (the birthplace of Lord Buddha) in the village of Tilaurakot. The museum holds coins, pottery and toys dating between the seventh century BC and fourth century AD. The museum also has a good collection of jewelry and other ornaments from that period. Open daily except Tuesdays and holidays, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm .entrance fee is Rs15.
The Dhankuta Museum: It is a regional museum encompassing the eastern sector of the country. Dhankuta is the headquarter of the Eastern Development region and is located north of Dharan and Biratnagar. Apart from serving as a showcase for ethnic artifacts, the museum focuses on archeological exhibits. Open daily except Tuesdays and holidays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm .Entrance fee is Rs10.