National Art Museum — Attraction in Kathmandu Metropolitan City

The national art museum of Bhaktapur is one of the best acquisition hubs of medieval as well as the lichhavi art and history. That was a former palace then named Simhadhwaka Durbar. For the reason of having an image of a pair of stone lions.

King Bhupatindra Malla erected it in 1698 A.D. Also, picturesque it as Malatichwok. But locals prefer to call it Simhadhwoka layaku rather than Malatichwok. Later, in 1960, the Government of Nepal and the Department of Archaeology set it up as the National Art Gallery.

The National Art Museum was inaugurated by Bishwesvar Prasad Koirala. He was Nepali Congress Supreme and the very first elected prime minister of Nepal.

Consequently, this museum is the best among the three museums of Bhaktapur. You can easily find this place, once you enter the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The two stone images of lions pleasantly embrace you.

Along with that, another stone sculpture of Hanumanta-Bhairav and Nar-Shima also shows you the way toward the museum.

Notwithstanding, this museum has a small acquisition. But, it has a good collection of manuscripts and chronicles, which date back to the 11th century. Similarly, it is the home of ancient Paubha Scroll paintings, tantric cloth paintings. Also, the artifacts of bronze, brass, stone, and wooden images.

This architecture is not in its fundamental shape after the devastating earthquake of 1934 A.D. Yet, was also harmed in the quake of 2015. But, it is protecting a lot of unique discoveries in it. That includes the stone varieties on its...

The western end of Bhaktapur's Royal Palace contains the best of the three museums in Bhaktapur. Inside, you can view an extensive collection of Tantric cloth paintings – the Hindu version of Buddhist thangkas – as well as palm-leaf manuscripts, and metal, stone and wooden votive objects, some of which date from the 12th century. Keep hold of your ticket as this also covers the Woodcarving Museum and Brass & Bronze Museum in Tachupal Tole. The entrance to the gallery is flanked by two huge guardian lions, one male and one female. Beside the lions are some imposing 17th-century statues of Hanuman the monkey god, in his four-armed Tantric form, and Vishnu, as the gut-ripping Narsingha. Inside the gallery are portraits of all the Shah kings, including a surly Gyanendra (the last of the Nepali kings) following the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. In the first gallery look out for depictions of the nightmarish Maha Sambhara, with 21 faces and an unbelievable number of arms, and then turn around on the spot for scenes from...

We got the photography pass and even showed it to the staff on the top floor, but the guy, who seemed either upset or distracted, suddenly started shouting at us. It didn’t help that he was arguing with his wife on the phone shortly after. While the overall experience had its moments, it was clear that the staff lacked proper training—they seemed more like locals doing their best rather than representatives/professionals.

As for the museum itself, it’s a bit underwhelming. There are some carved stones and the heritage is certainly there, but the focus on idol worship throughout the building wasn’t particularly engaging but rather alarming for us. It’s just a personal preference. That said, the view from the window is definitely worth...