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Narayanhiti Palace |
Narayanhiti Palace, or Narayanhiti
Durbar (Nepali: नारायणहिटी दरवार) is a palace in Kathmandu,which long served as residence and principal
workplace of the reigning Monarch of the Kingdom
of Nepal, Located in the capital city of Kathmandu, the
palace was often the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. The palace complex is located towards
east of the Kaiser
Mahal next to Thamel,is incorporated in an impressive and vast array of
courtyards, gardens and buildings.The current Narayanhiti Durbar was built by
King Mahendra in 1961.
The name, ''Narayanhiti''
is made up of two words ‘Narayana’ and ‘Hiti’. Narayana is the Hindu god Vishnu, whose temple is located opposite to the palace. ‘Hiti’
means “water spout” in Newar
language, which is also located to the east of main
entrance in the precincts of the palace, a landmark that features prominently
in local legends.
During the early Shah
period, the site of the future Narayanhiti Palace was occupied by Dhokal singh Bashnet's house. Ownership of the site changed hands many
times;after Dhokal singh Bashnet the site was occupied by Chautariya Fateh
Jung Shah ( 6thPrime Minister of Nepal), his father courtier Choutaria Pran Shah and
family. During Kot
massacre of 19 September 1846 both Prime Minister Chautariya Fateh Jang Shah along
with his father Choutaria Pran Shah and
brothers were killed or send in exile out of Kathmandu.After this massacre
Narayanhiti Palace was taken over by Jung
Bahadur Rana's brother future Prime Minister then colonel Ranodip Singh Kunwar. Colonel Ranodip Singh ordered minor renovation of the old palace of Choutaria
Pran Shah and used it as his private residence.After ascending the throne of
Prime Minister Maharaja in 1877, Narayanhit Durbar was again renovated, but
this time much lavish and was extended into multi-wing palace On 22
November 1885 during a coup d'état Prime Minister Maharaja Ranodip Singh Kunwar
was assassinated by his
nephews,The Sumsher brothers(Khadga Shumsher, Chandra Shumsher, and Dumber Shumsher) somewhere in the southern wing of this
palace.
After the death of Prime
Minister Maharaja Ranodip Singh Kunwar, on 22 November 1885 Bir
Shumsher JBR assessed the throne of Prime Ministership and took over the Narayanhiti
palace of Ranodip Singh.In 1886 Bir Shumsher uprooted the whole Narayanhiti
palace and build a new palace under the master Nepalese architect Jogbir
Sthapit for his Son-in-law Maharajadhiraj King Prithvi
Bir Bikram Shah.Thus moving the Royal residence of reigning Monarch of Kingdom
of Nepal from Hanuman
Dhoka Durbar to Narayanhiti Durbar.
In 1961 King
Mahendra ordered the demolition of old palace and construction of new palace. The
new palace was built in Nepalese architecture style under the design of
Californian architect Benjamin
Polk. Decade-long
construction of the palace ended in 1970. The Griha Praves in the new palace was done on the occasion of the Hindu
wedding ceremony of Prince
Birendra the then-heir apparent to the throne on 27 February 1970.