When we were driven to Durbar Square, we had to be let off a few blocks away because of all the traffic and narrow streets. We walked through the shopping area to the square, which was heavily damaged in the earthquake. Reconstruction is going on but looks only to be beginning because there was so much damage. The remaining buildings are held up with pipes and timber braces. I didn’t really feel safe walking through everything because it looked like the remaining walls could come down any minute. But it was crowded with people. It is the most easily accessible World Heritage Site in Kathmandu.
The chief site held many Hindu temples and the old Royal Palace, which was used until the 19th century. It is known as Hanuman Dhoka Palace, named after Hanuman, a monkey god in Hindu mythology.
The Royal Kumari of Kathmandu, the living goddess, lives in Gumari Ghar, a palace in the square. She is a young girl who keeps the title until puberty. Then another is selected. She comes out once a day, but not while we were there. Both Hindus and Buddhists worship her. They believe that she is a manifestation of the goddess Durga. Each day she appears from the upper window in gold.
A small museum in the square explained the excavation that had been done since the quake, which led to a greater understanding of Kathmandu’s origins.
Busy local markets like Indra Chowk and New Road lie close to the square. The is so much to see, but the rubble makes it difficult to navigate.
