“In 2001, the crown prince shot and killed most of Nepal's royal family inside this palace before turning the gun on himself.”
About Narayanhiti Palace Museum
Narayanhiti served as the principal royal palace of Nepal's Shah dynasty, the present building dating largely from the 1960s. In 2001 it became infamous as the site of the royal massacre that wiped out much of the royal family. After the monarchy was abolished in 2008 and Nepal became a republic, the palace was converted into a museum, opening the once-secret royal residence to ordinary citizens.
The Narayanhiti Palace Museum in Kathmandu is the former royal palace of Nepal, opened to the public after the monarchy was abolished in 2008. Once the seat of the Shah kings, its grand state rooms, throne room and royal apartments now form a museum, but the palace is most remembered as the scene of one of the most shocking events in the country's modern history.
The Narayanhiti Palace Museum in Kathmandu is the former royal palace of Nepal, opened to the public after the monarchy was abolished in 2008.
The Site of the Royal Massacre
In June 2001, the palace was the setting for the Nepalese royal massacre, when Crown Prince Dipendra is reported to have shot and killed much of the royal family, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, before turning the gun on himself. The killings stunned the nation and the world and helped pave the way for the eventual end of the monarchy. The site where the massacre took place is marked within the palace grounds.
The Experience
You tour the grand reception halls, the throne room, banquet rooms and royal apartments, furnished and decorated as they were under the monarchy, gaining a glimpse into the vanished world of Nepal's kings. A marked spot in the grounds indicates where the 2001 massacre occurred. The combination of royal opulence and the dark recent history makes for a sobering and fascinating visit.
Why It Matters
Narayanhiti Palace is a powerful symbol of the end of Nepal's monarchy and the country's transition to a republic. As the scene of the 2001 royal massacre and the former seat of the Shah kings, it holds deep significance in modern Nepalese history and offers a rare look inside the royal world.
Narayanhiti Palace is a powerful symbol of the end of Nepal's monarchy and the country's transition to a republic.
Why Visit
The former royal palace of Nepal, now a museum, with grand state rooms and the haunting site of the 2001 royal massacre that helped end the monarchy.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Photography is generally not allowed inside the palace.
- 2
It is the site of the 2001 royal massacre, marked in the grounds.
- 3
Check opening days, as it closes on certain days each week.
- 4
Allow time for the grand state rooms and royal apartments.
