Harihar Bhawan is a Rana palace in Patan, the capital of Nepal. The palace complex, located west of the Shree Durbar, was incorporated into a vast array of courtyards, gardens and buildings.

Harihar Bhawan
Map
General information
Architectural styleNeoclassical architecture and European styles of architecture
Town or cityLalitpur
CountryNepal
Coordinates27°40′51″N 85°18′47″E / 27.6807°N 85.31312°E / 27.6807; 85.31312
Elevation1,322 metres (4,337 ft)
ClientChandra Shumsher JBR
Technical details
MaterialBrick and mortar
Design and construction
Architect(s)Kumar Narasingh Rana and Kishor Narasingh Rana

History

edit

The palace complex lay in the heart of Kathmandu, to the west of the Shree Durbar.[1] Built by Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana for his second son, Sankar Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana.[2] After the death of his father in 1929, Shankar Shamsher moved to Harihar Bhawan and stayed there until 1950, when he was sent to the UK as the ambassador of the Kingdom of Nepal. In 1953, Shankar Shumsher was recalled from service, but he chose to stay in the UK.

Under the Government of Nepal

edit

After Shankar Shumsher stayed in the UK, the Government of Nepal nationalized all his properties, along with Harihar Bhawan.[2] Currently, this palace is occupied by the Department of Agriculture, National Library of Nepal and National Human Rights Commission.[3]

Earthquake 2015

edit
 
Front portico of Harihar Bhawan

This palace was partially damaged during the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. Harihar Bhawan was then designated unsafe and received a red sticker. Currently, the Department of Agriculture, the National Library of Nepal and the National Human Rights Commission have started an evacuation. The current situation of this building is unknown.[4]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "THE HISTORIC DURBARS OF KATHMANDU". Shankerhotels.com.np. 19 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b JBR, PurushottamShamsher (2007). Ranakalin Pramukh Atihasik Darbarharu [Chief Historical Palaces of the Rana Era] (in Nepali). Vidarthi Pustak Bhandar. ISBN 978-9994611027.
  3. ^ "Ministry of Education: Singadurbar,Kathmandu, Nepal". Moe.gov.np. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Rana palaces after the earthquake". Nepalitimes.com. 20 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.