National Art Museum | Bhaktapur

National Art Museum (National Art Gallery) is a primary museum in Bhaktapur, Nepal, specializing in traditional paintings, manuscripts, and stone sculptures.

Visual Characteristics

Housed in the historic Simhadhwoka Durbar (Lion Gate Palace), the museum is easily identified by two massive stone guardian lions flanking the entrance. The building itself is a red-brick Malla-era palace with intricately carved dark wood windows. Inside, the galleries are atmospheric and often dimly lit to preserve sensitive artifacts, featuring narrow corridors and historic wooden floors.

Location & Access Logistics

Located in the northern section of Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Transit: Central location within the pedestrianized old city.

Access: Requires a separate ticket from the general Bhaktapur city entrance fee.

Admission: Approximately 150 NPR (extra fees for cameras). Note: This ticket also grants access to the Woodcarving Museum and the Brass & Bronze Museum in Dattatreya Square.

Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Winter: until 4:00 PM). Closed on Saturdays and public holidays (some sources cite Tuesday closures; check locally).

Historical Origin

The museum occupies a portion of the old royal palace complex built in 1698 by King Bhupatindra Malla. It was established as the National Art Gallery in 1960 by the Government of Nepal to prevent the loss of traditional Paubha paintings and ancient manuscripts.

Key Highlights & Activities

Paubha Paintings: An extensive collection of Hindu and Buddhist scroll paintings (similar to Thangkas) dating back centuries.

Stone Art: Located on the ground floor, featuring 9th-century sculptures and inscriptions from the Lichhavi period.

Shah Dynasty Portraits: A gallery of portraits depicting the kings of the Shah dynasty, including the final monarchs of Nepal.

Ancient Manuscripts: Rare palm-leaf chronicles and illustrated religious texts.

Erotic Art: Some sections feature traditional tantric imagery and erotic woodcarvings.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The museum lacks modern climate control; lighting is minimal, so a small torch can be helpful. There are no professional guides on-site, but artifacts are generally captioned in English and Nepali. 5G signal is stable outside, though thick palace walls may interfere with reception indoors.

Best Time to Visit

Morning (10:00 AM): To explore before the larger tour groups arrive in Durbar Square.

Combined Tour: Visit this museum first to obtain the multi-museum ticket for the Dattatreya Square sites.

Facts & Legends

A technical oddity is that the building is part of the 55-Window Palace complex; while it feels separate, it shares the same structural foundation as the most famous royal residence in the city. Legend states that the stone lions at the gate are so powerful that they come to life at night to patrol the palace courtyards against intruders.

Nearby Landmarks

Golden Gate – 0.05km East

55-Window Palace – Directly adjacent (East)

Nyatapola Temple – 0.2km South

Taleju Bell – 0.03km South