Charburja Durbar, Historical palace in Thapathali district, Kathmandu, Nepal
Charburja Durbar is a palace in Kathmandu's Thapathali district that combines both Mughal and European architectural elements. The building was constructed primarily with brick and mortar as part of the larger Thapathali Durbar Complex.
Jung Bahadur Rana built this palace in 1849 for Jind Kaur, the youngest queen consort of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who had fled British imprisonment. The building served important functions during Nepal's Rana period, a transformative era in the nation's political development.
The name Charburja refers to the four towers of the palace, reflecting the blend of Nepali and Sikh influences in its design. Visitors walking through the grounds can still observe how these two traditions shaped the building's structure and layout.
The grounds now house the Paropakar Indra Rajya Lakshmi Devi Prasuti Griha, Nepal's first maternity hospital, established in 1959. Visitors should know this is an active medical facility, so access may be limited and tours might not always be possible.
After Jind Kaur's departure to England, the palace briefly passed to a Brahmin priest before Jung Bahadur Rana repurposed it as a Court House. This shifting history of uses shows how the building adapted to Nepal's changing political landscape over time.
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