Nuwakot Palace, Seven-story palace complex in Bidur, Nepal.
Nuwakot Palace is a seven-story palatial complex built with stone and brick that sits elevated roughly 60 kilometers north of Kathmandu. The structure displays thick walls with carved windows across multiple levels and commands panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
The palace was built in 1762 under King Prithvi Narayan Shah after he secured the area and used it as a base during Nepal's unification campaign. The structure reflects an important period of political consolidation in the late 1700s.
The ruins hold connections to local traditions and spiritual practices that still resonate with nearby communities. Visitors can sense this cultural layer in the architecture and spaces where daily life and rituals once unfolded.
The site is best visited in early morning or late afternoon hours when sunlight falls at lower angles across the ruins and pathways are clearly visible. The route requires sturdy footwear and physical endurance since steep uphill sections demand careful footing.
Each floor of the palace served its own distinct function: guards occupied the ground level, royal chambers sat on the second floor, prayer rooms on the third, and prison cells higher up. This thoughtfully arranged spatial system reveals how the fortress operated as both an administrative and military center.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
