Nuwakot Durbar

Nuwakot commands the route between the Kathmandu valley and the Trishuli river, and Prithvi Narayan Shah used it as his base during the campaign that ended with the conquest of the valley and the founding of modern Nepal; the Saat Talle Durbar, the seven-storey palace, was built here in the 1760s, a tall brick tower with carved windows and overhanging tiled roofs standing above the ridge with other palace buildings and temples around it. Prithvi Narayan died here in 1775. The 2015 earthquake damaged the complex heavily and restoration has been under way since, so parts are scaffolded or closed. The ridge gives views over the Trishuli valley and, on clear days, to Ganesh Himal.

What you actually see

• The seven-storey palace - the tall brick tower with carved windows.
• The palace compound - temples and secondary buildings on the ridge.
• Restoration works - the ongoing repair after the 2015 earthquake.
• The Trishuli valley - the view down from the ridge toward the river.

When to go

October to April for the roads and clear views. The site keeps daytime hours. Access to parts of the complex depends on the state of restoration, which has run in phases.

Honest expectations

The earthquake damage was severe and much of the complex has been closed or under scaffolding for years. The road from Kathmandu is winding and takes three hours or more. Interpretation is limited. Facilities are minimal.

Nearby

Trishuli and Bidur lie below; Kathmandu is southeast.