Seto Durbar (White Palace) was a

Rana Rana may refer to: Astronomy * Rana (crater), a crater on Mars * Delta Eridani or Rana, a star People, groups and titles * Rana (name), a given name and surname (including a list of people and characters with the name) * Rana (title), a histor ...

palace in

Kathmandu , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Provinces of Nepal, Province , subdivision_name1 ...

, the capital of

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...

. The palace complex, located south of the

Narayanhity Palace The Narayanhiti Palace Museum ( Nepali: नारायणहिटी दरवार) is a public museum in Kathmandu, Nepal located east of the Kaiser Mahal and next to Thamel. The museum was created in 2008 from the complex of the former Nar ...

, was incorporated in an impressive and vast array of courtyards, furnishings and guest halls. Seto Durbar was built by

Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana Commanding General Shree 3 Maharaja Sir Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (10 December 1852 – 5 March 1901) was the 11th Prime Minister of Nepal. He is remembered as a statesman who made reforms and infrastructure improvements. Bir Shamsher Jung ...

in 1893 CE.

History

Seto Durbar was built by Bir Shumsher JBR in 1893 CE in a land area of 375 ropani with Lal Durbar to its northeast as his private residence. In 1901

Gehendra Shamsher JBR Gehendra Shumsher ( ne, गेहेन्द्र शमशेर, 1871–1906) was a Nepali innovator, firearm designer, and general in the then Nepali Army. He was the eldest son of Bir Shumsher, the third prime minister of the Rana dynast ...

, Bir Shumsher JBR's eldest son inherited this palace. In 1905 upon Gahendra's death his son Lila Shumsher inherited Seto Durbar.

Grand State Hall

Seto durbar was famous for its Grand State Hall known as Thulo Baithak or Big hall. This Grand State Hall was famous for its Belgian wall mirrors; glass lamps from Murano and Bohemian chandeliers adorned the interiors while Italian marble tiled the floors.

Destruction of the Seto Durbar

In 1934 a massive fire broke out at Seto Durbar engulfing the palace building. Historian Purushottam Shamsher says in his book that Lila Shumsher begged the then Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher to use artillery cannon to cut off the burning wing from the non-affected wing. Juddha Shumsher declined his begging saying artillery might damage

Narayanhiti Palace The Narayanhiti Palace Museum (Nepali: नारायणहिटी दरवार) is a public museum in Kathmandu, Nepal located east of the Kaiser Mahal and next to Thamel. The museum was created in 2008 from the complex of the former Nar ...

, the Royal residence of the King. Today, the only remains of Seto durbar is a building occupied by NIDC Development Bank Head Office in Durbar Marg.

Legacy

Seto Durbar is considered by historians as one of the most beautiful and extravagant palace buildings in the history of Nepal. Today most of the Hotel Annapurna stands on the grounds of Seto Durbar

References

{{Reflist Rana palaces of Nepal Palaces in Kathmandu 19th-century establishments in Nepal

History

Grand State Hall

Destruction of the Seto Durbar

Legacy

See also

References