The Nuwakot Durbar Tour, also known as “Nawakotta” (nine forts), is the lowest fort on a hill and is encircled by eight further forts: Belkot, Bhairabkot, Kalikot, Malakot, Dhuwankot, Pyaskot, Simalkot, and Sarayankot.
Overview
Nuwakot Durbar Tour
Located around 76 kilometers northwest of Kathmandu, Nuwakot is a historic palace district that has been important since ancient times. Before 1744 AD, Nepal was divided into a number of tiny fiefs. The king of Gorkha, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, led the endeavor to unite this region to establish a strong, unified nation. Nuwakot, then a Kantipur (Kathmandu) colony, was regarded as the main western gateway to the valley. This site has also been popular as the main commerce route with Tibet.
The Nuwakot Durbar Tour, also known as “Nawakotta” (nine forts), is the lowest fort on a hill and is encircled by eight further forts: Belkot, Bhairabkot, Kalikot, Malakot, Dhuwankot, Pyaskot, Simalkot, and Sarayankot. As a result, “Nuwakot” is believed to have originated from Nawakotta.
During the Malla and Shah eras, several sites, rest houses, dabalis, temples, and stupas of archaeological significance were built, along with cultural customs that are still observed today. The Malla period’s cultural traditions are among the city’s main attractions. Bhairabi Jatra (Sindure Jatra), Narayan Jatra, Gai Jatra, Shipai Jatra, Devi Jatra, Lakhe dance, Fulpati, and Krishna Janmastami are still celebrated.
In 1762, Prithvi Narayan Shah brought artisans from Lalitpur to construct the famous Saat Tale Darbar (seven-storey palace), now considered a masterpiece of architecture. In 1793, King Rana Bahadur Shah met British envoy William Kirkpatrick here. Rangamahal, a west-facing palace built of greasy bricks, lies just east of Saat Tale Darbar and was used as a leisure residence by Malla kings.