1. Jan-Feb 2011

HERITAGE
The Area of Maru, with Marusatal, Kavindrapur and the
temple of Maru Ganesh marks the current extend of the
Hanumandhokha Palace Complex
Kathmandu in Licchavi Times:
Today the term Kathmandu may encompass the vast spread from
Budanilkantha to Kalanki and to the Bagmati River, or may also refer to
the entire Valley. But the historic city of Kathmandu covered only the
current core of Lagan, Bhimsenthan, Hanumandhokha, Indrachowk,
Itum Bahal etc. Even the Bishnumati River to the west and Tundikhel to
the east were in the outskirts.
In the Licchavi era, the city of Kathmandu was divided into two parts,
viz. Koligram and Dakshin-Koligram. Dakshin-Koligram comprised of
the present areas of Lagan, Yangal Tole, Brahma Tole etc., whereas the
areas of Itum Bahal, Machindranath Bahal etc. made up the Koligram
area. It is interesting to note that the two divisions of the ancient city
are visible even today in the festival routes, like the chariot route of
Kumari during the Indra Jatra Festival. Here the two directional routes
of Kwone and Thane comprise mostly of the parts of Dakshin Koligram
and Koligram respectively, with the Hanumandhokha Royal Palace
area acting as the centre.
the gate of the palace. This image was placed in B.S. 1729, by King
Pratap Malla, one of the most influential rulers in shaping the palace
complex.
The Hanumandhokha palace became the official residence of
royalty from B.S. 1541, when King Ratna Malla, separated from his
brother Raya Malla, defeated the Mahapatras of Kathmandu and
started his own regime.
It remained a royal residence until the reign of King Prithivi Bir
Bikram Shah (1938-1968 B.S.), who later moved to the royal palace
at Narayanhiti.
The image of
Hanuman at the
‘Dhokha’ of the Palace
Interestingly a stone inscription dated B.S. 670, mentions the
presence of a Rajkul or Royal Palace in the Dakshin Koligram area
which was popularly known as the Dakshin-Rajkul. Another Licchavi
inscription found below the Degutale Temple at Hanumandhokha
mentions the renovation of an ancient Licchavi Palace by the Licchavi
King Amshuvarma. If all these records are inferred, one can come to
the conclusion that the Dakshin-Rajkul was in fact the palace that was
renovated by Amshuvarma and that the palace extended from the
present day Jaisidewal to Hanumandhokha. Another interesting fact
is that during the Licchavi rule, people living in Thankot were required
to pay taxes at Dakshin Koligram, which only proves its administrative
power and hence the presence of a palace at the area is quite palpable.
Hanumandhokha - The Post-Licchavi Palace:
Although the presence of a palace at the current Hanumandhokha area
and beyond during Licchavi rule, is recorded in history, it is difficult to
confer if the Malla palace was built in any co-relation to the Licchavi
Palace or if it was only co-incidentally placed at the same location. But
clearly what we see today has no architectural entity from the Licchavi
time, and is a result of contributions by multiple rulers during the Malla,
Shah and the Rana regimes. The name, Hanumandhokha, itself comes
from the image of the monkey god 'Hanuman' placed at the 'Dhokha' or
January-February 2011
71
www.spacesnepal.com