National Museum. Newly renovated and filled with treasures, including a charming dancing Ganesh, breathtaking bronzes, and a rich collection of paubha scroll paintings. The National Museum at Chhauni near Swayambhu also has an extraordinary collection of ancient firearms, weapons captured in various wars in Nepalese history, leather cannons and relics of the Great Earthquake of 1934.

Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10 am to 4 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 5 and an extra Rs. 10 for cameras (tel: 271504).

The National Numismatic Museum, housed in the Mahendra Memorial Building of the National Museum at Chhauni, contains an exceptional Nepalese coin collection spanning the Lichhavi and Malla dynasties (2nd to 18th century AD) as well as the Shah dynasty.

The museum also holds unique pieces dating back to the second century BC. Other extraordinary exhibits include coins stamped in clay. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10 am to 4 pm. Your ticket to the National Museum entitles you to visit the coin museum also (tel: 271504).

The Tribhuvan Museum inside the Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu Durbar Square highlights the life of King Tribhuvan (1906-1955) who helped liberate the country from the Rana regime in 1951. The galleries also have rare photographs, paintings, and portraits of other Shah rulers and members of the Royal family. You can climb the Basantapur Tower and look out over the temples of Durbar Square. Cameras are not allowed. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:30 am to 4:15 pm; Friday: 10:30 am to 2 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 10 (tel: 215613).

The Mahendra Museum, yet another attraction in the historic Hanuman Dhoka Palace complex, vividly sheds light on the life of late King Mahendra (r. 1955-1972). His cabinet room, office chamber and personal belongings such as medals, decorations, gifts, coins, stamps, and his literary creations are on exhibition in the museum. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:30 am to 4:15 pm. You can visit the Mahendra Museum with your ticket to the Tribhuvan Museum (tel: 215613).

The Birendra Museum, established recently in the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, contains personal possessions of the present monarch, His Majesty King Birendra, including royal attires that he had donned during various state occasions. Also on display are gifts, medals and honorary titles received from various foreign governments and institutions. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:30 am to 4:15 pm. Your ticket to the Tribhuvan Museum entitles you to visit this museum also (tel: 215613).

The Museum of Natural History behind the Swayambhu stupa has exhibits on animals, butterflies, and plants. Stuffed animals, birds and crocodiles are a big draw in the museum. Open daily, except Saturdays and holidays, from 10 am to 4:30 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 10 and an additional Rs. 20 for cameras (tel: 271899).

National Library. Located inside Harihar Bhavan in Pulchowk, Patan, the National Library contains about 70,000 books, most of which are in English, with a smattering of books in Sanskrit, Nepali, Hindi, and Nepalbhasa. The National Library preserves some rare scholarly books in Sanskrit and English dating from the 17th century. Some invaluable books in Sanskrit have been re-printed to facilitate easy reading for the public. Open daily except Saturdays and holidays, from 10 am to 5 pm (tel: 521132).

Kaiser Library. Collections of a single man, Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (1891-1964), adorn this palatial building near Thamel. The repertoire of books here (over 45,000 altogether) covers as unrelated topics as astrology and law, with history, hunting, religion, and philosophy in between. The oldest book in the collection is a Sanskrit manual of tantra, the art of mysticism, believed to be at least 1,000 years old. Open daily except Saturdays and holidays, from 10 am to 5 pm; Friday: 10 am to 3 pm (tel: 411318).

Asa Archives. Located on the western fringe of the old part of Kathmandu, the archives possess an exceptional collection of over 6,000 loose-leaf handwritten books and 1,000 palm-leaf documents. The rare collection is an insight into the literary tradition of medieval Kathmandu. The oldest manuscript here dates back to AD 1464. Most of the manuscripts are in Sanskrit and Nepalbhasa languages. Asa Archives (Asa Saphu Kuthi), located at Kulambhulu west of Nhyokha Tole, are open daily from 11 am to 5 pm except Saturdays and holidays (tel: 223817).

Patan Museum inside Patan Durbar in the Durbar Square specializes in bronze statues and religious objects, which add up to nearly 900 items. Some of the art goes back to as early as the 11th century, and there is evidence that certain objects date from the period of the Lichhavi kings. Most of the statues are of Buddha, Bishnu, Lokeswar, and Devi, covering both the Hindu and the Buddhist iconology. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm (tel: 521492). The Patan Museum Cafe located in the palace garden serves fresh soups, filled rolls, and traditional Newari dishes.

The National Art Gallery in Bhaktapur is housed in the old Malla Palace of 55 Windows in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The museum has a rich collection of paubha scroll paintings, bronze, brass, stone, and wooden images. There is also a unique illustrated book on horses that folds out to over three meters in length. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:15 am to 4:45 pm; Friday: 10:15 am to 2:45 pm. Entrance costs Rs. 5 and there is an extra charge of Rs. 10 for cameras (tel: 610004).

The National Woodworking Museum in Tachapal Tole (Dattatreya Square), Bhaktapur, is in the restored 15th-century Pujari Math building built by the Malla king, Yaksha Malla. The Pujari Math is a museum in itself, with the very finest of Newar woodcarving including the famous Peacock Window. Mural paintings of Dattatreya, Bishnu and Shiva-Parbati deities adorn its walls. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:15 am to 4:45 pm; Friday: 10:15 am to 2:45 pm. Tickets cost Rs. 5 and there is an extra Rs. 10 for cameras (tel: 610005).

The Bronze and Brass Museum is housed in a 15th-century Math opposite the Pujari Math at Tachapal Tole, Bhaktapur. A rich collection of domestic and ceremonial metalware is exhibited in the museum: kalash (ritual jars), ink-pots, spittoons, ordinary and ritual lamps, medieval utensils, water pots, hookahs (hubble-bubble), giant containers. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10:15 am to 4:45 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 5 and an extra charge of Rs. 10 for cameras (tel: 610448).

Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI), located in the International Monastery Zone in Lumbini, provides research facilities for the study of Buddhism and religion in general. Jointly run by the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) and the Reiyukai of Japan, LIRI contains some 6,000 books on religion, philosophy, art, and architecture. The books and documents, many of them rare and unlikely to be found elsewhere in Nepal, are in Pali, Sanskrit, Nepali, Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese, English, French, German, Italian, and other languages. Residential facilities for scholars are available on the premises (tel: 071-29475).

Kapilvastu Museum is situated 24 km west of Lumbini (the birthplace of Lord Buddha) in the village of Tilaurakot. The museum holds coins, pottery and toys dating between the seventh century BC and fourth century AD. The museum also has a good collection of jewelry and other ornaments from that period. A short excursion from Lumbini to Kapilvastu Museum proves worthwhile to all history buffs. Open daily except Tuesdays and holidays, 10 am to 5 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 15 (tel: 071-60128).

The Dhankuta Museum is a regional museum encompassing the eastern sector of the country. Dhankuta is the headquarters of the Eastern Development Region and is located north of Dharan and Biratnagar. Apart from serving as a showcase for ethnic artifacts, the museum focuses on archeological exhibits that it plans to expand in the coming years. Open daily except Tuesdays and holidays from 10 am to 5 pm. Entrance fee is Rs. 10 (tel: 026-20248).

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