Shaphalya Amatya

Monument, tourism and museum have always been treated as an interrelated discipline. In every developed country they are considered as very important and inter disciplinary enterprises. Since the decade of sixties, monument, tourism and museum have been given due importance by the government of Nepal for the development of the country.
The first and foremost museum of Nepal known as the National Museum was also established in a very ancient building, which was built by the first Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa in BS 1995. This museum is not only the pioneer museum but also the biggest among all. In BS 2000, the Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher had added an art gallery in the same complex. If someone wants to understand history and art of Nepal they must visit these museums. These two monuments housing these museums are not only historical but also architecturally very beautiful.

Museum Building
In the main building, some of the most valuable collections consist of historical weapons, costumes, uniforms, flags, medals and decorations, portraits of kings and other personalities, musical instruments and objects discovered in various excavations carried out in different places in the country have been preserved. Collections connected with different ethnic groups, wooden arts and natural history have also occupied some parts of this vast museum.
The Art gallery has a separate building, which is very untraditional and unique. It looks like a temple. This art gallery has many masterpieces in stone, terracotta, bronze, wood and other materials which constitute the main attractions of this gallery.
The National Numismatic Museum was established at Hanumandhokha in 1962. Later on it was sifted and housed at the top floor of the main historical building of the National museum. The main objective of this museum is to collect, preserve and exhibition of Nepali coins and to present a comprehensive picture of the evolution and development of history of Nepal.
The major part of historical Hanumandhokha Palace particularly the residential wings of the Malla and Shah Kings around Nasal Chowk and Lohan Chowk, were renovated with the assistance of UNESCO/ UNDP, and other friendly countries, which was completed in 1987. After renovation in the wings of the Nasal Chowk and Basantapur Chowk, the biographical museums of the Shah Kings were established, known as Tribhuwan Memorial Museum, Mahendra Memorial Museum and Birendra Memorial Museum. But the big earthquake of 2015 has destroyed the palace wings housing these museums, which are still undergoing restoration.

National Art Gallery
In 1960 the National Art Gallery was established at Bhaktapur in the Palace of the Malla kings. It is for the first time in the history of Nepal a museum was established in a historical building. This art gallery contains traditional Nepalese paintings on cloth known as pauvas, gathas or painted wooden covers of manuscripts, paintings particularly miniature paintings from manuscripts and water-color paintings of different legendary animals and birds. The most valuable and important is the mural paintings of different deities and hunting scenes of royalties, which are preserved there.
Similarly in BS2019 (AD 1962) the National Wood Work Museum was established at Pujari Matha in Bhaktapur. Pujari Math is an eighteen century monument very famous for mural paintings and wood carvings.
These experiences of establishing museums at historical palaces and houses have encouraged later authorities to establish numerous other museums in such historical monuments in the country. The restoration of Keshav Narayan Chowk of the Patan Durbar was completed in 1983 with the financial help of the Government of Austria. On 28th October 1997, Late King Birendra Shah had inaugurated the restored Keshav Narayan Chowk and the Patan Museum amidst a gala function. The Patan Museum is standing today as an example of cooperation and friendship between Nepal and Austria. It took more than a decade of efforts by a group of dedicated native and foreign architects, artists and scholars to restore it into original shape. After restoration, the palace rooms were turned into the exhibition galleries.
The Patan Museum displays the traditional sacred art of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. The exhibits cover a long span of Nepal's cultural history and some rare objects are among its treasures. The majority of exhibits are sculptures of Hindu and Buddhist deities. Most of the objects are cast bronzes and gilt copper repouse work, traditional crafts for which Patan is famous.

Narayanhiti Palace Museum
Narayanhiti Palace Museum is another very important museum established at the palace complex of ancient Narayanhiti. This museum was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on 1st Ashad BS2065. In this museum we can have a glance of the life style and way of living of the last Shah Kings particularly of the late king Birendra. The most valued attraction is the crown of the Shah Kings, which is kept here as an exhibit.
There are museums outside the valley in old palaces like Gorkha Palace, Nuwakot Palace, Lamjumg Palace, Palpa Durbar and numerous other palaces. Not only museums are opened in the old palaces but in almost all the districts of the country in old traditional and historical houses museums have been opened by the lovers of the museums. In this category we can mention the Tamang Museum of Rasuwa, Chepang Museum of Chitwan and so on. This trend of opening new museums in traditional houses has been very popular at present.
The conception of establishing museums in historical buildings has been great attraction to the tourists in Nepal. Whoever visits the country never misses to visit at least one or two museums. This policy of the government of establishing museums in historical monuments has also given great impetus for the sustainment of these ancient monuments.
Establishing museums at ancient architecturally rich palaces and buildings have a long tradition all over the world. Development of tourism in all over the world has been helping simultaneously for the preservation of ancient monuments as well as economy of the country. Therefore monuments, tourism and museums have deep inter-relationship and need coordination and co-operation in every developing country such as in Nepal.

(Amatya is an expert on heritages)