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 histori ...
palace in
Kathmandu
, pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia
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, subdivision_type1 = Province
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, the capital of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
. 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 in 1893 CE.
History
Seto Durbar was built by
Bir Shumsher JBR
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 in a land area of 375 ropani with
Lal Durbar to its northeast as his private residence. In 1901
Gehendra Shamsher JBR,
Bir Shumsher JBR
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 ...
'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 Nara ...
, 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
See also
*
Bhimsen Thapa
Bhimsen Thapa ( ne, भीमसेन थापा (August 1775 – 29 July 1839)) was a Nepalese statesman who served as the ''Mukhtiyar'' (equivalent to prime minister) and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He is widely known as the ...
*
Jung Bahadur Rana
Maharaja Jung Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji, (born Bir Narsingh Kunwar ( ne, वीर नरसिंह कुँवर), 18 June 1817; popularly known as Jung Bahadur Rana (JBR, ne, जङ्गबहादुर राणा)) () belonging to the ...
*
Mathabarsingh Thapa
Mathabar Singh Thapa ( ne, माथवरसिंह थापा, born 1798, Borlang, Gorkha17 May 1845, Basantapur, Kathmandu), also spelled Mathbar, Mathawar, Mathavar, variantly called Matabar Singh Thapa ( ne, मातवरसिं ...
References
{{Reflist
Rana palaces of Nepal
Palaces in Kathmandu
19th-century establishments in Nepal