page_title: National Museum of Nepal
section_title: Historical Museum
hierarchical_section_title: National Museum of Nepal / Historical Museum
caption_attribution_description: English: National Museum of Nepal. Gallery of Nepalese History
context_page_description: The National Museum of Nepal is a popular attraction of the capital city of Kathmandu. About a century old, the museum stands as a tourist destination and historical symbol for Nepal. Being the largest museum of the country of Nepal, it plays an important role in nationwide archaeological works and development of museums. For the residents of Kathmandu, the monument serves to relive the battles fought on the grounds of Nepal. The main attractions are collection of historical artworks and a historical display of weapons used in the wars in the 18-19th century. The museum has separate galleries dedicated to statues, paintings, murals, coins and weapons. It has three buildings — Juddha Jayatia Khate Sala, Buddha Art Gallery and the main building which consists of natural historical section, cultural section and philatelic section.
  The National Museum is under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The museum has practical application in portraying and understanding the past and present traditions of the people of Nepal.
context_section_description: The monumental building housing the Historical Museum was built by Bhimsen Thapa, prime minister of Nepal in the 18th century. Riches of Nepal’s biodiversity are exhibited in these chambers — mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, butterflies and insects.  Pelt, horn or endo-skeletons of tiger, leopard, red panda, flying squirrel, rhinoceros, whale, colourful plumage of birds may be cited.
  The Military section is a collection of weapons and artifacts from ancient, medieval and modern Nepal. The leather-canons (seized during the 1st Nepal-Tibet war in 1792 A.D), cane helmets (from the time of early rulers), antique, electric and Thomson submachine guns, Birgun (a gun supposedly invented by Gahendra Shamsher JB Rana) have remained valuable possessions. The gallery has a sword presented by Napoleon III and life-size paintings of tiger hunting as royal sport, on display. Historical and modern paintings of Prime Ministers and kings of the Malla and Shah dynasties are exhibited along with show cases presenting Nepalese historical weapons.
  The Numismatic section preserves rare copper, silver and gold coins from the Licchavi era (5th to 7th century) until modern times. Some tokens made of clay or leather, and banknotes are also on display.
caption: National Museum: Gallery of Nepalese History
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