There are some references of royal palace in the same area during Lichhavi period also. A Lichhavi inscription of Sambat 535 (612/13 A.D.) from Joshi Deval which mentions about a royal palace with its four side boundaries (of inscription area) known as Dakshinrajkula. It gives the site to be located in the north east direction which definitely indicates area of the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace of today. There is an additional evidence of the existence of a royal palace there. An inscription executed during the period of Amsuvarma (605 A.D.-621 A.D.) which mentions about the renovation of a Lichhavi royal palace. This is attached to the plinth of Degutalezu temple. There are also other cultural evidence which dates back to the antiquity of a royal palace. There is a tradition of bringing the image of Changu Narayana to the royal palace twice a year, in the month of Sravan (July –August) and Poush (December-January). It is proved that Changu Narayan is older than King Manadeva (464-505 A.D.). If the origin of Changu Narayana and custom of bringing him into the Hanuman Dhoka royal palace is contemporaneous, then there is no controversy about the hoary antiquity of Hanuman Dhoka royal palace. In addition to all those evidences, the icons found from the site also gives the proof that the site or royal palace is really old one.

Hanuman Dhoka royal palace is also designed as other royal palaces of Kathmandu Valley, with big courtyards, gardens and open spaces for the temples in which Gods and Goddesses reside. The temple styles comprised pagodas, sikharas and dome shaped architectures. The royal palace during medieval period was not erected merely for king and queens but also used as the centre of administration, and cultural activities and festivals. Hanuman Dhoka royal palace also comprised all these activities and thus the architectural buildings were also erected in order to meet those necessities.

All the monuments- historical buildings religious temples and shrines which are concentrated to -day in and around Hanuman Dhoka were not built in a day. They are the result of the donation by numerous patrons and builders in hundreds of years. They were erected from the time of King Ratna Malla (1484-1520 A.D.) to Prithvi Vir Bikrma Shah (1875-1911 A.D.) Ratna Malla, the second son of King Yakshya Mall, declared kantipur as an independent principality in 1484 and separated it from the clutches of Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur was then the capital of entire valley and patan was still to come into an independent state. There are some monuments still standing near Hanuman Dhoka royal palace which is the creation of Ratna Malla.

According to some chronicles, Ratna Malla had erected a small temple of Talezu near Tana Bahal. The Goddess Taleju is considered to be the tutelary deity of Malla dynasty. He had also constructed Hiti Chowk. Surya Malla and Amar Malla, the successors of Ratna Malla did not leave any meritorious works. Then comes the reign of Mahendra Malla who had contributed a lot to enhance the beauty of the Hanuman Dhoka. He enlarged the small temple of Talezu into a marvelous size and made the main courtyard- the Mul Chowk. All the rituals and ceremonies pertaining to the kings take place in this courtyard even to-day. Still there exists one of the oldest part of the Hanuman Dhoka. He also consecrated the icon of Mahendresvara and made the temple for him in 1561 A.D. In addition to that he had made a temple near the main entrance of royal palace and enshrined the image of Chatrumukhi Bishnu in it.

Another important royal personage was born in Malla Dynasty. He was King Pratap Malla (1641-1674 A.D.). His reign was marked by development such as literature, religion, culture, art and architecture. He was the fore runner in building activities among all the Malla kings in Kantipur. He was not only embellished the royal palace but also made a lot of temples and shrines in every nook and corner of kantipur city. In fact, it was the period, when most of the building activities in Kathmandu valley was in the height of progress. There was some sort of competition among three petty kingdoms in building and furnishing their royal palaces with temples and monuments. There was full scale development in the architecture of royal buildings. Also it was during his reign that the area of royal palace was extended. There was new addition of Sundari Chowk, Nasal Chowk and Bhandarkhal Royal Garden. Immediately after ascending the throne, he had erected the lion capital on a stone pillar in front of the Degu temple. He did the consecration of the image of Hanuman and Vishvaroopa in the royal entrance, erected the temple of Panchamukhi Hanuman in Nasal Chowk along with Narasingh image and golden Chaturmukha Bishnu. Krishna temple Kavindrapur and famous Kalabhairava image are other additions to the royal palace complex made by Pratap Malla. Besides royal palace, in Pasupati, Guhesvari and Swayambhu Nath area also he left his marks.

After Pratap Malla, Parthivendra Malla added another temple of Trailokyamohan in 1660 A.D. Similarly, the queen mother Riddhi Laxmi erected the high temple in front of royal palace dedicated to Shiva. The temple is called Maju Deval (the mother temple). Another queen mother Bhuvan Laxmi also added many temples to embellish the site between 1802-1810 A.D.

Jayaprakash Malla, last king of kantipur had added in 1756 A.D. a remarkable monument of Kumarighar, also called Kumari Bahal in which the living Goddess the kumari (the virgin) resides even to-day. The kumarighar is made in the architectural form of a Buddhist vihar and is decorated with the intricate wood carvings and terracotta art as well. The inner wall of the monument is further decorated with the freeze art of the day. The monument is called now with different names- Kumarighar,Kumari Vahal, Kumari Chowk, and Kumari Mandir. The site is equally important from cultural religious and architectural point of view.

In addition to all these monuments, another most important monument is the Kastha Mandapa which is located to south west of Hanuman Dhoka and was already in existence from 1142 A.D (NS 262). Although made in a temple architecture, its function is of a sattal type which serves as the shelter house for the Jogis the hermits. This monument carries another importance, since last few decades all the state dignitaries are honoured in this monument by handling over the key of the Kathmandu city by the city Mayor. The name of the Kathmandu city is derived from this monument which has enhanced the glory of this city.

After the conquest of Kantipur by Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1768 A.D. Kathmandu was declared the capital city of entire country. Prithvi Narayan Shah erected a tallest residential palace in the form of temple architecture and called it a Nautale Durbar (the nine storied palace) in 1770 A.D. It is the only residential pagoda style architecture in Nepal.

Although short reigned, the son of Prithvi Narayan Shah, King Pratap Singh Shah enlarged the temple of Basantapur and Vilas Mandir along with the courtyard occupied by them. Rana Bahadur Shah added the shrine of Sweta Bhairav and big bell and likewise Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah embellished the main entrance with gold gilding in 1810 A.D. Rajendra Bikram Shah renovated the Mul Chowk and Mohan Chowk in 1822 A.D. and paved the floor with flag stones two years earlier. Again next year Nasal Chowk was paved, along with the construction of Sish Mahal. Although enlarged, the architectural norms were not much altered during the renovations of those times.

But after the return of Prime Minister Jang Bahadur’s visit from Great Britain in 1857 A.D. there was a new style of neo-classic buildings from Europe added to the architecture of Kathmandu Valley. From then onwards about fifty such neo-classical palaces were built in and around Kathmandu Valley for the Kings, Prime ministers and their relatives. Likewise, Chandra Shumser built the Gaddhi Vaithak in this style in 1907 A.D. removing some of the older buildings from there. This happened during the reign of King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah thus Ranas brought the change in palatial architecture and introduced the European style into Nepalese Architecture. Many parts added later on by the Ranas in Hanuman Dhoka royal complex are quite conspicuous.

During the survey conducted in 1830 the Hanuman Dhoka palace complex was shown quite bigger and wider than to-day. There were about thirty five courtyards and the people remember even to-day that the Hanuman Dhoka royal palace included the compound of present Super Market, Bhugol Park Nepal Bank building and the present New Road gate, as its limit. But the area of the present palace has shrinked and brought to its present shape due to many reasons, such as the major one being the devastation of the Great Earthquake of 1934, opening New Road and Indra Chowk still it is the biggest royal palace complex of the medieval period among all medieval royal palaces in Nepal. There are only ten courtyards left to-day with its boundary.

The Hanuman Dhoka royal palace is included in the protected Monument zone along with other private buildings. It is one of the sites which is included in the World Heritage list the map showing boundary line of the site included in the world heritage list is attached herewith.

It will not be an exaggeration to call the complex as the open museum of the Nepalese culture, art and architecture. One feels as if he/she is within a pilgrimage centre when one enters and ceremonies organized often in the palace complex adds to its cultural value even more. Actually these cultural activities architectural monuments and art piece in the form of icons images and statues have contributed its glory in the past, present and will enhance even in the future. No tourists visiting Nepal would miss this place.

In one way all those palace complexes are exhibiting its own glory and in other way- they are also the pride of our cultural heritage and the sign of national integrity as well. Therefore, it is our collective duty and responsibility now to preserve them and maintain the environment of those historical and cultural heritages.