Durbar in Nepali means "Palace" and in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, there are Durbar Squares in front of the old palaces. The King no longer lives in the old Royal Palace in Kathmandu and the new palace is now close to the popular tourist area of Thamel.

Around the central Durbar Square are the old Roual Palace (Hanuman Dhoka), a number of interesting pagodas and Indian style temples (Sikhara), the House of Kumari (the living Goddess) and the Kasthamandap (or wooden house which is the origin of the word Kathmandu) and many more things to see and do.