National Museum of Nepal, Kathmandu, Bagmati Nepal

The National Museum of Nepal (Rashtriya Sangrahalaya) is a popular attraction of the capital city of Kathmandu. Being about a century old, the museum stands both 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 cityfolk of Kathmandu, the monument serves to relive the battles fought on the grounds of Nepal. The main attractions are collection of historical artworks (sculpture and paintings) and a historical display of weapons used in the wars in 18-19th century. The museum has separate galleries dedicated to statues, paintings, murals, coins and weapons.It has three buildings - Juddha Jayatia Kala Shala, Buddha Art Gallery and the main historical building which consists of natural historical section (collection of different species of animals, butterflies and plants), cultural section and philatelic section.

The National Museum is under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The museum, though does not have a lot many visitors due to less publicity, it has practical application in portraying and understanding the past and present traditions of the people of Nepal.

The National Museum of Nepal was established in 1928 by General Bhimsen Thapa using an old building built in 1819 A.D. The museum then known as Chhauni Silkhana, literally meaning "arsenal museum", was originally used to display firearms and weapons used in the glorious past of the war history of Nepal.

It was opened to the public in February 1939 by the then Prime Minister of Nepal Juddha Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana. He not only allowed Nepalis to visit the museum charging very little but also raised a building for an art museum and named it after himself Juddha Jatiya Kalashala. Until then only foreign scholars/dignitaries and invitees or guests of the Rana Prime Minister occasionally could have a glimpse of the collection. The Art Gallery was opened in 1943 A.D. Chhauni Silkhana was renamed as Rashtriya Sangrahalaya (literally "National Museum of Nepal") in 1967 during the rule of His Majesty the King Mahendra.