Nasal Chowk - Narashima Statue

Left of the entrance stands a black statue of Narashima with rich gold and silver mounts. In the form of Narashima, Vishnu appears as part-lion, part-man, tearing the entrails from a demon with his bare hands. The statue was commissioned in 1673 by Pratapa Malla who allegedly incurred the deity's wrath by dancing dressed as Narashima. Only after taking the advice of a priest and erecting this placatory image to the god was the King freed from the resulting afflictions.

The open gallery on the left side once served as an audience chamber, its upholstered seats testifying to the opulence of palace furnishings at the time. The walls are hung with portraits of the entire Shah dynasty. Each wears the Sri Pech, the magnificent plume worn by the Shahs as a crown.

Above the north-east corner rise the five circular roofs of the Panch Mukhi Hanuman Pagoda, dedicated to the five-faced monkey god. Hanuman's image was again commissioned by Pratapa Malla.