# Maru, Kathmandu

_Neighbourhood in the Nepalese capital_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/places/maru-kathmandu
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Maru (Nepali: मरु) is a historic neighborhood in central Kathmandu, Nepal and one of the most important cultural spots in the city. It is linked with the origin of the name Kathmandu, and forms part of what is generically known as Durbar Square (including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square), the old royal palace complexes of temples, shrines and palace buildings all of which have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

## Quick facts

- **Type:** square ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6777870#P31))
- **Coordinates:** 27.7036, 85.3056

## About

Maru is also a market square, a venue for religious festivals and a celebrated residential quarter. It is a crossroads where two ancient trade routes connecting India and Tibet intersect.

Maru consists of a large square encircled by temples and rest houses. It presents an example of a temple square typical of traditional Newar urban planning. Streets radiate out from the square, and inconspicuous entryways lead to residential courtyards that are home to silversmiths and other craftsmen.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Maru, Kathmandu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maru,_Kathmandu) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q6777870](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6777870) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Kathmandu Darbar0854.JPG by Sundar1 (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kathmandu_Darbar0854.JPG)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Maru, Kathmandu, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Kathmandu Darbar0854.JPG — Sundar1, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Maru, Kathmandu". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/places/maru-kathmandu. Retrieved 4 November 2026.