More than 45,000 books here cover as unrelated topics as astrology and law, with history, hunting, religion and philosophy in between.

Histroical Background

During the last days of the Rana regime Kaiser Shumshere was the Lord Saheb in charge of the Nepalese army. Right from his very young age of 15 or 16 Kaiser Shumshere had been interested in buying and collecting different types of books and newspapers. In that very young age he also got a chance to visit England with his father Maharaja Chandra. He was very much impressed by the ruling system of England, as also by the library system and the proper management of books there. Book collection was his hobby and his visit to Britain & British libraries there led to increase the number of his books and change the structure of his own library. In England he bought & brought with him many books to Kathmandu. Even though the books in his library grew in number they were his personal property and ordinary people didn't get chance to read them or to have an access to his library. The library was limited to the members of his family, special people of the nation and special visitors from abroad. It remained personal for many years even after the Revolution of 2007 B.S. (1950 A.D.), which introduced democracy in Nepal. Before his death in 2021 B.S. (1964 A.D.) he wished to hand over his library to the government, thereby making it a national property, so that everybody could get the benefit out of it. According to his 'Will' the ownership was taken over by the government of Nepal, and since the year 2026 B.S, (1968 A.D.) it is running with the name of Kaiser Library.

Library Hours:
9AM to 5PM (to 4PM for Dec 15 to Feb 15).
Closed on public holidays and Saturdays and Sundays.

Address:
Kaiser library
Kaiser Mahal, Thamel,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Phone: +977-1-411 318, Fax: +977-1-442 010