Kathmandu Durbar Square — Secret of the Devoted Throne
Uncover the dark secret of the Devoted Throne in Kathmandu Durbar Square. A royal conspiracy threatens the Kumari's living goddess legacy. Solve the riddles hidden among ancient palaces and temples to expose the truth before it's lost forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the heart of Kathmandu Durbar Square, the Devoted Throne has long been the sacred seat of the Kumari, the living goddess chosen from the city's innocent girls
Kathmandu Durbar Square — Secret of the Devoted Throne
You are an 18th-century royal archivist in Kathmandu, commissioned by Prithvi Narayan Shah, the unifier of Nepal, to document the treasures of Durbar Square.
Your
Dive into the vibrant heart of Kathmandu's old city, where every stone whispers the secrets of the Malla and Shah kings.
« Inscription on the Narsingha Statue, 1673 »— Built out of fear of upsetting Vishnu.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins at Kathmandu's Kumari Ghar, this three-story Malla-era residence, built between the 16th and 17th centuries, where the Kumari, a living embodiment of Goddess Durga, resides. It is here, on the southern edge of Durbar Square, that the unifier Prithvi Narayan Shah, post-1768, reportedly sought to legitimize his power by recognizing the goddess. The walls of this sacred temple, located in the outer complex of Durbar Square, are the first witnesses to Kathmandu's rich heritage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Continue your exploration of Kathmandu Durbar Square, this 'Museum of Temples' housing over 50 edifices. Construction of this square, one of the three Durbar Squares in Kathmandu Valley listed in 1979, began in the 3rd century, but major structures were added by Malla kings in the 16th century. Your route will take you past the Kasthamandap, the historic 16th-century structure from which Kathmandu derives its name, a Malla-era building in Newar architectural style, located in the outer courtyard.
The journey then leads you to the heart of the former royal palace, the Hanuman Dhoka. Built during the Licchavi period (4th-8th centuries AD), it was significantly extended by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century. Some of its floors are now museums dedicated to Shah kings. Nearby, the Shiva-Parvati Temple, a 16th-century edifice adorned with carved facades, exemplifies Newar architecture. These monuments in the Bagmati province are crucial steps to understanding Kathmandu's past.
Your path leads to the Taleju Temple, dedicated to Taleju Bhawani, the titular deity of the Malla kings. This temple, one of fifty in Durbar Square, was built or expanded during the reign of King Pratap Malla in the 17th century. Afterward, you will discover the Narsingha Statue, the stone image of Narsingha (Vishnu's man-lion avatar), erected by the same King Pratap Malla in 1673. The inscription on this monument, located in Kathmandu Durbar Square, states it was built out of fear of upsetting Vishnu, a unique testament to Bagmati's heritage.
As you complete your journey through the wonders of Kathmandu Durbar Square, you will have pieced together an essential chapter of Kathmandu's history. From the Nautalle Durbar, the nine-story palace built by Prithvi Narayan Shah after the Unification of Nepal in 1768, to the inner courtyards and temples that make up this UNESCO site, each step will have revealed the ingenuity of the Mallas and the power of the Shahs. This interactive visit will have offered you a deep understanding of the monuments and legends that forge the identity of this ancient city, a unique thematic circuit in the Bagmati province.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Divine Presence
Follow the footsteps of the living goddess, whose blessed gaze bestows power.
Secret Rituals
Discover the hidden steps and ancient symbols of the Kumari selection.
Royal Heritage
Delve into the history of the Malla and Shah kings, and their sacred bond with the Kumari.
The throne belongs to him whom the Goddess chooses.
Will you find the hidden symbols of her will?
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play le secret du trone devoue? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Dive into the vibrant heart of Kathmandu's old city, where every stone whispers the secrets of the Malla and Shah kings.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in Durbar Square, Kathmandu
See all games in Durbar Square, Kathmandu→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
Other escape games in Népal
View Népal→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
