Seto Durbar, photo ca. 1900 Seto Durbar (white palace), located south of the Narayanhity Palace, was built by Maharaja Bir Shumsher in 1893-1890. It is considered by historians as one of the most beautiful and extravagant palace building in the history of Nepal. The palace was destroyed by fire in April 1933 AD (Baisakh 1990 BS). Today most of the Annapurna Hotel complex is built on the grounds of the former Seto Durbar. You can still spot the main entrance to Seto Durbar Palace nearby the Biswajyoti cinema.