The National Museum of Nepal (Rashtriya Sangrahalaya) is the oldest and most prominent museum in the country, located in Chhauni, Kathmandu, near the famous Swayambhunath Stupa. Originally built as an arsenal by Bhimsen Thapa in 1824, it was converted into a museum and opened to the public in 1939 by Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher. The museum complex spans a large area and is surrounded by peaceful gardens and traditional Nepali architecture.