THE HIDDEN COURTYARDS · CHAPTER ONE
A little curiosity.
A square full of stories.
This is an interactive world of the Durbar Squares of Nepal. Use it to learn and immerse yourself in the ancient palace courtyards.
Begin with The Hidden Courtyards, a free, single-player 3D browser adventure inspired by Patan Durbar Square.
Welcome to The Sleeping Square
Step into Tara’s shoes and explore with Pip, your companion and guide. Follow clues through the square, solve the carver’s secret, balance the traveling merchant’s weights, and rediscover a forgotten melody. Each discovery brings you closer to restoring a page of the lost atlas.
Recover three puzzle fragments, then meet the Brasskeeper, a fictional guardian with a heart of brass. Jump over its shockwaves and repair its exposed core to finish the first chapter. Choose Explorer for a gentler challenge or Adventurer for tighter puzzles and timing.
A playful interpretation of Patan
The game’s square draws on Patan’s temple and courtyard architecture. Explore interpretations of Krishna Mandir, Char Narayan, Hari Shankar, Chyasin Deval, the palace frontage, and Manga Hiti. Open the landmark guide to read about places you encounter, or follow the Stories of the Square trail for extra discoveries.
Take a break from the puzzles to greet residents, visit the birdseed seller, and feed the pigeons. You can explore outer terraces and temple steps; sanctuaries remain closed.
This playable prototype changes the layout for exploration and invents its puzzles and characters. It is an independent creative interpretation, not an official tourism site or a measured reconstruction of the real square.
How to play
Play directly in your browser. No download, account, or payment is needed. The 3D world requires JavaScript, WebGL 2, and graphics acceleration.
- Move and explore
- Use WASD or the arrow keys to walk, Shift to run, and Space to jump.
- Look around
- Move the mouse after starting the adventure. Scroll to zoom, or use Q and R to rotate the camera.
- Follow your curiosity
- Left-click or press E to interact, H for Pip’s hint, J for the journal, and L for the landmark guide.
- Pause
- Press Escape to release the mouse and pause. Your discoveries save automatically in this browser.
- Play on a phone or tablet
- Use the on-screen thumbstick and action buttons. Drag the scene to look around and pinch to zoom. Landscape gives you a wider view.
Before you begin
Is the game free?
Yes. The current chapter is free to play in your browser.
Can I come back to my adventure?
Your progress is stored on this device in this browser. Return using the same site address and browser to continue. Clearing browser storage or switching devices starts a separate adventure.
Does it include other Durbar Squares?
The current playable chapter is inspired by Patan. Additional chapters are not available yet.
Do I need sound?
No. Sound adds atmosphere, but the melody puzzle also uses visible symbols. You can switch sound off from the title screen or pause menu.