Like all other heritage sites in Nepal, the religious site built in the Malla era was damaged in the 2015 earthquake.

The National Construction Authority (NRA) issued a press release stating that the Balgopaleshwor temple would be rebuilt in the Malla era’s traditional granthakut style. The temple was originally built in granthakut style by the then Malla rule King Pratap Malla in 1670.

“All structures built at Rani Pokhari will the given the Malla-era look,” reads the NRA press release.

Kathmandu locals, especially the Newars were demanding that the temple be built as per the former Malla-era design. They also wanted that the Ranipokhari surrounding the temple be built in granthakut style for which a 11-member committee offered suggestions on the reconstruction model at a public hearing in January, 2018.

Balgopaleshwor Temple History

The original construction of the Balgopaleshwor temple was displaced by the 1934 Nepal earthquake, after which it was reconstructed in the gumbaz model by the Rana rulers.

Even before the earthquake in 1934, the temple received changes to its original design by Jung Bahadur Rana in 1905.

In 2018, the iconic Krishna Mandir was fully restored and opened to public on the occasion of Krishna Ashtami.

Related Articles:-

• Ranipokhari Construction to be Completed By Tihar
• April 2015 Earthquake: Restoration of Nepal Heritage Sites Begin!

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The global authority announced its decision through a press release on 09 July, 2019, stating that it made the decision following threats from some local groups.

The local groups argued that the temples should be constructed through local funds rather than international funds

.

According to the UNESCO press release, the UN agency said that it is saddened to withdraw from the restoration project of the two temples.

“UNESCO is saddened to withdraw from the restoration project of these two important temples within the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site. This was part of the wider program for assisting the Nepalese government in carrying out the post-earthquake rehabilitation of its built heritage in accordance with international conservation standards,” said Christian Manhart UNESCO Representative in the UN press release.

UNESCO was working on the project in close collaboration with the Japanese Government, Nepal Department of Archeology and Nepal Investment Bank Limited, which was funding the project.

Nature of the Project

Speaking about the reconstruction of both the temples UNESCO said, “The retrofitting of these temples is of a complex technical nature, as only parts of the buildings are damaged.”

“UNESCO’s design intended to conserve the original structure and elements, as well as strengthen both buildings to make them resilient to future earthquakes,” the UN body said.

The UN authority handed all project related documentation to the Department of Archeology to complete the project in accordance with international standards for World Heritage Sites.

UNESCO Stays Decision on Listing Kathmandu as World Heritage in Danger

Meanwhile, the Department of Archeology has managed to convince UNESCO on not listing Kathmandu under World Heritage in Danger.

The international authority has given the government one year for improvement.

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The Chinese government has extended its support to reconstruct the 17th-century palace.

Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage technicians has been roped in for the project, who will work with a workforce of 10 Nepalis.

“The reconstruction work has begun at Nuwakot Durbar. After completing the reconstruction work here, the team will immediately start the reconstruction of the Tulaja Bhawani Temple located close to the Nuwakot Durbar,” said Rajan Silwal, language interpreter for the Chinese.

The Nuwakot Durbar reconstruction works will involve repairing of palace walls and replacement of weak struts holding the structure together.

Furthermore, authorities involved in the project have decided to bring Sal timber from Chitwan for reconstruction work.

According to Silwal, the reconstruction team will first focus on protecting the structure against monsoon, which is soon arriving.

Locals of Nuwakot had demanded immediate reconstruction for the site due to its age-old architecture, which would collapse any time.

They had expressed disappointment over government apathy towards this historic site’s preservation.

As a temporary fixture, the palace walls had been held in place with iron poles since the 2015 earthquake.

The site also experienced damage on the western and southern sides of the second and third storeys and the pillars experienced cracks, besides the roof also lost is holding.

Nuwakot Durbar History

The Nuwakot Durbar was built in 1744 by the then ruler King Prithvi Narayan Shah. It was originally built as a nine-storey monument but collapsed to the existing seven-storeys after the 1934 Nepal earthquake.

The Nuwakot Durbar reconstruction activity comes as a part of the agreement signed between Nepal’s National Reconstruction Authority and the Chinese Government to reconstruct all the heritage sites in Nuwakot.

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“The reconstruction of Ranipokhari has gained momentum and it will complete by upcoming Hindu festival Tihar,” said Raju Manandhar, a National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) expert.

Bhaktapur consumer’s committee is currently working on its reconstruction, after it was destroyed by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

The monument built by King Pratap Malla was delayed for three years over the materials to be used in the construction of the site.

A total of NPR 99.7 million was allocated for the project, of which NPR 14.2 million has been spent.

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A 2 km long rail is being laid between the two tourism destinations. The plan for the same will be announced on the occasion of the World Heritage Day on April 18, 2019.

In view of the Heritage Trail plan’s official announcement, a rally will be conducted starting from Bhuikhel via Swayambhunath and will end at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar area.

According to KMC-18 Chairman Nuchche Kaji Maharjan, the heritage site was proposed for the route as there are two heritage sites within short distance.

He added that information centers will be established for tourists on the route. Tourists can get a glimpse of various temples and shrines, traditional stone spouts and other heritages in the heritage trail.

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Then you should visit Nepal! The Himalayan nation gives you a fresh experience of nature and wide varieties of art forms that speak culture and heritage!

Nepal holds some high value in terms of tourism, as evident in its tourism destinations like Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara, Lumbini, among others. Each of these have their own unique features in enthusing tourists, with some of them even recognized as UNESCO Heritage Sites.

In this article, we will take a look at UNESCO Heritage Sites in Nepal:

UNESCO classifies Nepali tourism sites into two different categories: UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites and UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites.

1)  UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites in Nepal

• Chitwan National Park, recognized in 1984
• Sagarmatha National Park, recognized in 1979

2) UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites include

• 7 different sites in Kathmandu Valley, recognized in 1979

1. Durbar Square
2. Hanuman Dhoka
3. Patan and Bhaktapur
4. Swayambhunath
5. Bauddhanath
6. Pashupathinath
7. Changu Narayan Temple

• Lumbini, recognized in 1997

Besides, there are also many other Nepal tourism sites on UNESCO’s tentative list, which includes:

1. Early medieval architecture complex of Panauti (enlisted in 1996)
2. Tilaurakot, the archaeological remains of ancient Shakya Kingdom (enlisted in 1996)
3. Cave architecture of Muktinath Valley, Mustang (enlisted in 1996)
4. Medieval Palace Complex of Gorkha (enlisted in 1996)
5. Ramagrama, Relic stupa of Lord Buddha (enlisted in 1996)
6. Khokana and its mustard-oil seed industrial heritage (enlisted in 1996)
7. Medieval Earthen Walled City of Lo Manthang (enlisted in 2008)
8. Vajrayogini and Early Settlement of Sankhu (enlisted in 2008)
9. Medieval Settlement of Kirtipur (enlisted in 2008)
10. Rishikesh Complex of Ruru Kshetra (enlisted in 2008)
11. Nuwakot Palace Complex (enlisted in 2008)
12. Ram Janaki Temple (enlisted in 2008)
13. The Medieval Town of Tansen (enlisted in 2008)
14. Sinja Valley (enlisted in 2008)
15. Bhurti Temple Complex of Dailekh (enlisted in in 2008)

List not exhaustive! Nepal is home to many such heritage sites left unexplored.

Hope the ongoing tourism infrastructure developments, increasing tourist arrivals year-on-year, initiatives like Visit Nepal Year 2020 and continuous tourism promotions will bring many such unexplored Nepali tourism spots to the limelight!

Stay tuned for more breaking news on Nepal Tourism!

Also Read:

• Rising Nepal Tourist Arrivals in 2019

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We can see that in the country’s centuries-old temples, historical architectures and rituals that are on focus of global audience even in this modern world. Thanks for the ancients who preserved it for future generations!

Because of these unique qualities, world tourists make their way to Nepal for an unforgettable and peaceful experience.

And, this makes Nepal stand among the list of every world tourist, irrespective of religion, creed and geography.

When we have to speak about Nepal tourism, Kathmandu Valley is one that needs a special mention. The Valley is a destination for many UNESCO World Heritage Sites including age-old architectures such as palaces, monuments, religious centers and many others that attract tourists.

Here we will see the 5 famous temples in Kathmandu that need a special mention

1) Pashupatinath Temple:

Kathmandu is a special place for world Hindu community majorly for Pashupathinath Temple, the shrine of the supreme Lord Shiva. The temple has its rich history of more than 2000 years and is one of the oldest temples in Gaushala of Kathmandu. As per the Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva is also called as ‘Pashupathi’ meaning the ‘king of all animals (and all beings)’.

Pashupathi is the Lord’s incarnation and is one of the eight Rudras holding the place of fire. The temple houses a five-faced idol of Lord Shiva, which represents all forms, elements and directions of the Universe. The shrine has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Lakhs od Hindu devotees reach out to this place for famous Nepali festival, i.e. Teej. 

2) Santaneshwor Mahadev Temple:

A great legend forms the basis of this Shiva shrine. It is believed that the temple stands on the hill, which is the place where one of the body parts of Goddess Sati fell down when Lord Shiva was carrying her (in distress) corpse after Sati performed self-immolation. Located in Jharuwarasi of Lalitpur, this shrine is most sought for those praying for children. 

3) Kailashnath Mahadev:

Located on the border of Bhaktapur and Kavre districts, Kailashnath Mahadev in Sangha is famous as the shrine with the tallest Shiva idol in Asia. The statue here stands 142 feet tall and aside from its pedestal, with main idol itself being 108-feet tall. Interesting, ‘108’ is a special number in Hindu mythology. The idol can be also be viewed on the way to Dhulikhel. The temple premises is widely spread across 400,000 sqft. area and also includes a resort, yoga & meditation center and health club.

4) Gokarna Mahadev Temple:

Located in the eastern part of the Valley, Gokarna Mahadev Temple is a shrine of rich history and high religious significance. Built in a three-tiered structure, the temple represents the grandness of Newari pagoda style architecture. The stone carvings around the temple stand as special attraction and are thousands’ years old. The temple also presents the sculptures of various Hindu deities in ancient carving styles.

5) Doleshwar Mahadev Temple:

Doleshwar Mahadev Temple of Bhaktapur is 20 km away from the Kathmandu city center. It is believed that the trip to India’s Kedarnath will not be complete without a visit to Doleshwar Mahadeva and Pashupatinath. As per the local legend, Doleshwor Mahadev is believed to be the missing head of the Kedarnath.

Excited to visit! Then plan your trip to enlightenment! Kathmandu Valley also presents many such shrines with rich heritage and history.

Related News:

• 2018 Nepal Tourist Arrivals: Reaches Magical 1 Million Mark
• Nepal Opens Food Culture to the World
• Nepali Handicrafts – Tradition Alive! More of Art and Creative Vision

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Towards this end, KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya handed over a cheque worth Rs 50 million to the Kasthamandap Reconstruction Committee (KRC) on October 13, 2018 and informed that the work would start in the current fiscal.

It’s been more than three years that the site has been awaiting reconstruction, which couldn’t begin due to disputes among the Department of Archaeology, KMC and the local community over the execution process and financing.

The work hasn’t started yet despite the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari inaugurating the reconstruction work prior to the formation of KRC.

Speaking at a program, Mayor Shakya said the work would not stop anymore as the community is working collectively.

Meanwhile, the historical Rani Pokhara is also undergoing severe delays linked to bidding process that drew submissions failing to meet the project criteria.

“Documentation submitted by both the companies is not sufficient to meet the criteria for the project. So, another bidding is required which will take time,” informed Shakya.

There has been a heated discussion around the reconstruction of Rani Pokhara, where, the Department of Archaeology said the blue print for reconstruction was planned against the approved blueprint.

The locals had also protested against the use of concrete and modern materials in the reconstruction process.

It is really surprising to know that a total of 13 heritage sites and temples were destroyed and more than 37 such buildings were damaged in the April 2015 earthquake.

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Among other Nepali cities, the Kathmandu Valley is home to many such sites that speak the country’s pride.

But, it is really disappointing to know that many of these renowned sites in the Valley listed as endangered are facing ill-effects of air pollution, say conservationists and craftsmen.

“Post-earthquake, we’ve had an opportunity to inspect the ancient structures up close and the degradation is visible. Dust and smoke have deteriorated wooden structures and have blackened the exteriors,” says Rabindra Puri, a reputed conservationist known to have renovated many historic sites in Nepal.

Puri urged the Department of Archaeology to study the scenario and take necessary measures to increase the durability of such Nepali heritage sites.

He recommends application of indigenous methods to these structures that are known for their architectural value built on rich traditional methods of engineering and intricate ornamentation. 

“There are thick layers of dust which prevent the structures from moisture management. One can literally scratch it off. The Department of Archaeology, which is equipped with a laboratory, should study the chemical effects of carbon on wood and should apply indigenous methods of weatherproofing and carry out routine maintenance to extend durability,” adds Rabindra Puri.

Heritage conservationists feel disappointed about the scenario as they boast of historical wooden structures, traditionally made of dhunsi or dhasi wood, that stood for centuries with extreme durability.

The deterioration of the wooden structures due to age, dust and smoke is more pitiable at the Bhandarkhal Garden and temple sites of the Patan Durbar Square, where a handful of workforce is working on restoration of sites hit by the 2015 earthquake.

Maintenance, A Serious Concern
Citing the ongoing maintenance activities, another Conservation Architect Bijay Basukala said, “They used paint on Changu Narayan Mandir and even on the Nyatapola on various occasions. It’s just careless. It prevents the wooden structure from breathing.” 

“Irregular cleaning or lack thereof has resulted in heavy deposits of dust and moisture. It took us an entire day of painstaking cleaning for just this portion of the temple. Look at the blackened portions,” says Bijay Basukala.

Not just the world-famous heritage sites that drive global tourists, many other historic sites in the Valley are facing a similar situation.

“There is yet to be a study on how pollution affects these wooden structures, but its effects are inevitable. If designated institutions carry out routine structural maintenance as opposed to just cosmetic treatment or beautification, the damages could be minimised,” says Rohit K Rajkarnikar, country director at Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust.

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One such is the destruction of some of the country’s centuries-old heritage structures that hold high significance locally and globally.

Though some of them are back to life as part of the government’s earthquake reconstruction activity, some of them are still facing lack of proper support.

Here are two of them, on similar lines, reported recently to have been facing similar situation!

Hari Bhawan & Ranipokhari
According to a recent update, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is reportedly planning to demolish the capital’s historical Haribhawan in Sundhara in a week’s time.

The department is planning for Haribhawan’s demolition and reconstruction of Ranipokhari in Ratnapark at once, says Nawaraj Dhakal, KMC Assistant Spokesperson.

In this regard, the department has already called for project quotation to expedite the reconstruction process.

The decision has been pending since a year as the country’s Department of Archeology (DoA) stopped the move.

Haribhawan has a historical background of more than 100 years and has been used for KMC’s operations since 2003.

Whereas, Ranipokhari holds a historical record of more than 400 years and has been pending for reconstruction after public protested over usage of modern material in the rebuild activity.

Bagh Durbar On the Other Side
Meanwhile, another iconic heritage site Baghdurbar is also facing a similar issue.

As per latest news, Kathmandu-based locals, culture experts and heritage conservationists have raised a serious opposition to DoA’s approval to demolish Baghdurbar.

Against KMC’s move towards call of tenders for demolishment, the city-based stakeholders have reportedly called for a protest outside the iconic site.

“We want to prevent this wrongful act. Baghdurbar is part of our heritage. A study has already concluded that the building could be retrofitted, but the metropolis and the archaeology department are after demolishing it,” says Chanda Rana, Coordinator of Save Heritage Campaign.

DoA took a decision to retrofit and restore the site after a two-year-long technical assessment post the 2015 earthquake that damaged the site.

KMC officials opine that the retrofitting costs are higher compared to that of the demolishing and rebuilding the
age-old structure from scratch.

The National Society for Technology denies the argument as its senior technical adviser says that the retrofitting needs only 35 percent of the total amount required for new construction.

Architect and Former Dean of the Institute of Engineering of Pulchowk Sudarshan Raj Tiwari also feels the same.

“If Gaddi Baithak of Basantapur can be restored through retrofitting, Baghdurbar can also be restored in a similar manner. After all, Baghdurbar had suffered less damage than Gaddi Baithak,” adds Tiwari.

Rana makes it very clear that they will not let the metropolis demolish the building. “We have already saved around three dozen quake-damaged palaces from getting demolished and we will be successful in saving Baghdurbar as well,” he adds.

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