Japan and NIBL to reconstruct Jagannath and Gopinath temples

Kathmandu, Oct. 3: Japan Government and Nepal Investment Bank Limited (NIBL) have pledged financial assistance for the reconstruction of Jagannath and Gopinath temples, two important religious and historical heritage sites in the Basantapur Durbar Square.

“The Rs. 25 million project will receive Rs. 15 million from Japan while NIBL will provide Rs. 10 million,” informed Dr. Suresh Shrestha, chief archaeological officer of the Department of Archaeology (DoA).

The project is being implemented by the UNESCO Kathmandu Office in close coordination with the DoA.

The stakeholder organizations organized a programme on Monday to announce the reconstruction of the temples and the financial assistance under the project.

According to Dr. Shrestha, the project had been executed since last November and would take another one to three years for its completion.

The two temples were damaged in the devastating earthquakes in April and May last year.

While most of the temples and other structures, including the Kasthamandap temple after which the capital city was named, were flattened, Jagannath and Gopinath temples were partially damaged.

The tremors damaged 39 structures at the Durbar Square and 12 of them totally collapsed.

The upper most storey of Jagannath temple collapsed while the wall around the ground floor of Gopinath temple was damaged.

The wall has been retained with external support since then.

“The top floor of Jagannath temple should be dismantled and rebuilt while the four pillars at the corners should be reconstructed,” said Christian Manhart, UNESCO representative for Nepal.

Chairman of NIBL Prithvi Bahadur Pande claimed that for the first time a private sector company, international organization, government and a friendly nation had come together for the post-quake reconstruction work.

The bank had provided assistance in restoration of Kaal Bhairav and other temples in the past.

“Since the heritages are our treasures, quality will not be compromised while renovating the temples,” said Pande.

As the temples are in the area listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they should be renovated with traditional methods and materials.

UNESCO has warned the government not to use concrete and bricks while rebuilding the heritage.

It has also asked the government to expedite the heritage reconstruction and warned any neglect in the work on the temples could lead to their removal from the list of World Heritage Sites.

According to the Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) the quake incurred losses of about Rs. 19.2 billion in the heritage sector.

Temples, historical buildings and other cultural, religious and historic heritages at all three Durbar Squares -- Basantpur, Patan and Bhaktapur-- were damaged in the quake.

The Durbar Squares are the major tourist destinations and cultural hubs of the Kathmandu Valley.  

Read the story in The Rising Nepal Daily