Changu Temple opens for public

Kathmandu, Sept. 22: 

Changunarayan Temple, one of the oldest heritage sites of the country, has opened for visitors from Friday after its reconstruction following a severe damage in the 2015 earthquakes.

The reconstruction work on the fifth century pagoda-style temple,known as ‘Changu’ or ‘Dolagiri’ and developed by the Lichhavi King Mandev,also covered the renovation of Chhinnamasta Saraswati and Kileshwor Mahadev temples in the surrounding areas.

The temple was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979.

Director General of the Department of Archaeology Bhesh Narayan Dahal said that the temple was renovated at the cost of Rs. 8 million. He also said that the tenders had been approved for the reconstruction of Laxmi Narayan Temple, Sankha Chakra Ganesh, Bhimsen Pati (rest house), Chaughera and other monuments in the vicinity of Changunarayan Temple.

The site is believed to be as old as 3000 years and was later built by Mandev in 5^th century. But a new temple erected in place of the old was destroyed in a fire in 17^th century.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari conducted ‘Kshama Pooja’ and opened the religious site for the public.

Minister Adhikari, who had played an instrumental role to allocate the budget for the renovation of the heritage, expressed happiness and urged the local government as well as the people to use and preserve it.

He requested the local government to install an information board to give the detailed information to the visitors and pilgrims.

The temple is dedicated to God Bishnu and has many attractions around, such as statues of Bishwo Roop Bishnu, Bishnu Bikranta, Narshingh, king Bhupalendra Malla and his queen Bhuwan Lakshmi and Garuda – Bishnu’s vehicle.

Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday unveiled the life size statue of National Hero architect Araniko at the premises of Lalitpur Mertopolitan City Office.

Araniko, a cultural ambassador of Nepal, went to China in the 13^th century and spread the style of Nepali pagoda architecture there. He built many stupas and other temples in China.

The statue is made by Prakash Ratna Shakya. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 September 2018.