380 cultural heritages rebuilt

Kathmandu, Aug 7

About 380 cultural heritages damaged in the devastating 2015 Gorkha Earthquake have been rebuilt.

Of them, 96 are on the premises of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites while 284 are from other locations, said the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).

Gaddi Baithak, Natyeshwar Temple, Krishna Temple, Nagara Ghar, Statue of Pratam Malla and Taleju Temple at the Hanumandhoka Durbar Square are the major cultural and historical heritages reconstructed.

Similarly, reconstruction of Khauma Gate, Siddhi Laxmi Temple, Narayan Temple, Shankar Narayan Temple of Bhaktapur Durbar Square has also completed.

Monuments at Changu Heritage Area – Changunarayan Temple and Kileshwar Temple, and Swayambhunath Area – Pratappur Temple, Annatpur Temple and Anandakuti Mahavihar have also been rebuilt.

Likewise, statue of Yoga Narendra at the Patan Durbar Square is restored and Mani Mandap and Eastern Long of Sundari Chowk are reconstructed.

Historical Krishna Temple’s preservation has also been accomplished.

Junga Hiranya Hemnarayan Temple in Thapathali and Baudha Nath Stupa have also been rebuilt in their previous original shape.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NRA Sushil Gyawali said that the reconstruction body had accorded high priority to the restoration of the historical and cultural monuments.

“We will expedite the monitoring activities to speed up the reconstruction,” he said.

Director General of the Department of Archaeology (DoA) Damodar Gautam said that the agency had planned to reconstruct about 150 heritages in the next one and a half years.

Countries like China, India, the United States of America, Switzerland, Sri Lanka and Japan, and organisations like the UNESCO office in Kathmandu, Henkel Foundation Vienna and University of Applied Arts are supporting the country in heritage reconstruction.

The 2015 quake had damaged 891 heritages.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 August 2019.