MANESWORA, SINDHUPALCHOK: The reconstruction of 200-year-old Golma Bhimeswor Temple, which was devastated by the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, is to take stride with the financial support of the Department of Archaeology.

The foundation stone for the reconstruction was collectively laid by province minister and members, municipality representatives, local pilgrims, saints and intellectuals at Barhabise Municipality-8, Maneswora on Wednesday.

Allocating Rs 1.5 million in the current fiscal year, the Department is reconstructing the temple in the traditional pagoda style.

It may be noted that Nepal's former Prime Minister Junga Bahadur Rana, who was in office from 1846 to 1877 AD, had moved to Dugunagadhi after worshipping Golma Bhimeswor and Ugrachandi Listimai during the Nepal-Tibet war.

People have been consistently worshiping at the historical and religious heritage-site of Golma Bhimeswor Temple, based in Maneswora Golmasthan for the past 200 years, according to the Golma Bhimeswor Temple Preservation Committee.

The temple is four kilometres away from Barhabise-Bhairavkunda Road that is in the north-west of Barhabise Bazaar – the main trade hub of Sindhupalchok district.

Province 3 Minister for Industry, Tourism and Forest Arun Nepal, Province Assembly member Ramesh Poudel, World Hindu Federation Nepal President Nil Prasad Bhandari, Barhabise Municipality Deputy Mayor Sushila Pakhrin, and Temple Management Committee Chair Gaurishanker Nepal, among others had jointly laid the foundation stone and offered prayers at the temple.

Department Engineer Sujan Budhathoki said the Department is investing for the reconstruction of the temple after they found evidences that the temple is over 100 years old.