Let’s leave it as it is

Mankind has been given the credit of being the most intelligent creatures living on this planet. And I think it is because we are able to learn from our mistakes. Rebuilding Dharahara in the same location with all the commercial settlements intact will be like rewriting history. When Bhimsen Thapa built the Dharahara, he built it with a calculated amount of open space around it. But over the years all those open areas have been used to set up commercial blocks. We all have been foolish in closing our eyes and walking around a land full of potholes. Dharahara was like an ornament of history standing tall in our Capital. And in my opinion it should be left as it is and be honoured as a memorial to all those people who lost their lives there on April 25. All said and done, it shouldn’t be rebuilt.

— Anusha Ban, Dhapasi, Kathmandu, Nepal

Rebuilding Dharahara should not be a priority. It fell in 1934; it has fallen in 2015, and there is no guarantee that we have the technology, will power and money to rebuild it to withstand another Big One. Politicians are talking about the Republican Tower, which is still wedged on their wish list. There is no room for two towers in this crowded Valley.

I do like the idea of some section to be left for a beautiful park without removing the remnants of Bhimsen’s ingenuity. The ruin would be much more valuable than the new replacement. Instead, we should try and bring back the water flow in the Golden Spout — Sundhara. As we can never bring back the natural water flow that was completely destroyed by an

adjacent shopping mall, we can use water recycling plant to simulate water flow. It will make a fine park and serve the children and elderly from the surrounding wards as well as domestic and international tourists.

The stone spouts tell a far richer history.

— J Talchabhadell, Bhaktapur

Many people lost their lives in Dharahara in the massive earthquake of April 25. I prefer that a park be built there instead of a new Dharahara in memory of those who lost their lives. It can be a heaven for the bereaved family but it depends on everyone’s perspective.

— Aarati Gurung

One thing the earthquake has taught us is that tall buildings are not safe, and Dharahara is one of them. It fell during the earthquake of 1934, and this time too, it collapsed. In my opinion, Dharahara is vulnerable to such tremors, thus making it highly unsafe. In addition, to rebuild it is going to take a lot of manpower and funds. Instead of rebuilding it, the assets can be allocated somewhere else, like the remote areas where relief has not yet reached.

True, Dharahara was the pride of Kathmandu. However, the earthquake has made the point clear that tall structures are a no-no.

— Nirveek

No one can erase that black day. Everywhere was tears, grief, and fear. The country lost her citizen and lots of cultural and historical heritage. Among them Dharahara was also destroyed by April 25 earthquake. The space should be used as a memorial for those who lost their lives there. Instead of rebuilding Dharahara in that place, it would be better to utilise that place as a park. If Dharahara is rebuilt on the same place, it will always remind people about that black day. No one has the courage to visit there.

It is unpredictable when another big quake will strike Nepal because even great scientists are unaware about it. To build such a kind of tower, a different kind of concrete, steel can be used and it should be earthquake resistant.

— Anu Thapa, Lalitpur

I would like to back the call not to rebuild Dharahara. Instead leave the space as an open space so that people can use it as a park and for emergencies in the future if such an earthquake takes place.  The park will be good for fresh air for people and also will look nice.

So I vote for making that space a green beautiful park.

— Khenpo Chonyi Rangdrol, Sitapaila

I think the place where Dharahara stood should be a park now in memory of the people who lost their lives there. The remaining part of Dharahara should be protected as a symbol of the past and present. What remains of Dharahara is a symbol of our history. If we completely remove it, our history may disappear and the place may lose its importance. But if we build it as it used to be earlier, it is possible that another big quake may turn it into rubble again. By doing this, we will be preserving our history as well as ensuring a safe place for people if another big quake hits Kathmandu again.

— Anonymous

Everyone’s eyes search for that tall white monument from the other end of Tundhikel, but it can no longer be seen. In my opinion there must be something to represent the lost souls. I believe there is no need to climb the Dharahara to view Kathmandu city as there are enough high rise buildings now. And leaving Dharahara as it is without reconstruction but proper management can draw lots of tourists to Nepal.

Thus, in my opinion Dharahara must be left as it is, but should be maintained without any reconstruction.

— Prarthana Subedi

As far as building a memorial with a park is concerned, why don’t we inscribe the names of those who lost their lives in the April 25 earthquake on the wall of Dharahara?

— Bibek Kharel

Originally built by Bhimsen Thapa in 1832, the tower collapsed in the 1934 earthquake and was later rebuilt. But now it is all gone again. So rebuilding a new tower with a similar structure and design by some unknown builders, architects and naming it as Dharahara makes no sense at all. Besides, Nepal is already prone to earthquakes. So, the idea of building a tall tower in the middle of such a densely populated area is something which is absolutely out of the norm. What if another earthquake hits Nepal and the tower falls on the people yet again? The thought itself is so scary. Rather, why not build or construct something related to Bhimsen Thapa because Dharahara basically reminded us of him, his existence, and his contribution to the history of Nepal. A park with his statue in the middle sounds rather appealing.

— Smriti Dahal, Pepsicola, Kathmandu

Everybody knows that April 25 was a black day for Nepal. The hill region of Nepal is almost completely destroyed by the earthquake. We have a question on whether Dharahara should be rebuilt or should the place be kept as a memorial for those who lost their lives? In my perspective, the place should be used as a memorial rather than building Dharahara again.

If Dharahara is to be rebuilt, then everybody will forget the black day of Nepal eventually. Everybody will forget that something had happened in Nepal and nobody will remember that lots of people lost their lives here. Just to remember the day, April 25, there should be a memorial park there in that spot.

— Ranjit Sah, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu

Rebuild it as a symbol of a risen, stronger, safer Nepal

Dharahara, also known as Bhimsen Stamba, stood tall with pride in the heart of Kathmandu city for 81 years. Nepalis’ pride for ancient architecture was taken away by the massive earthquake that hit the country on April 25.

Will we take this destruction of our heritage so lightly and just let it be a place for people to jog, a place where they can sit and gossip or rest or exercise? Not at all. If we reconstruct it, it’ll be an inspiration to all. So let’s think of recreating, let’s start rebuilding. But we need to heed more reliable construction processes and good materials now.

This is a wake-up call to rebuild our Dharahara and revive OUR NEPAL.

— Kripa Karmacharya, Kapan, Kathmandu

I am in favour of rebuilding Dharahara as it was our pride. We always felt its importance and we want our coming generations to have an opportunity to feel its importance. We cannot let our pride fall like this and disappear. It should rise again and make people feel that though the darkness surrounded us, the ray of hope is on its way. But it should be made strong so that it never collapses again. The rebuilding of Dharahara must be a priority as it is associated with the historical moments of our nation. We should all be together and join our hands in rebuilding Dharahara — our pride.

— Anu Pariyar, Pepsicola, Kathmandu

Our historic monument Dharahara that we lost was a symbol of prestige for Nepalis. We need to rebuild Dharahara, but our main concern now should be providing shelter to the affected people who have lost everything. We need to provide them basic needs like food and shelter because monsoon is coming and the hills are in danger of landslides. Instead of investing our resources in rebuilding Dharahara, we should help the needy. Once people’s lives are back on track, we can plan to build a stronger Dharahara.

— CA Rajeev Rauniyar

We lost almost everything in this devastating tremor. People miss every single thing they had before the shake, mostly our Dharahara. All of us want her back, but honestly, I really don’t have the nerves to go where she used to stand. I want her to stand again as the symbol of — ‘yes, we fell down but we can rise again’.

It might not be tonight, tomorrow, or the next day, but everything is going to be okay.

— Sumi Rajbhandari

We should rebuild Dharahara in the memory of the ones who lost their lives in the earthquake of April 25. But, it should not be only limited to words. It will be best if it were to be built as flexible storeys with strong, large and concrete base.

— Anonymous

Rebuilding Dharahara means rebuilding our pride, which will represent us taking steps forward in rebuilding the Nation itself.

— Anonymous

There is no doubt that open spaces are required in times of disaster, however not at the cost of wiping history. Everyone is focusing on rebuilding temples because it preserves culture and rightly so. In the same way, Dharahara preserves history and takes us to the past and thereby reminds us of the contributions of our statesmen of different periods. The space Dharahara occupies is not a problem; rather the problem is the narrow roads and the buildings that have

not followed the structural building codes.

— Anonymous

Dharahara known as Bhimsen Stamba was one of the main attractions of the Capital, and the historical pillar was destroyed by the earthquake. In my point of view, the stamba should be rebuilt just like the previous structure but by taking precautions keeping in mind the possibility and danger of earthquakes. Memorial for people who lost their lives also can be made beside that.

— Ankush Adhikari, Old Baneshwor, Kathmandu

We can rebuild Dharahara as a symbol of rebirth, a stronger and resilient Nepal, but it must have the best structure. It should be an attraction, not a cause of destruction in the future.

Let’s work keeping in mind that earthquake is uncertain, it may occur any day, at any time.

— Narayan Poudel, Kerunga, Arghakhanchi

In my point of view, Dharahara as the historical symbol of Nepal should be rebuilt just for the fact that it is a reminder for the Nepalis about the time of the country’s first prime minister Bhimsen Thapa. The idea of building a memorial in that part of the City is also not bad because it will be helpful for the new generation to know about the historical building.

— Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar, Baneshwor

In my personal view, Dharahara should be preserved — of what remains, we can use that space as a memorial place for those who lost their lives there or the space could be used as a park where people can use the space as a shelter so that the place is safe for upcoming generations. Dharahara, on one hand, should be in memories, but the rebuilt infrastructure should be safer, better and stronger for all the generations.

— Sushila, Pokhara

Rebuilding Dharahara transcends the message that Nepal will bounce back. If the contrary to this is done, the steel companies that have taken the initiative of reconstructing will be discouraged.

— Apeksha Sapkota

In my point of view, the stamba should be rebuilt keeping in mind the previous structure by taking proper precautions. Memorial dedicated to people who lost their lives in this earthquake can also be made. Earthquakes cannot be predicted, so we should not forget this and reconstruct an earthquake-resistant tower.

— Ankush Adhikari, Old Baneswor, Kathmandu

Having read the topic, I would like to go with the rebuilding of Dharahara, which carries historical significance and enhanced the beauty of the Valley as well. Centrally located, this tall tower used to be an attractive meeting spot and gathering hub for many.

Had our forefathers not rebuilt this tower after the devastating quake of 1934, we wouldn’t have seen it or known about its importance. So, it is also our duty to reconstruct this historical tower.

— Rangels Shrestha, Bhaktapur

The topic of whether or not to reconstruct Dharahara is debatable. After what happened, over a month ago, safety is our main concern and it should be taken into consideration while thinking of rebuilding it.

Reconstructing Dharahara could be a good option only if it can be made stronger, but still access to the tower shouldn’t be allowed. An open park should be made for people to sit and enjoy. Even the height of Dharahara should be reduced because if the same thing happens again, less people will be injured. We have lost many people, many families have been destroyed and children have lost their parents. Learning from what happened, we should make our nation stronger and safer, where we don’t have to live in fear.

— Urusha Naaz, Man Bhawan, Lalitpur