KATHMANDU: Basantapur Durbar Square, a world heritage site in the heart of Kathmandu, collected Rs 1.3 million entrance fee from tourists in a single day today.

Chief of Hanumandhoka Durbar protection programme at Kathmandu Metropolitan City Udaya Bahadur Pasakhala said this was the highest number of tourists visiting the historic square so far this year.

Hanuman Dhoka is one of the historic monuments at the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The number of tourists visiting the square has grown since the 2015 earthquakes. Most of the tourists visiting Nepal are from China, Germany and France. A tourist from SAARC countries should pay Rs 150 as entry fee, while the fee for entering the square for tourists from other countries isRs 1,000.

Post-quake reconstruction efforts at the site have gained momentum, according to Pasakhala. We aim to collect Rs 1.5 million a day from entry fee for tourists.

Among the monuments damaged by the 2015 April earthquakes, the Gaddi Baithak has already been rebuilt. Likewise, restoration of the Nautale Durbar (nine-storey palace) and Kasthmandap are under way.