Kathmandu, September 2

Cultural experts, architect engineers and members of civil society are divided on the reconstruction model of Rani Pokhari.

During an interaction organised by National Reconstruction Authority here today, Bishnu Raj Karki, who heads the 11-member  committee entrusted with submitting a detailed plan for reconstruction of  Rani Pokhari, said that the government should restore the Bal Gopaleshwor temple in the middle of the pond to its Malla-era design.

“We have an opportunity to restore the temple to its original Granthakut model,” said Karki, who is also a former director general of the Department of Archaeology.

Shaphalya Amatya, also a former DG of DoA, on the other hand, said no one knew the details of the temple destroyed hundreds of years ago. “ It would be impossible to restore the temple to its Malla-era design just with reference from a painting that is hundreds of years old.” Historian Kashi Nath Tamot also said the temple should be restored to its original Malla-era design.

Culture expert Ramesh Dhungel said it would not be appropriate to neglect the Rana-era model, which was more than 150 years old, to revive something of which we knew very little about.

Archaeologist Bhim Nepal referring to Vienna charter of 1964, said, “The  charter clearly states that when confusion occurs one must stop reconstruction.” He was of the opinion that restoring the temple to Malla-era design would not be feasible due to lack of adequate research.

Ending the discussion, Chief  Executive Officer of National Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyawali said they would soon hold  another meeting and reach conclusion.

Forty months after being destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes, reconstruction of the temple still remains in limbo.