Golden Temple to get a facelift soon

Lalitpur, July 5:

The three-storey Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, also known as the Golden Temple, in Kwabahal of Lalitpur will get a facelift soon on the initiative of the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar Management Committee.

“The inner walls of the temple, believed to have been built by Bhaskar Dev Varma between 1045 and 1048 AD, have developed cracks and the two upper storeys need to be reconstructed,” the committee said. “Timber used needs to be replaced,” Lok Ratna Shakya, joint-secretary of the committee, said. “Even the pinnacle has tilted some 13 inches towards the east from its original position.”

According to Shakya, the renovation was still in planning phase and it would cost about Rs 10 million. He hoped that the committee would be able to gather enough funds for the purpose. “We have already got a support of Rs 800,000 from the Lalitpur Sub metropolitan City,” he added.

According to the committee, the temple is on the list of world heritage sites. “The renovation will utilise local resources and traditional technology. We will also set up some new facilities so that it could become an attraction for international tourists as well,” he said.

“We are waiting for experts’ report on the temple. As soon as the report is out, the renovation work will begin,” he said, adding that the renovation would take at least a year. “We have formed 12 sub-committees to carry out the renovation smoothly and on time,” Shakya said.