KMC plans to renovate Maju Dewal temple

Kathmandu, February 15:

The Hanumandhoka Durbar Square Area Conservation Programme (HDSACP) of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has completed processes for the renovation of the roofs of the three-storey Maju Dewal temple.

“All the processes have been completed and we are waiting for the approval of the new main committee of the HDSACP to be formed under the leadership of newly-elected mayor of the KMC, Raja Raj Shrestha,” said Suraj Shakya, member-secretary of the HDSACP.

A Shiva temple, the Dewal is situated in front of the Shiva-Parvati Temple at Basantapur.

The wooden rafters and planks supporting the clay-tiled roofs of the temple have decayed due to leakage of water from the ancient roofs.

“Some 50 per cent of the rafters and all the planks should be replaced,” Shakya said.

He said the renovation, which is estimated to cost about Rs 2.5 million, would begin within two weeks.

Renovation works of the roof of the Joshi Aaganchhein, undertaken by locals, will be over in three months. The Aaganchhein stands at the western facade of the Maju Dewal. The HDSACP has provided Rs 400,000 for the renovation of the three-storey temple, under which the existing roof of clay tiles will be replaced by a copper-plated roof.

The renovation is estimated to cost Rs 1.9 million.

Shakya said the stone paving of 100-metre-long path of Jhochhein, which is estimated to cost Rs 1.4 million and will be complete within four months, will also begin next week.

The Hanumandhoka Durbar Square Area Conservation Programme has already paved the stone at 2500 square metre area at Ason Kamalakshi at a cost of Rs 5.2 million, he said.

The HDSACP has been using the entrance fees collected from tourists visiting the Hanumandhoka Durbar Square area for renovation and stone-paving.