KATHMANDU: The government is going to give a facelift to the temple of Manakamana Bhagawati, a popular shrine for pilgrimage in the country, which is believed to have the divine power to fulfil wishes of the visiting devotees.

Located in Manakamana VDC of Gorkha district, some 7,000 devotees visit this shrine, everyday. The legend dating back to the reign of Gorkha king Ram Shah (1614-1636 AD), has it that the temple has the power to fulfil wishes of the devotees.

As plans go, the temple will be dismantled

and restructured, preserving its originality based on historical and cultural values. Shaken twice by earthquake in 1934 and 1988, the temple has tilted six inches towards the south.

“The renovation of the temple will start within the current fiscal year,” Dr Minendra Rijal, Minister for Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, told The Himalyan Times.

A delegation including the priest of the shrine, chairman of the Manakamana Area Development Committee, CDO and local development officer from Gorkha district today met Minister Rijal, who assured them to carry out the renovation work ‘soon’. A team from Department of Archaeology and Guthi Corporation were also there during the meeting.

Bishnu Raj Karki, Director General of DoA, presented a report on the renovation, estimating the cost of renovation at about Rs 25 million.

“The inner parts of temple walls have started rotting and crumbling,” he said. According to the ministry, funds will be managed by the government, MADC, donations from devotees and other resources. Deenesh Joshi, chairman of MADC, said the government should ensure that the donations offered by devotees be made transparent.

“Manakamana receives Rs 30,000 daily as offered by devotees.

The legend of Manakamana dates back to the period of Gorkha

king Ram Shah (1614-1636 AD).