LALITPUR: The number of people visiting the Patan Museum has declined by 965 in the fiscal year 2014/15 as compared to fiscal year 2013/14.

The sharp decline in the visits was attributed to the massive 7.6 Richter scale earthquake which jolted Nepal on April 25, said Museum Information Officer, Sureshman Lakhe.

The number of people visiting the museum in fiscal year 2013/14 was recorded at 63,682 people while 62,664 Nepali and foreign tourists visited the museum in the following fiscal year.

According to Lakhe, despite considerable decline in the number of visitors, the proceeds collected from the visits in the fiscal year 2014/15 was counted at Rs 400,000 more due to a increase in the number of foreign tourists.

In the fiscal year 2013/14 the amount collected from entrance fees charged on tourists visiting the museum was Rs 9.1 million while the amount was Rs 9.5 million in the following year.

Nepali tourists are charged Rs 30, students Rs 20, Rs 250 for citizens from the SAARC member states and Rs 400 for other tourists.

The museum had remained closed for two months following the massive earthquake and opened only from June 19.