There is no information about the temple in Bhasa Bansawali and Gopal Bansawali

Kathmandu, September 7

Work on the under-construction Jaya Bageshwori temple at Siphal of Kathmandu Metropolitan City has been halted citing the need to carry out further archaeological study after workers found three pinnacles while demolishing the temple.

The temple was damaged in the 2015 earthquakes. According to Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the reconstruction work has been halted for the time being to study the original structure of the temple.

The pinnacles are made of unidentified metal and were discovered on the second floor of the temple. Parts of the pinnacles, covered with soil, are damaged and bent due to unknown reasons. Bharat Marasini, chief of Planning Division at the Pashupati Area Development Trust, said the PADT was trying to reach out to persons, who knew more about the temple. “At first sight, it seems that the outer structure of the shrine was constructed by keeping the inner part of the temple intact. We never expected that we would discover such objects of archaeological importance,” he said.

The pinnacles have been handed over to the Department of Archaeology for further study. The officials also found that the temple walls had two different layers with different colours of soil. This has led the official to speculate that two layers of the temple were built at different times. There is no record to confirm when the temple was constructed.

However, archaeological officer Amrita Maharjan, who is overseeing the reconstruction work, said the present temple was built in the Lichhavi era as per the inscription on the idol of the Hindu goddess Mahasaraswati. It was renovated

between 1674 AD and 1680 AD during the reign of King Nripendra Malla.

The temple is on the premises of Pashupati area. Culture expert Govinda Tandon said there was no information about the temple in Bhasa Bansawali and Gopal Bansawali.

Mrityunjay Karmacharya, former chief priest of the temple, said the temple survived the massive earthquake of 1934.

Reconstruction of the temple had started from August 29 after performing forgiveness rituals as per vedic tradition.