Kathmandu, April 5

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari today directed the agencies concerned to remove concrete foundations laid in Rani Pokhari.

Addressing a discussion held here today, Minister Adhikari also asked officials to undertake the reconstruction as per the archaeological standards.

According to a source, Minister Adhikari himself took the initiative to call the meeting, which was attended around 30 officials from the agencies concerned.

Government secretaries, officials of the Department of Archaeology, including Director General Bhes Narayan Dahal, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya, and development commissioner of Kathmandu Valley Development Authority Bhai Kaji Tiwari, among others, were present at the meeting.

Earlier, KMC had said that around Rs 12.4 million was spent so for construction of concrete embankment around Rani Pokhari.

Krishna Prasad Acharya, personal secretary of the Minister Acharya, told The Himalayan Times that the minister had also issued a directive to restore the pond to its original form. Acharya and KMC officials, however, said they didn’t know if the minister wanted Bal Gopaleshwar temple at the centre of the pond to be built in Malla-era model called Granthakut or Rana-era model called Gumbaz.

Although it is clear that the pond will be restored to Malla-era model, there is still confusion regarding construction model of Bal Gopaleshwor temple.

According to historians, the temple was originally built in Granthakut style, a unique style developed by king Patap Malla, who built the temple and the pond in the 1670s. It is said that the temple was later built in Gumbaz style by Rana rulers after the temple was destroyed in the 1934 earthquake.

The 11-member committee entrusted with submitting the reconstruction model of Rani Pokhari had recommended reconstructing the temple in Malla-era model.

Three DoA officials, who were also members of the committee, however, didn’t sign the report. DoA DG Bhes Narayan Dahal has said the temple will be restored to Rana-era model.