The temporary houses made around Shitalpati, the heart of Tansen-significant for its charm and an attraction for tourists- and buildings around Nepal’s largest wooden gate Baggi Dhoka are to be demolished.

The area of historical importance, now crowded with illegal houses, has spoiled the historical image of the spot. Recently, department of archaeology (DOA) organised a meeting and asked the local bodies to consider the issue of encroachment seriously.

The meeting also decided to urge the concerned authorities to get the facelift of the Shitalpati and the main gate as soon as possible so as to ease in conservational works to be done in order to save their existence.

Though the British-styled palace inside the main gate was made by the then Western commander general Pratap Shumsher for administrative purposes on 1912 AD, it is still unknown who and when the Mughal-styled palace area entrance gate was made. After a century the places with historical importance were studied and proper maintenance and reconstructions done by the DOA, so the monuments here need to be conserved and that task was given to the local authority by the all-party meeting so they are preparing to pull down temporary houses with bulldozers within 15 days.

People there have about a dozen of such temporary houses with different business and this demolition would also root out the small-scaled business that was there for over 70 years.

DOA is also engaged in renovation of the entrance gate. Ram Bahadur Kunwar, a department official, informed that the renovation has been initiated as a part of their purpose to preserve the monuments of historic, religious and cultural significance. The ancient touch will be maintained while renovating the gate. It is estimated that the total cost would not exceed Rs ten lakh.

Tansen municipality mayor Ashok Kumar Shahi informed that the persons there would be informed about the plan first and then the houses will be bulldozed whether they leave within the alloted time or not. He also said that the municipality would provide alternative measures for the people who go astray.