3 years ago
President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has inaugurated reconstructed historic Ranipokhari.
President Bhandari inaugurated Ranipokhari on Wednesday after reconstruction of earthquake-damaged area was completed. Meanwhile, President Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli offered water at Ranipokhari.
352-year-old heritage site was inaugurated five years after the quake after it was rebuilt in the old style. Similarly, President Bhandari and Prime Minister Oli also visited Balgopaleshwar temple in the middle of Ranipokhari.
Temple of Balagopaleshwar in the middle of Ranipokhari, which was earlier built in the style of a dome, has also been rebuilt in the style of Granthkut (Shikhar) built in the time of Pratap Malla as per the report of experts.
On the occasion of National Earthquake Day on January 20, 2072 BS, President Bhandari had started reconstruction of the property damaged by the earthquake from Ranipokhari.
Speaking on the occasion, President Bhandari said that Ranipokhari and Balgopaleshwar temples built by the then King Pratap Malla of Kantipur nearly three hundred years ago have a separate cultural significance.
President Bhandari expressed confidence that not only the development of Kathmandu Valley but also the center of attraction for tourists would be helped.
President Bhandari also expressed confidence that reconstruction of all the structures damaged by the earthquake would be completed soon.
Similarly, Chief Executive Officer of National Reconstruction Authority Sushil Gyawali informed that reconstruction of other historical heritages damaged by the earthquake has been expedited.
Gyawali said that reconstruction work of NEA has been completed in the final stage by overcoming various challenges. Gyawali mentioned that Singha Durbar would be constructed within a month of December and all floors of Dharahara would be constructed within a month of January.
It is mentioned in the inscription that Ranipokhari was built in 1727 BS to appease the queen after the death of Pratap Malla's son Chakravartendra.
Along with Ranipokhari, President Bhandari also inaugurated the historic Durbar High School or Bhanu Secondary School. Bhanu High School was built with the full support of Chinese government.
Contract for the building was won by Chinese company Shanghai Construction. School has four floors and 40 classrooms constructed on nine ropanis of land at a cost of Rs. 850 million.
School was established in 1910 BS under the then Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana to educate Rana's children. From 1964 BS, Sanskrit was open to the public only for reading.
Foundation stone of reconstruction of high school, which was completely damaged by the earthquake, was laid on July 3, 2008.
