A year and half on, quake-damaged Golden Temple awaits reconstruction

Lalitpur / Nov 4: A popular monument in Patan Durbar Square- the Hiranyabarna Mahabihar, also known as the Golden Temple- which was partly damaged but not destroyed during the Gorkha Earthquake is yet to be reconstructed.

Although the main temple remained relatively unscathed during the 7.6 magnitude Gorkha Earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks, the walls of many other buildings in its premises have developed hairline cracks, according to Hiranyabarna Manabihar Conservation Committee Chairperson Bikashratna Dhakhwa.

“Although the roofs in many buildings have not fallen but have caved in,” explained Dhakhwa, adding that the old buildings to the right and left of the Golden Temple also need retrofitting to improve sustainability.

The delay in the reconstruction of the quake-damaged buildings in the premises of this ancient monument is due to the lack of sufficient budget, said Dhakhwa.

He added that although the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu had pledged financial assistance to reconstruct and retrofit the buildings in the Golden Temple, the bureaucratic delay and lack of clearance from the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) are hampering the reconstruction work.

Dhakhwa further said, “Although the Department of Archaeology has permitted the reconstruction, the NRA is yet to grant permit for the same.” RSS