KATHMANDU: The reconstruction of seven-storey historical palace of Nuwakot is yet to begin though China pledged to reconstruct three years ago.
The palace was observed by then foreign minister Mahendra bahadur Pandey and Chinese ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong in August 2015. The palace was devastated by earthquake of April 2015. In course of observation, envoy Hong expressed commitment to reconstruct it but it is yet to begin.
Ram Bahadur Kunwar, spokesperson for the Department of Archeology (DoA) said that formal agreement was not made despite several discussions. “China pledged to reconstruct the palace during the discussions but formal agreement has not been signed yet,” said Kunwar. “It is reported that the agreement will be signed soon. The reconstruction will begin after the agreement.”
The tourists used to overcrowd in the past but it is solitude now due to the lack of reconstruction. The palace, which is witness of the history, is standing now on the wooden support. The earthquake damaged palace is deteriorating day by day, said Arjun Phuyal, chief of Nuwakot Monument Conservation and Palace Caretaking.
The palace constructed architecture from Lalitpur in 1819 is on verge of critical condition. The conservation of the palace is far away even after four years of the earthquake.
According to the historicists, the 256 year old palace was built by Malla dynasty to show down ego of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified Nepal. The palace was nine storey in the beginning. The earthquake of 1934 downsized the palace into seven storey.
During the Malla dynasty, kings used to construct five storey building while ordinary people were allowed to build three-storey building. However, Shah ordered to make it nine-storey building.
The palace is model for the architecture. The building structure, prisoner cell and eye-looking windows are centers of the attraction. The historical buildings near the palace are also on verge of collapse of the heritage.
