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Kathmandu,Saturday February 19, 2000 Fagun 07, 2056.
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Heritage in peril
Hidden
behind the row of dilapidated houses on its east and the row of relatively new houses in
its north side in Tripureswar, on the bank of the Bagmati river stands a graceful three
storeyed pagoda style temple of Lord Shiva, built by mukhtiyar (pre-Rana period prime
minister) Bhimsen Thapa in memory of Lalita Tripurasundari the youngest wife of King Rana
Bahadur Shah.
Like
the general condition of many other temples in Kathmandu valley, this temple’s roof
had been in a condition of total disrepair for the last several years. The expectation
that the temple will be repaired collapsed two years ago with one side of the first floor
roof. The other section also crumbled last monsoon while the remaining two sides of the
roof still hangs precariously and may fall any moment leaving the temple exposed to the
mercy of the elements.
Judging
by the performance of Guthi Sansthan under whose purview the conservation of our heritage
is assigned, an architectural heritage bequeathed by our ancestors is destined to be in
ruins in a few years if something is not done immediately. Despite the fact that the
temple has ample income for its upkeep from the property bequeathed by its benefactor,
this architectural heritage is in peril. Is it too much to expect Guthi Sansthan to wake
up from their slumber and live up to their expectations or otherwise make public their
shortcomings so that this heritage could be saved through peoples’ participation?
Jaya
Dev Baidya,
Thapathali, Kathmandu |
