By Binu Shrestha
Kathmandu, Jan. 10: With the devastating 2015 Earthquake flattening a huge portion of the Hanumandhoka Durbar Museum, cultural enthusiasts and common people alike have long been deprived of visiting the historic monument.
At long last, the palace has been built back from the rubbles and is ready to welcome the visitors.
Hanumandhoka Durbar Museum Development Committee has almost completed preparation to open three galleries: Mahendra, Birendra and Tribhuvan - of the museum. The museum galleries, which were partially damaged by the earthquake, have now been restored and are set to open soon after an extended hiatus.
The three galleries of the museum as well as the ornament gallery will be open within a few days, informed Sandeep Khanal, Executive Director of Hanumandhoka Durbar Museum Development Committee.
The ornament gallery is ready at the ground floor of Gaddi Baithak after retrofitting.
People will, thus, have an e opportunity to observe jewellery of the ancient times housed inside the ornament gallery.
Some 22,000 sets of gold, silver, diamond and other crowns and jewellery collected from across the nation are kept near the Gaddi Baithak.
Young generations can observe designs of ornaments dating decades and even centuries back as well as jewellery donated by generous opearators of holy shrines and temples.
Other sections of the museum, however, will continue to be sealed off considering the on-going reconstruction work.
Reconstruction of other structures within the Hanuman Dhoka premises, such as the nine-storied palace (Nautale Durbar) are still in progress with almost 80 per cent work of the Nautale Durbar already completed.
It was being rebuilt with the assistance of China Aid, but the Chinese engineers have still not returned following their departure since the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the Museum Development Committee, they will be returning to the construction site after the Chinese New year in February. Some minor tasks related to the wood work of the inner part of the palace are left.
The Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Laliptur towers that adorn the corners of the palace have been completed under the Chinese project.
Executive Director Khanal further informed that 70 per cent of the reconstruction of Rana regime’s whitewashed building has also been finished, which lies between the Gaddi Baithak and nine-storied palace.
Once visitors enter the museum, they can visit the Gaddi Baithak, the neo-classical building, ornament gallery, nine-storied palace with three museum gallery and other parts in the days to come with a single ticket.