Historic houses in Muga await preservation

By Kokila Bhandari,Dhankuta, June 28: Lack of preservation has pushed many historical houses in Muga in wards 7 and 8 of Pakhribas Municipality into ruins.

Once upon a time, the name Muga used to evoke images of attractive old houses shining in the sun. The 35 houses built in the Rana era used to enthral one and all and gave this place a unique identity. Nearly half of the houses are now not fit for living and the remaining are also empty. 

The Thapas that once occupied these buildings also no longer live here. Instead, they have hired housekeepers like Dhan Kumari Bhujel.

Bhujel has been taking care of the house belonging to Arjun Thapa for the past 17 years. "For guarding this house, I get to keep everything that grows in the field here," she said, adding, "It is an old structure though. The owners promise to rebuild it every time they come here but forget after they leave."

Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa also hailed from this area and had a house with 52 doors in Pakhribas–8. 

It was destroyed by the Maoists during the insurgency after which, he never rebuilt it. His son Sunil Bahadur Thapa, who also went on to become a minister in the federal cabinet, has also not reconstructed the house.

Ajit Narayan Singh Thapa, who was born in Muga but currently lives in Kathmandu, believed that Pakhribas would be able to attract a lot of tourists if the houses were conserved. Similarly, Purna Bahadur Rai, a resident of Pakhribas–7, also said that visitors these days sought on old and historic buildings. However, he urged stakeholders to act quickly as only eight to 10 houses remain.