Reconstruction of Budhanilkantha Dharmashala starts

 The reconstruction of Dharmashala at Budhanilkantha Temple in Kathmandu started today.

Indian Embassy deputy chief Namgya C Khampa and chief executive officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) jointly laid foundation stone for the reconstruction of Dharmashala at Budhanilkantha Temple, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. 

The reconstruction of Dharmashala at Budhanilkantha is the third of 28 cultural heritage conservation and restoration projects being under taken with a reconstruction of Rs 5800 million committed by government of India for the cultural heritage sector, the press note reads, adding that all the 28 sites were identified by government and both India and Nepal signed an MoU in this regard in August 2017. "The Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Building) of NRA is the implementing agency."

The Dharmashala at Budhanilkantha is expected to facilitate visit of pilgrims and tourists visiting this sacred temple.

India has been working with Nepal for restoration of cultural heritage projects in past too. "We have long cultural similarities, cultural heritage to preserve for the future generation," the press note further reads. "Earlier in November 2019, the Mathadhish building for Budhaneelkantha temple built under India’s development cooperation scheme at a total cost of Rs 22 million."

Government of India is committed to work with Nepal government in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage sites in Nepal to preserve the living cultural heritage sites to their past glory, the Embassy adds.

The event was attended by Mathadhish of Temple Swami Nigamananda, chairman of Budhanilkantha Management Committee Laxman Khadka, secretary of NRA Mani Ram Gelal, secretary at the Ministry of Land Reform and Management Tek Narayan Pandey, chief of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Jay Bahadur Chand, mayor of Budhanilkantha Municipality Uddhav Pd. Kharel, chairman of the World Hindu Federation Chakra Bandhu Aryal, and officials from the Embassy of India, NRA among others.