Patan Durbar Square gets facelift

After four years of hard work, Mul Chowk, the central courtyard of the Patan Durbar Square , has been restored to its original grandeur with the support from the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.  According to officials involved with the restoration project, over 75 percent of the work has already been completed in the palace area while other restoration works are being carried out. "The Eastern gate, Bahadur Shah's palace, among others, have been restored," said Rohit Ranjitkar, Nepal Program Director of Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust. The other components which need restoration include the Royal bath and Sundari Chowk which fall under the Patan palace complex.  The (AFCP) extended a financial support of $1.1 million for the project. Over 100 craftsmen were involved with the restoration process everyday for four years. 

(भिडिओ तल छ)

Six months ago, artefacts and treasures dating back to the Malla period were discovered at the Mul Chowk section of the palace. Over 200 antiques were extracted by a team of experts during the renovation work at Mul Chowk. Chambers where the antiques were recovered had remained closed for over 50 years. The chambers were located to the southeast and west lawns of the courtyard. The three chambers were used as Bidhyapeeth, secret rooms where the royal palace's Rajopadhyay priests performed Tantrik practices.  Along with utensils, 200 other artefacts including wooden and iron-cast statues were discovered from the Mul Chowk compound. Among the antiques recovered are ancient coins, brass plates, bronze karuwa (a small water vessel), glasses, torans (decorative metals used in ancient palaces) and garlands of deities. According to officials, a gold-plated Sri Yantra (highly valued crystal said to attract positive energy), and a pendant of sphatik (a crystal triangle used in worshipping the deities on special occasions) are the two priceless objects recovered during the renovation. Also found in the courtyard were a number of centuries-old statues carved in wood and iron. Department of Archeology officials said the inventory of the utensils had been completed and that they were listing the statues and other valuables collected from the storehouse of Patan Museum over the years. The officials plan to put the valuables on public display in Mul Chowk soon. Preservation works at the Royal Bath and Sundari Chowk of the Patan Durbar Square are being jointly carried out by the KVPT and the DoA. source:www.ekantipur.com