POKHARA, March 2: Preparations have started for the reconstruction of the Tal Barahi temple located in the middle of Phewa Lake.

As the temple has tilted three inches to the south, the risk has increased and the reconstruction has started. The Tal Barahi Guthi  Management Committee has said that the reconstruction of the temple will start from the third week of March.

According to the Guthi Management Committee Chairman Hikmat Bahadur Kunwar, the plan is to start the reconstruction from March and complete the work within eight months.

“The Tal Barahi temple is tilted three inches to the south. The risk has increased as the three-story temple including the ground floor has tilted three inches toward the south. The temple has to be reconstructed because the pilgrims who come to visit the temple are at risk,” said Kunwar, “If there is an earthquake, there is even more risk.”

He said that chhyama pooja (forgiveness worship) was performed in the temple for two days before the reconstruction started. He said that the forgiveness worship was conducted so that if some mistake happens during the reconstruction of the temple, the goddess would not cause any problems and no one would be harmed.

He said that according to the estimates made by the technicians of the Barahi Guthi Management Committee and the Department of Archaeology, it would cost around Rs 14.4 million to rebuild the temple. Chairman Kunwar said that as per the agreement, Rs 2.5 million will be provided by the Department of Archaeology.

He said that the rest of the money is not available at the moment. But he said that he is asking for help from donors including the Guthi Management Committee. “The external structure will be reconstructed to strengthen the temple. The form of the temple will not change,” he said, “There will be a 24-inch wall around the outer part of the temple.”

About three years ago, the temple was seen to be leaning south. It was later confirmed that it had inclined by three inches when it was studied by Guthi Management Committee and archeology technicians.

According to him, the temple was damaged in the earthquake of 2072 BS. He said that after removing the tree, it was seen that the temple was slightly tilted and when it was shown to archeologists, it was confirmed that the temple was tilted by three inches.

Talbarahi Temple was built in 2017 BS by the then King Mahendra.

 
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• Reconstruction