Historic Gorkha Durbar collapses due to massive quake and aftershocks
Gorkha, May 14,A massive earthquake that rocked the nation on April 25 has
destroyed the historical Gorkha Durbar or palace. The palace was constructed some four hundred
years back and different kings since Ram Shah to Prithvi Narayan Shah lived and
ruled from there.
The massive quake
and aftershocks destroyed the palace, the Gorakhnath cave, the Gorakhnath temple, the Kalika temple and
other old heritages, said Ganesh Prasad Bhattarai, chief at the Gorkha Palace
Management Office.
The Gorkha palace
is the same palace where unifier of modern Nepal, Prithvi Narayan Shah was born
and brought up. He also began the
national unification campaign from the same palace.
Almost all
historical and cultural sites in the
durbar premises were badly damaged due to the quake. Devotees of the Gorakhnath and Kalika temples
are not allowed to enter the premises for prayers and worship due to the
possible collapse risk.
Chief at the
Palace Management Office Bhattarai added that other Pashupati, Guheshwori,
Vidya, Bajra Bhairav, Kotkali temples on the palace premises along with the
Kalika temple were destroyed due to the quake.
Similarly, other
historical buildings and squares constructed during the reign of Prithvi
Narayan Shah and Bhimsen Thapa also were
destroyed by the devastating quake.
Chief priest at
the Gorakhnath Temple, Pradip Nath Yogi said they had not stopped the worships
and other rituals at the temple but are worried on how to continue these in the
present pro-tem manner as the temple was destroyed.