Kirtipur Layaku Durbar is being constructed

KATHMANDU, Nov 17: Efforts have been started to revive the Kirtipur Durbar (Layaku), which was destroyed about two and a half hundred years ago, and even the ruins have reached the point of extinction.

The Layaku Durbar, which is considered to be the biggest and most important property of Kirtipur, had been neglected by the state for a long time and was also in a state of extinction due to the encroachment of the local residents.

The demand of Layaku Durbar with Umamaheshwar temple on the highest part of Kirtipur hill to be restored as it was before was started by the heritage lovers for the last three years.

According to this, Kirtipur Municipality allocated a budget to build some part of Layaku Durbar.

Accordingly, reconstruction has been started using traditional Newari bricks (dachi apa) and medieval style windows.

According to the chairman of Kirtipur-1, Hiralal Maharjan, the palace is being built with a budget of around Rs. 3 crore allocated by the municipality. In November 2077, the municipality had issued a public notice to the municipality to rebuild Layaku Durbar if there is any evidence about it. Accordingly, 16 local residents including Maharjan submitted historical documents and photos related to Layaku Durbar to the municipality.

It also includes a sketch prepared by Henry Waldfield, a western traveler who came to Nepal in 1855, with the ruins of Layaku Palace.

After the implementation of the Panchayati system, Layaku Village Panchayat was formed by covering Umamaheshwar temple and the surrounding areas.

In 2054 when the municipality was formed the area was established as Ward No. 1 and 2.

Shuddharatna Maharjan, who is very knowledgeable about the palace, gave the information that a part of it will be built even though the palace that is being built now is not possible in its old shape.

"21 private houses have been built within the old palace area", he said.

According to Maharjan, it is said that the palace area (Layaku) of Kirtipur was completed by Shree Niwas Malla in Nepal Sambat 801.

Experts say that the palace was destroyed in the battle between Kirtipur and Gorkha forces in 1822. Maharjan said that after that, the state gave Tarkaraj Gururaj Pandit an order to take care of the place.

Maharjan also said that it was found in history that Pandit complained to the government saying that the palace area was being encroached upon.

It is said that until a few decades ago, the walls around the palace were visible and gradually encroached and became a private house.