KATHMANDU, Dec 4: Visitors to Ratnapark in Kathmandu can now enjoy free internet while relaxing in the winter sun. The park, once known for its disorganized footpaths, has been upgraded and now offers Wi-Fi service.
The Green Promotion Initiative under Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has installed six routers from Nepal Telecom, providing a 500 Mbps internet connection throughout the park. Technician Suresh Kumar Shrestha said that free internet will be available across all areas of Ratnapark by the end of this month.
Ratnapark, also known as Shankhadhar Park, was redeveloped in FY 2015/16 at a cost of around Rs 8 million. Since then, visitor numbers have increased significantly, ranging from elderly sunbathers to young people taking photos and enjoying the park.
Entry fees are currently Rs 20 for students, Rs 30 for general visitors and Rs 100 for SAARC and foreign tourists. Additional charges apply for cameras, music video shoots, weddings or commercial photography.
From mid-July to mid-November in the current FY, 61,537 visitors entered the park including 12,850 students. Senior citizens, people with disabilities and single women enter free of charge. During this period, the city collected over Rs 1.8 million in revenue from various entry fees and activities.
The park is equipped with seating, public toilets and features statues such as Shankhadhar and Padmaratna Tuladhar, as well as a Unigarden area. Officials noted a need for a steady water supply to protect the plants, with plans to install a water fountain soon.