The famous Golden Gate, the statues of different deities, temples and shrines located at the Bhaktapur Durbar Square are found to be covered with lichen and weeds for lack of cleaning even as the country is marking 2011 as the Nepal Tourism Year. [break]
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the major sites in the district visited by foreign tourists.
For instance, the main temples, ancient resting places, arenas and the various statues of the rulers dating back to the Malla period are covered with dirt and lichen. One can even see different kinds of weeds growing on the roof and nooks and crevices of the famous Five-storied Temple there.
Weeds and lichen have virtually colonized the monuments in the Durbar Square making the place look ugly and untidy. But the Department of Archaeology and the Durbar Upkeep Office, the bodies responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the heritage site have turned a blind eye to all of this.
Even the Bhaktapur Municipality that collects revenue of Rs. 120 million annually from tourists by showing them around these places seems to be least cared about cleaning the monuments.
The Department has, however, cited lack of funds for not cleaning the heritage site.
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