Officials said Kileshwar Temple, which is located within the renowned Changunarayan Temple premises, has now become the first structure of a heritage site to be restored completely after the earthquakes of last year.Bheshraj Dahal, director general of the Department of Archeology, said this is the first heritage structure to be restored completely after being destroyed by the quakes.
Representatives from local community and other organizations involved in rebuilding the Kileshwar Temple within Changunarayan, which is one of the UNESCO's world heritage sites, performed pooja (ritual worshipping) to cleanse it before reopening it for the public. The inscriptions found in Changunarayan Temple is taken as key evidence for Nepal's early history.
"This has become a good example as to how reconstruction works can yield good results with the combination of international support and local community's participation in such endeavors," Sushil Gyewali, chief executive officer of National Reconstruction Authority, said while addressing a brief function organized to reopen the temple.
A group of five visiting German parliamentarians, German Ambassador to Nepal and representatives from various groups involved in its renovation were present there. The German government provided financial aid to rebuild the temple, which was carried out in coordination with the Department of Archeology of Nepal and the Heritage and Environment Conservation Foundation Nepal.
Locals said they were elated to see the historic temple, which was completely damaged, restored in good shape.
However, the main building of the Changunarayan Temple, which is supported by wooden planks, is yet to be renovated.
German Ambassador Matthias Meyer said they are considering about supporting in renovation of the major Changunarayan Temple building and that they are holding discussions with various other agencies interested to support in renovation of the historic temple.
Germany is supporting in reconstruction of historical structures in Bhaktapur, Patan, Nuwakot and Rasuwa.
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