Priceless crown unveiled

Published On: October 15, 2018 02:29 PM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, Oct 15: A priceless crown has been made public in the capital on Monday.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli unveiled the crown amid a special ceremony at Narayanhiti Royal palace-turned museum.

The Narayanhiti Palace was converted to a museum after the abolition of monarchy in Nepal in 2008. The palace is now owned by the government. The then prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala had declared that the royal palace would be converted into a museum after the last king of the Shah dynasty, Gyanendra Shah, left the palace on June 11, 2008.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation is organizing a special program on Monday to display the crown, scepter and the sword used by the former kings.

While Oli has already inagurated the display, it will be available for the public only after October 22 due to the public holiday.

The crown and scepter were few artifacts that had been kept with the Nepal Army for protection after the museum opened for public on February 27, 2009.

Special security arrangement has been made for the exhibition of the royal crown for the public. There are seven layers of protection for the crown. The crown is kept in a bullet-proof box and CCTV camera will operate round the clock. The box also has a censor that will activate and ring if someone touches the box. Moreover, it will also be monitored by the guards of the museum.

ROYAL CROWN FULL OF DIAMOND AND GOLD

The royal crown, which is bejeweled with diamonds and gold, used to be worn by the king on special occasions. After the crown became the government's property, the government tried to take help from jewelers to determine its price. Despite its efforts, the government failed to determine the monetary value of this priceless artifact.

Reports say that the crown consists of around 2,700 pieces of diamonds in it. It is studded with precious ruby as well, while the top of the crown consists of plumes of a bird of paradise.

There is no data about when the crown was made. It is said that former King Birendra Shah had repaired the crown in 2028 BS when he succeeded his father as the king.

 


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