Treasure worth billions uncovered at Hanuman Dhoka palace

KATHMANDU, May 31: Antique items recently found in a treasure house inside Hanuman Dhoka, the royal palace of the Malla as well as Shah dynasties, are worth billions of rupees, said government authorities on Thursday.



A team of archeologists, representatives of various political parties, concerned ministries and security agencies had unlocked the Hanuman Dhoka treasure house on April 5. The team, headed by Director General (DG) of Department of Archeology (DoA) Bhesh Narayan Dahal, had found a huge amount of antique items, artefacts, idols and jewelries. [break]



The government had formed another committee led by Sarswati Singh, Executive Director of Hanuman Dhoka Museum Development Committee, to make an inventory of all the items found in the treasure house. Holding a press conference Thursday, the committee said brick-shaped silver bars found in the treasure house alone are worth millions of rupees.



A total of 145 brick-shaped silver bars were found in the treasure house. The committee said brick-shaped silver bars weigh 4081.255 Kgs, which can fetch millions of rupees as per current market rates.



According to the committee, 24 sets of Chand, a jewelry item mounted with diamonds and precious stones that top Rana officers wore on their heads, have also been found in the treasure house. Besides, plates of gold, antique coins, precious stones, pearls and archeologically-important idols have also been found. All the identified antique items have been kept in 28 separate boxes.



“We are not done yet; we are expecting a lot more antique items," said Dahal. “Once we are done with making inventory, we will make all the items public." Dahal said the antique items found in the treasure house are priceless. "You cannot calculate prices of all the items," said he. "We can just say that these items are worth billions of rupees."



The committee led by Singh collects the details of antique items found in the treasure house from Sunday to Wednesday. Every Thursday, the inventory of antique items is updated and briefed to concerned authorities the next day.



Only seven of the total 22 containers found in the treasure house have been unlocked so far. Singh said they will open the remaining 15 containers in the next couple of months. "Inventory of small items of gold and silver is taking a long time," said she. "We have to be extra careful to collect details of such mini items."



Most of the items found in the treasure house are believed to have been brought from different countries like England and China, according to Singh. "These items date back to the Malla and the early Shah eras," said she.

Related story

Nostalgia: Musicians on the crowning day of then King Tribhuvan...