Puri is involved in the campaign to protect and preserve old houses and cities at a time when traditional and ancient houses are being fast disappearing.[break]
Puri, who had received the Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage Award and the UNESCO Award for the first time in Nepal for building a model house from a house used as poultry farm in Bhaktapur seven years ago, has started to build 60 houses of ancient style in Saraswoti Danda of Nasika VDC in the border of Bhaktapur and Kavre districts.
Three houses have been already built and all others will be built in next two years in the place in connection with making an ancient city of Lichchhabi times in the place where Anshu Varma time inscription was also found.
The city is being constructed in 54 ropanis of land in a whole hill. Various mountain ranges and Kathmandu valley can be observed from the place. The city will be seen as an ancient Nepali city of traditional style.
The city was started by purchasing land at a cost of Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 4 million per ropani with the assistance of Fernando of Spain, amid the settlements of Newars, Magars and Tamang.
Puri who started the works by taking loans with his land as collateral, said the ancient city will be built with an investment of Rs. 500 million within the next two years.
Puri has used only Nepali traditional materials while building the houses.
Houses of various styles have been constructed and there will be a stupa, temples, resting places, water spouts, greenery, open area, and play ground inside the city, but there will be no swimming pools and shopping malls, he said.
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