Dharahara: Difference between revisions
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* Foreigners - [[United States dollar|USD]] 4.00 (around [[Nepalese Rupee|NPR]] 406.50) |
* Foreigners - [[United States dollar|USD]] 4.00 (around [[Nepalese Rupee|NPR]] 406.50) |
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* [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]] nationals - USD 1.00 (around NPR 101.00) |
* [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|SAARC]] nationals - USD 1.00 (around NPR 101.00) |
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* Locals - NPR 50 |
* Locals - NPR 50 (around [[United States dollar|USD]] 0.49) |
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* Locals under age 5 and over 65 - Free |
* Locals under age 5 and over 65 - Free |
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Revision as of 14:09, 1 May 2015
| Dharahara | |
|---|---|
धरहरा | |
.jpg) Dharahara tower in February 2013 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Location | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Completed | 1832 Unknown |
| Destroyed | • 15 January 1934 (1934 earthquake) • 25 April 2015 (2015 earthquake; a 10-metre-tall (33 ft) stump of the base remains) |
Dharahara (Nepali: धरहरा), also called Bhimsen Tower, was a nine-storey, 61.88-metre-tall (203.0 ft)[1] tower at the center of Sundhara in Kathmandu.[2] It was built in 1832 by Mukhtiyar (equivalent to Prime Minister) Bhimsen Thapa under the commission of Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari and was a part of the architecture of Kathmandu recognized by UNESCO.[3]
The tower had a spiral staircase containing 213 steps. The eighth floor held a circular balcony for observers that provided a panoramic view of the Kathmandu valley. It also had a 5.2 metres (17 ft) bronze mast on the roof. [2]
Most of the tower collapsed in the 25 April 2015 Nepal earthquake, but the base remains.[4][5] About 180 bodies were found in the rubble.[6] The tower collapsed during lunch hour.
History
Dharahara in Kathmandu was the tallest building in Nepal and the second such tower built by Bhimsen Thapa.[7] The first tower was built eight years earlier in 1824 and was 11 stories high, two stories taller than the Dharahara. Dharahara is said to be built for Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari, who was the niece of Bhimsen Thapa.[8]
During the earthquake of 1834, both towers survived, but the first Bhimsen's tower suffered severe damage. A hundred years later, on 15 January 1934, another earthquake completely destroyed the first tower, and only two of the 11 stories of the second tower remained. The then Prime Minister of Nepal, Juddha Shumsher, subsequently carried out renovation work of the Dharahara tower to fully restore it.[3] After the original Bhimsen Tower was destroyed, Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari's tower became known as 'Bhimsen Stambha' or 'Bhimsen Tower'.
Dharahara was constructed for military use as a watchtower. When incidents of national importance occurred, bugles were blown from the top floor of the tower. This was the signal for soldiers to assemble. This tradition of bugle trumpeting continued until the collapse of the tower.[2][9]
On 25 April 2015, another earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 (Mw), hit the region, leading to the collapse of the tower.[5] The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 29 kilometres (18 mi) east-southeast of Lamjung, Nepal.[4] The structure collapsed and only its base survived.[10][11][12]
Architecture
The architecture of Dharahara was designed in both Mughal and European style. It resembled an Islamic minaret. The statue of Hindu deity Shiva was placed on the top of the tower.[8]
Tourism before collapse
The tower was a major tourist attraction and was open to the public from 2005 until its collapse in 2015. The fare for entering the site and ascending the tower was set at the following rates;[2]
- Foreigners - USD 4.00 (around NPR 406.50)
- SAARC nationals - USD 1.00 (around NPR 101.00)
- Locals - NPR 50 (around USD 0.49)
- Locals under age 5 and over 65 - Free
The management of Dharahara when it was standing came under severe scrutiny from locals and tourists. The Heritage Department of Kathmandu Metropolitan City came under severe criticism for its lack of effort to protect the heritage site.[13]
References
- ^ "In pictures: Earthquake in Nepal demolishes Darahara Tower". DNA. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Bhimsen Tower on LonelyPlanet Guide". The Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
- ^ a b "For Sale". The Kathmandu Post. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2015 – via HighBeam.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Deepak Nagpal (25 April 2015). "LIVE: Two major quakes rattle Nepal; historic Dharahara Tower collapses, deaths reported in India". Zee News. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Historic Dharahara tower collapses in Kathmandu after earthquake". DNA India. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ Barry, Ellen (25 April 2015). "Earthquake Devastates Nepal, Killing More Than 1,100". New York Times.
- ^ "Too tall for comfort". The Kathmandu Post. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2015 – via HighBeam.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Melissah Yang (25 April 2015). "Nepal Earthquake Destroys Dharahara Tower, A Significant Tourist Attraction In The Heart Of Kathmandu". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Quake turns two historic landmarks in Kathmandu into rubble". Hindustan Times. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Nepal earthquake topples historical Dharhara tower". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Historical Bhimsen Tower (Dharhara) in Kathmandu destroyed in earthquake". World Snap. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ Robert Midgley (25 April 2015). "19th century tower collapses from earthquake in Nepal". The Telegraph. AP. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "It speaks of history, but the glory is lost". Kantipur News Daily. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
External links
Media related to Dharahara at Wikimedia Commons