KATHMANDU: The reconstruction of Ranipokhari is complete and the historical pond and the temple in it are scheduled to be inaugurated by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Minister for Urban Development Krishna Gopal Shrestha, the historical pond damaged by the 2015 earthquake will be formally opened on Wednesday.

Earlier, President Bhandari had inaugurated the Ranipokhari reconstruction project on National Earthquake Day on January 16, 2016.

“The successful reconstruction of Ranipokhari retaining its glorious art and beauty is an evidence of the fact that the government is serious about the conservation of historical and cultural heritage sites and their reconstruction,” Minister Shrestha said.

However, the heritage conscious connoisseurs will notice some of the changes reintroduced during the reconstruction of the Balgopalewor Temple lying in the middle of the pond.

The temple formerly built in dome style has been reconstructed in the peak or granthkut style.

The culture experts contributing to the reconstruction of the pond and the temple claim that the temple was originally constructed in peak style which had got damaged in the earthquake in 1833 AD.

They claim the present reconstruction has revived the original style that was there before the massive earthquake of 1833.

The reconstruction has nearly taken 5 years this time.