KATHMANDU: Stakeholders have emphasized the need to preserve the originality of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum, underlining its historical, cultural, and archaeological significance.
Speaking at a program organized on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum Development Committee on Friday, Executive Director Kajiman Pyakurel said the committee’s objective is to promote the palace’s inner courtyards and museum at both national and international levels.
Committee Chairperson and Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mukunda Prasad Niraula, said protecting the museum buildings in their original form while reconstructing earthquake-damaged structures from the 2015 earthquake remains a major challenge. Preserving history and passing it on to future generations is a shared responsibility, he added.
Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Saubhagya Pradhananga, stressed that close coordination among the government, the development committee, and other stakeholders is essential to keep the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum vibrant.
An integral part of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site, Hanuman Dhoka Palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 due to its cultural, religious, archaeological, and historical importance. Historically known as “Dakshin Koliyagram” during the Licchavi period, the site later developed into a key political and cultural center during the late medieval Malla period.
On the occasion, the committee also honored individuals for their contributions. Those recognized included Uddhav Karmacharya, chief priest of Taleju Temple; Ramsharan Bharti, Kharidar; and office assistants Laxmi Kumari Dangol and Ramila Deula.
A photo exhibition related to the museum was also organized during the event. The Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum Development Committee was established on December 27, 2010.
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