KATHMANDU: The historic Khullamanch, which once stood as a witness to Nepal’s political transformations and mass movements, has now taken on a new green identity, with its open grounds covered in lush grass.
Ten months ago, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) planted grass over the once-barren and misused site as part of an effort to restore and revive the space. Over the years, Khullamanch had been repeatedly encroached upon and repurposed for various non-public uses.
During the construction of the Kathmandu View Tower, the open ground had been converted into a bus park and commercial stalls. Later, when the new building of Bir Hospital was being constructed, the area was used to store construction materials and even served as living quarters for workers.
Following public outcry against KMC’s controversial plan to build an underground parking facility at the site, the local government revised its approach. Now, a public park featuring two sports grounds is being developed in place of the once-contested land.
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