KATHMANDU: President Vidyadevi Bhandari Friday inspected the Narayanhiti Durbar Museum. This is the first visit by the head of state since the Narayanhiti palace was turned into a museum. The museum has been closed to the public after the second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic spread.
"The President visited the Narayanhiti Durbar Museum for the first time," said Bhesnarayan Dahal, executive director of the Narayanhiti Durbar Museum and the Republic Monument Management and Operations Development Committee. We have been able to show the work done so far after the museum was built.
The museum was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on June 20. On March 3 of the same year, another former prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, inaugurated the museum to the public. Similarly, former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had opened the Shripech, scepter room to the public on September 15. In the first week of last December, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai inaugurated the residence of the then King Virendra at the Narayanhiti Durbar premises.
The palace has 52 rooms including various living rooms, royal bedrooms, bedrooms used by royal guests, kitchens, and dining rooms. Out of them, 32 rooms have been brought to the exhibition. President Bhandari was received by Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yadav Prasad Koirala and officials of the Board.
During the lockdown, the committee stated that the renovation and reconstruction work of the historic palace was underway. Executive Director Daha said that a fountain garden has been constructed, all the paintings inside the palace have been done, photography documentation, materials of the palace have been scientifically listed, the roof of Sreesanth has been repaired and the garage has been repaired. "We have not received the budget because of Corona," he said, adding that work was being done from internal sources. "We hope the government will provide the budget soon," he said.
There are plans to develop Narayanhiti Durbar as a study and research center of the Shah dynasty. According to Executive Director Dahal, 'Light and Sound' (Digital History) will be produced and displayed by including the history from the beginning of the Shah dynasty to the Durbar massacre.
In the museum premises, vehicles used by the royal family, including a car gifted to King Tribhuvan by the German ruler Hitler, are on display. Also on display are several motor vehicles from the childhood of Yuvaraj Dipendra, Yuvarajni Shruti, and Yuvaraj Nirajan. The Avro planes and helicopters used by the royal family are housed in the Durbar Museum premises.
