Narayanhiti Museum unlikely to attract its share of tourists
Nepal Tourism year 2011
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KATHMANDU, JAN 23 -
Nepal Tourism Year 2011 has been set in motion but the Narayanhiti Palace Museum, one of the major attractions of the Republic of Nepal, is not yet preprared to attract its share of an estimated one million tourists.
The museum’s plan to display some 20 cars including the one gifted by Hitler to King Tribhuvan has hit a snag in the lack of funds. The vehicles, which carry a historical legacy, are rotting on the museum compound.
Ironically, this is a place to have been contributing significantly to the state coffers. In less than two years, the museum has generated Rs. 47.455 million in revenue. The museum administration’s sustained demand for funds to display the crown and repair the cars has fallen on deaf ears.
The Maoist-led government in February 2009 turned the former Royal Palace into a museum, nearly nine months after the abolition of the 240-year monarchy. Although the then King, Gyanendra had planned to repair the car gifted to his grandfather by Hitler and keep it safely in the palace, it could not materialise, said Jay Ram Maharjan, chief of the Narayahiti Palace Museum Management Committee. The car was brought to the palace four years ago from a nettle bush on the premises of Thapathali Engineering College where it was taken for study purpose. The Ministry of Culture had plans to protect and renovate the museum’s assets, but they were aborted after the main opposition barred the caretaker government from presenting its annual budget in the House.
The display of crown would exhibit many historically important things including the gold-and-silver sceptre, sword and Kalash. “We sent a proposal to display the crown and repair the cars last year, but we haven’t heard anything of it so far,” said Maharjan. “It is, however, the right of the people to get a glimpse of the emblem of unity.”
The museum had sought Rs. 30 million for electronic security arrangements to display the crown and repair the vehicles.
“We need around Rs. 20 million for the management of electronic security of the crown—constructing bulletproof glasses, installing siren system and displaying it in a moveable shelf,” said Maharjan. Currently, the crown is under the supervision of the Nepal Army and has been kept inside the palace. Culture Secretary Modraj Dotel said, “We will try to put it on display this year no matter how much it costs.” But he did not explain how it would be possible. The museum has recently received Rs. 20 million for renovation works.
It occupies 19 out of the 753 ropanis of the palace area. Of the total 52 rooms, 19 have been opened to public.
Posted on: 2011-01-23 08:37
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