The Provincial Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Forest has allocated Rs 9 million to conserve and restore the stables and to develop the Bhimphedi Hattisar Museum as a major tourist attraction.
Bhimphedi Rural Municipality has also earmarked Rs 1 million for the project.
The elephant stables are spread around 31 ropanis of land. The rural municipality office plans to build a fence around the facility, build cobblestone pavement and erect two elephant statues to give the place an uplift.
Hidam Lama, chairman of Bhimphedi Rural Municipality, said two elephant statues—one ridden by Queen Elizabeth II and another by Junga Bahadur Rana—would be constructed on the premises of the museum.
“We should make the Hattisar a major attraction for domestic as well as foreign tourists,” he said.
Bhimphedi was a major point linking Kathmandu with Tarai and India before the construction of Tribhuvan Highway in the 1950s. A number of Patis and Pauwas, rest houses, constructed in the area for travellers now lie in dilapidated condition.
The Bhimphedi Hattisar Museum also requires major conservation efforts.
“The museum houses 42 howdahs, including those used by Queen Elizabeth and Rana Prime Minister Junga Bahadur Rana,” said Bharat Singh Lama, caretaker of the museum.
The museum and the elephant stables are currently under the management of Chitwan National Park (CNP).
Bharat Singh, a retired CNP game scout, has been working as the caretaker of the stables for the past 11 years. He does not get paid for his job.