The reconstruction of the historic Bhairavi Temple in Bidur Municipality Ward No. 2, Nuwakot, has been completed after five years. The temple was severely damaged in the 2015 earthquake.

In 2016, the Department of Archaeology had initiated the reconstruction of the two-storey temple in its original form and structure. However, the reconstruction work was delayed due to a shortage of construction materials and manpower, and also because of the locals’ protest.

The locals had protested in August 2019 claiming that the temple was not being built in its original form and structure.

The shrine, located atop a hill near the historic seven-storey Nuwakot Palace, is one of the most important temples in the district and is believed to have been built during the Lichchhavi period.

“Craftsmen from Bhaktapur worked on the woodwork and the roof of the temple. The temple has been built in its original pagoda style,” said Arjun Phuyal, chief at the Monument Conservation and Palace Care Office in Nuwakot.

According to Phuyal, a kilogram and 30 tolas of gold has been used on the roof of the second floor. “Only a few old wooden rafters were used in the reconstruction,” he said.

The department and other concerned authorities had been receiving flak for their lackadaisical approach to the reconstruction of Bhairavi Temple.

"The reconstruction of the temple has finally completed," said Phuyal. “A total of Rs 46.3 million was spent on the reconstruction work.”

Meanwhile, the reconstruction of Nuwakot Durbar, known as the seven-storey palace which was also damaged in the 2015 earthquake, is yet to be completed. The National Reconstruction Authority had signed an agreement with the Chinese government to reconstruct the seven-storey palace. But the only work done so far was the erection of a scaffolding and the repairment of roofs in June 2019.

Since the 2015 earthquake, the palace walls have been propped up with iron poles and visitors are barred from entering the palace premises.