Repainting at the Changunarayan temple in Bhaktapur is in the final stages.

The paint job, a first in 62 years, is expected to be completed by the end of mid-June, said the temple’s head priest Chakradharananda Rajopadhyaya.

The repainting of the UNESCO World Heritage site is being carried out by the Changunarayan Development Committee as per their agreement with the infrastructural department of the palace caretaker committee, signed on October 6, 2022.

According to Rajopadhyaya, the historic temple was last painted in 1961, during the reign of the late King Mahendra.

“The paint in a majority of the places has worn off over the years,” he added. “Only natural paint has been used in the repainting process.”

The project is being helmed by Rajendra Chitrakar, who was also responsible for the paint jobs at Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa and Jayabageshwari temple among others.

As per the development committee, the repainting project is expected to cost around Rs4.4million.

The paint job is expected to bring the historic site to life and help in preserving the wood used in the buildings.

The construction of the pagoda-style temple was called on by Lichhavi king Haridatta Barma in 325 AD. Considered to be the oldest temple in the valley, the temple was included into the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1969.

Here are some photos by Post photographer Deepak KC.