Rani Pokhari (
Nepali:
रानी पोखरी) meaning queen's pond, also known as
Nhu Pukhu (
Nepal Bhasa:
न्हू पुखू) meaning new pond, is an historic artificial pond located in the heart of
Kathmandu.
[1]
The square-shaped tank dates from the 17th century, and was built on
the eastern side of the then city limits. It lies just outside a former
city gate. The pond is one of Kathmandu's most famous landmarks, and is
known for its religious and aesthetic significance. Its dimensions are
180m by 140m.
Construction
Rani Pokhari was built in 1670 AD by King
Pratap Malla, one of the most illustrious monarchs of the
Malla dynasty that ruled
Nepal
for more than 600 years. Pratap Malla had the tank constructed to
console his queen who was distraught with grief after their son was
trampled to death by an elephant. He had water collected from various
holy places and river confluences in
Nepal and
India like
Gosaikunda,
Muktinath,
Badrinath,
Kedarnath and poured into the pond to sanctify it.
[3][4]
A temple dedicated to Matrikeshwor Mahadev, a form of the Hindu deity
Shiva,
stands at the center of the pond. It is reached from the street by a
causeway. A large stone statue of an elephant bearing the images of
Pratap Malla and his two sons Chakravartendra Malla and Mahipatendra
Malla is situated on the tank's southern embankment. The pond is
recharged by water flowing in through an underground channel.
There are four smaller temples situated at the four corners of the pond:
Bhairava temples in the northwest and northeast, Mahalaxmi Temple in the southeast and
Ganesh Temple in the southwest. The temples on the eastern side now lie within the compounds of
Tri Chandra College and a police station which has undermined their cultural importance.
[5][6]
Rani Pokhari is fenced with iron bars and opened once a year during Bhai Tika, the fifth and final day of the
Tihar festival.
Rani Pokhari inscription
The famed Rani Pokhari inscription of King Pratap Malla installed here is a stone slab with writings in three languages:
Sanskrit,
Nepali and
Nepal Bhasa. It is dated
Nepal Sambat 790 (1670 AD) and describes the construction of Rani Pokhari and its religious significance. It also mentions five
Brahmins, five
Pradhans and five
Khas Magars as being witnesses.
[7]
Western references
Among the earliest references to Rani Pokhari is an account by Italian Jesuit
Ippolito Desideri who visited Kathmandu in 1721 when Nepal was ruled by the
Malla kings. He was travelling from
Tibet to
India,
and has mentioned in his travelogue seeing a large pond outside the
main city gate with flights of steps and banks sloping down to the
water. The father has also written that there was a tall column at the
center resting on a magnificent pedestal.
[8]
Englishman William Kirkpatrick, who visited Kathmandu in 1793, has
written that there was a quadrangular reservoir of water situated near
the northeastern part of the city. He also noted the existence of many
temples on the sides of Rani Pokhari, some of which were of considerable
height and size.
[9]
Famous structures
Rani Pokhari is surrounded by historical buildings and famous structures. The clock tower
Ghantaghar
is situated across the road on the eastern side of the pond. The
original clock tower, which had a more elaborate architecture, was
destroyed during the
Great Earthquake of 1934. The present clock tower was built after the earthquake. It stands on the premises of
Tri Chandra College, the first college in the country which was established in 1918 AD.
On the western side of Rani Pokhari stands another historical building,
Durbar High School,
built in 1854 AD. It is the first school in Nepal providing education
along modern lines. In the beginning, Durbar High School only admitted
the children of the ruling classes. It was opened to the general public
in 1902.
Tundikhel,
a parade ground and ceremonial grass field and a Kathmandu landmark,
formerly extended from the southern side of Rani Pokhari. A section next
to the pond was fenced off and converted into a public park and flower
garden in the mid-1960s.
