The reopening of the historic Dharahara Tower to the general public witnessed a massive crowd, as eager visitors flocked to climb the iconic structure. The tickets for climbing the tower have been fully booked until Sunday, according to Koshnath Adhikari, Chief of the Central Project Implementation Unit under the Urban Development and Building Construction Department.
The decision to temporarily open Dharahara to the public was made by the government in celebration of Constitution Day. After being destroyed by the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, the tower was rebuilt to replicate its original structure and reopened after nine years, drawing an overwhelming number of visitors on its first day. The unexpectedly high turnout posed challenges to security management.
Despite an arrangement allowing 600 people to climb the tower for free each day, official records show that 1,200 people ascended the tower on the first day. Adhikari noted the extraordinary public interest and stated that the arrangement would continue temporarily until further ticketing measures are put in place.
The reconstruction of Dharahara began on Aswin 14, 2075 BS, spearheaded by the National Reconstruction Authority, and the tower was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on 11th Baishakh 2078 BS.
To manage public interest, the Central Project Implementation Unit has launched a website, dharahara.com.gov.np, where visitors can book tickets to climb the tower.
Originally built in 1882 BS under the orders of Maharani Lalit Tripurasundari and designed by General Bhimsen Thapa, the tower stood 61.88 meters high with 11 stories. It was rebuilt after suffering damage in the 1930s earthquake, and once again after the 2015 earthquake, restoring it to its historical grandeur.
Dharahara’s reopening is a symbol of Nepal’s resilience, and the overwhelming public response highlights its enduring cultural and historical significance.
