The historic Bhawani Shankar (Nawadega) Temple in Kathmandu has begun its reconstruction, a decade after the 2015 earthquake. Located at Bhedasingh Chowk, the temple was originally built in 1675 AD by Devidas Chikuti, a powerful minister during King Pratap Malla’s reign. Following the 1934 earthquake, the temple’s original tiered design was replaced with a dome. The current reconstruction aims to restore the temple to its original form.
The temple features idols of Ganesh, Surya, Narayan, and Mahalaxmi on its walls, along with a central Shiva Lingam. The NPR 53.5 million renovation is expected to be completed by Falgun 2082 BS. While Brahmin priests once conducted worship, the local Darshan family has been managing daily rituals since the 1990s.
The project aims to not only restore the temple but also revitalize community unity and preserve Kathmandu’s historical identity. Plans include restoring neighboring historical sites such as Harsha Chaitya Mahavihar and Jwalamai Ajima, as highlighted by Ward 25 Chairperson Rajesh Dangol.
