ID :
10078
Mon, 06/16/2008 - 12:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/10078
The shortlink copeid
NARAYANHITI PALACE CONVERTED INTO NATIONAL MUSEUM By Shirish B. Pradhan
Kathmandu, June 16 (PTI) - Prime Minister G. P. Koirala
Sunday hoisted the Nepalese flag at the Narayanhiti palace,
converting the 124-year-old sprawling complex into a national
museum, which will showcase the diamond-studded crown
surrendered by deposed monarch Gyanendra and a Mercedes Benz
gifted to his grandfather by Adolf Hitler.
Prime Minister Koirala formally unveiled a board
'Narayanhiti Palace Museum' over the pink roofed building
after hoisting the country's flag at a function attended by
hundreds of people, including ministers, members of
Constituent Assembly, diplomats, leaders of political
parties and other dignitaries.
"This is an important day," Koirala said, adding "The
national flag here symbolises national unity."
He said the world community is surprised that we have
been able to establish a republic in a peaceful manner. "The
whole process has completed without bloodshed," he stressed.
Home Minister Krishna Situala was quoted as saying in
the local media that the museum will open for the general
public in about three months.
Besides the diamond-studded crown and golden sceptre,
the 1939 Mercedes Benz presented by the German dictator to
King Tribhuvan will be a major attraction at the Narayanhiti
museum, officials said.
"The car gifted by Adolf Hitler to the Nepal king is
likely to be showcased in the palace museum," said Govinda
Kusum, a senior Home Ministry official. The car is lying in
the palace premises in a wear and tear condition.
King Tribhuvan used to ride the car brought in 1940
via India when there were no other cars in the country. It is
parked in the palace after a team of mechanics failed to
repair it due to nonavailability of spare parts.
Though the government is yet to work out a master plan
to turn the palace into a museum, the complex situated near
Kathmandu’s tourist hub Thamel, can be a major attraction for
foreigners, observers said.
The 60-year-old Gyanendra handed over his crown and
sceptre to the government and quit the palace last week and
moved to the Nagarjun palace on the outskirts of the capital
as a result of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly abolishing the
monarchy on May 28.
The declaration of Nepal into a republic by the first
meeting of the special assembly was a culmination of a
two-year peace process that saw the Maoists give up their
armed struggle.
Sunday hoisted the Nepalese flag at the Narayanhiti palace,
converting the 124-year-old sprawling complex into a national
museum, which will showcase the diamond-studded crown
surrendered by deposed monarch Gyanendra and a Mercedes Benz
gifted to his grandfather by Adolf Hitler.
Prime Minister Koirala formally unveiled a board
'Narayanhiti Palace Museum' over the pink roofed building
after hoisting the country's flag at a function attended by
hundreds of people, including ministers, members of
Constituent Assembly, diplomats, leaders of political
parties and other dignitaries.
"This is an important day," Koirala said, adding "The
national flag here symbolises national unity."
He said the world community is surprised that we have
been able to establish a republic in a peaceful manner. "The
whole process has completed without bloodshed," he stressed.
Home Minister Krishna Situala was quoted as saying in
the local media that the museum will open for the general
public in about three months.
Besides the diamond-studded crown and golden sceptre,
the 1939 Mercedes Benz presented by the German dictator to
King Tribhuvan will be a major attraction at the Narayanhiti
museum, officials said.
"The car gifted by Adolf Hitler to the Nepal king is
likely to be showcased in the palace museum," said Govinda
Kusum, a senior Home Ministry official. The car is lying in
the palace premises in a wear and tear condition.
King Tribhuvan used to ride the car brought in 1940
via India when there were no other cars in the country. It is
parked in the palace after a team of mechanics failed to
repair it due to nonavailability of spare parts.
Though the government is yet to work out a master plan
to turn the palace into a museum, the complex situated near
Kathmandu’s tourist hub Thamel, can be a major attraction for
foreigners, observers said.
The 60-year-old Gyanendra handed over his crown and
sceptre to the government and quit the palace last week and
moved to the Nagarjun palace on the outskirts of the capital
as a result of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly abolishing the
monarchy on May 28.
The declaration of Nepal into a republic by the first
meeting of the special assembly was a culmination of a
two-year peace process that saw the Maoists give up their
armed struggle.
