Water Spouts at the heart of the Public Realm II

Of ignorance and neglect.

This is part II of my earlier post on Dhungedharas, the ones still running. For more details on that post, refer the link below -

Part I of this Series

Here's looking at the other end of the spectrum, whose fate stands in stark contrast to those mentioned earlier. Most of them are outside the bounds of the historical core areas and increasingly they seem out of place in areas where changes [read mostly new construction] are taking place rapidly. As we have seen historically, some of these changes are detrimental to these ancient structures and their functioning so a few are in urgent need of repair of some sort! That aside, there is still a growing water shortage in the city and a running water supply system meant for a purely public consumption could be in the best interests of society itself. They are therefore relevant and useful not only from a historical point of view since they represent a way of life that gave rise to them but also because they are still useful even today. And because they are an integral element of the public realm, of elements that has shaped and defined traditional public spaces as we have come to know in this part of the country. Thus they are as integral to this city as 'we' the people are.

Dhungedhara at Gairidhara, Kathmandu

This one next is at Bhimsensthan close to the river Bishnumati and although not physically in ruins like the one above, it has got a drainage problem and needs urgent cleaning as we can see from the picture below.

Dhungedhara at Bhimsenthan

This one next is the famous Water Spout opposite the old south gate of the Narayanhiti Royal Palace (now Museum), a place which has a very interesting legend dating back to the Lichhavi period and the Boudhanath Stupa associated with it. The premise is open to the public and is well kept except the obvious drainage issue, one of the three water spout was working when this picture was taken.

Dhungedhara at Narayanhiti

Where water still flows...

The one below is a Dhungedhara at Naxal.

Dhungedhara at Naxal, Nandi Bahal

Fragments of a different time

Updated on Nov. 2016

Dhungedhara next to Bhatbhateni Temple

Bhuvaneshwori Temple, Pashupati Nath

Bhagwan Pau, Swayambhu Nath

Out in the public domain

Of old amidst the new.

Kalmochan Temple Complex, Tripureshwor
( c 2012)

View of the damaged complex
(May 2015)

Volunteers clearing out the site at Kalmochan Temple
damaged by the April 2015 Earthquake
(May 2015)

Basantapur, Kathmandu Durbar

Remains of a bye-gone era, Ason Chowk

Palace of Bhimsen Thapa(?), Lagan-chowk

City Expansion Drive

As the street edges get more defined and the city takes shape, whether that is bad or good is a debate for some other time. The process is often painful, and it only gets worse when it takes years.

As the expansion drive truly kicks into gear and is rapidly being replicated at various locations throughout the valley, as an urbanist it is painful to watch a few things. An utter disregard for the comfort of pedestrians,  proper road alignments, missing road signage with traffic flow, missing street lights, street lighting in general and most of all, why wasn't the horrible looking cables put under ground at least in the main roads (everything was dug up anyway)...it defies logic.

Gairidhara Chowk to Uttar Dhoka

Gyaneshwor Chowk to Naxal Bhagwati

Gyaneshwor Chowk 

Dillibazar Road August 2014

Dillibazar August 2014