Rani Pokhari

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Nepalese pond built in 1670

title: "Rani Pokhari" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["kathmandu", "sacred-lakes", "ponds-in-kathmandu-valley", "malla-dynasty", "artificial-lakes-of-nepal", "17th-century-establishments-in-nepal"] description: "Nepalese pond built in 1670" topic_path: "general/kathmandu" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rani_Pokhari" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Nepalese pond built in 1670 ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox body of water"]

Field	Value
name	Rani Pokhari
native_name	ne
image	File:Rani Pokhari 2020-IMG 0226.jpg
caption	Rani Pokhari in 2020 after restoration
location	Kathmandu, Nepal
coordinates
type	Pond
catchment
date-built	1670;
length
width
area	7.7 acres
depth
max-depth
volume	30000000 litres
shore
elevation
temperature_high
temperature_low
pushpin_map	Nepal
pushpin_map_caption	Location of Rani Pokhari in Nepal
mapframe	yes
mapframe-zoom	16
::

Rani Pokhari (; lit. queen's pond), originally known as Nhu Pukhu (; lit. new pond), is a historic artificial pond located in the heart of Kathmandu, Nepal. 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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Manuscript_Painting_of_Pratap_Malla.jpg" caption="Manuscript painting showing King [[Pratap Malla]] collecting water from sacred sites for Rani Pokhari."] ::

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.

Sources of the water

The pond is recharged by water flowing in through an underground channel, but there are also seven wells inside the pond.

Inscription

King Pratap Malla installed a stone slab at Rani Pokhari 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 (Chief-ministers) and five Khas Magars as being witnesses.

Temples and elephant statue

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Pratap_malla_and_elephant.jpg" caption="King Pratat Malla with his sons on an elephant at Rani Pokhari.]]A temple dedicated to Matrikeshwor Mahadev, a form of the Hindu deity [[Shiva]], stands at the center of the pond. There is an idol of Harishankari, which is said to be the only one idol of both Saraswoti and Laxmi. 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."] ::

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.

Dhunge dharas

During recent excavations, four dhunge dharas were found, one at each of the four corners of the pond.

During the construction of the Ratnapark Subway, starting in 1984, Nhera hiti was discovered. Some of the stone spouts are now in the National Museum of Nepal. An unnamed dhunge dhara is known to be buried on the premises of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Then there is Swora hiti or Tin Dhara at Durbar Marg. The fourth dhunge dhara is named Jhanga hiti. It is located in Jamal, on the north-western corner of Rani Pokhari. Of these four dhunge dharas, only Swora hiti is in working order.

Chhath and Tihar

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Ranipokhari-IMG_3228.jpg" caption="[[Chhath]] celebration at Rani Pokhari"] ::

The temple at the centre of the lake is open to the public only once a year: during the Yamapanchak or Tihar, the Festival of Lights. Traditionally, it opens on the Day of "Bhaitika" when sisters bless brothers for longevity and good health.

Rani Pokhari is fenced with iron bars and is opened once a year during Bhai Tika, the fifth and final day of the Tihar, and Chhath festival. The world's largest Chhath festival takes place every year in Rani Pokhari. Rani is also dedicated to (Nepalese Maithil) Women who go into the cold water and pray to the Sun God.

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.

The British Indian Army officer William Kirkpatrick, who visited Kathmandu in 1793, wrote about 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.

Controversial upgrade

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Rani_Pokhari_under_construction.jpg" caption="Ranipokhari being restored with bricks instead of concrete"] ::

Restoration work on Ranipokhari after the 2015 earthquake began in January 2016 and has been fraught with controversy. The original plans used concrete for the restoration, instead of the traditional brick and clay, and included fountains and a new lakeside café. After a series of local protests it was decided to restore the pond to the way it was in 1670. The reconstruction was completed in October 2020.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Bal_Gopaleshwor_Temple_Rani_Pokhari_Kathmandu_Nepal_Rajesh_Dhungana_(24).jpg" caption="Rani Pokhari in 2021 after the reconstruction"] ::

The reconstruction saw a change in the colour scheme as well as the style of architecture used for the temple in the middle of the lake. It was in dome style before the 2015 earthquake while the reconstructed temple of Matrikeshwor Mahadev is in the stupa style of ancient architecture. The change was because the Ranipokhari had a similar temple during the construction period. The temple was rebuilt twice during the Rana period. The dome style of the temple we saw before the earthquake was a form of the same Rana period. The present renovation has restored the temple to its original form.

Famous structures

Rani Pokhari is surrounded by historical buildings and famous structures. The clock tower Ghanta Ghar 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 admitted only the children of the ruling classes. It was opened to the general public in 1902 AD.

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.

Historical gallery

File:Ranipokhari clock tower 1930s.jpg|Rani Pokhari and clock tower from the west before the 1934 earthquake File:Elephant statue and rest house.jpg|Statue of elephant and pavilion, circa 1930. The old brickwork can be seen here. File:Rani pokhari ca 1950.jpg|Bird's-eye view of Rani Pokhari and nearby areas in the 1950s File:Rani pokhari bus stand.jpg|Former bus stand built in the early 1960s on the northwestern corner

References

Tribhuvan University Teachers' Association. (June 2012). "Historical and Environmental Study of Rani Pokhari". Government of Nepal, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.
Amatya, Saphalya. (2003). "Water & Culture".
Chitrakar, Anil. (30 July 2010). "Infant Mortality". ECS NEPAL.
. (1 November 2013). ["Majestic Rani Pokhari"](http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=63939). *Republica*.
Regmi, DR. (1966). "Medieval Nepal: A history of the three kingdoms, 1520 AD to 1768 AD". Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay.
[https://risingnepaldaily.com/nation/spouts-all-around-but-only-few-have-running-water Spouts all around, but only few have running water] by Binu Shrestha, The Rising Nepal, 10 February 2020, retrieved 29 September 2021
[https://english.onlinekhabar.com/reinstate-4-hitis-around-ranipokhari.html Can Kathmandu reinstate 4 hitis around Ranipokhari back to its glory? Here’re plans and problems] by Nasana Bajracharya, Onlinekhabar.com, 24 July 2022, retrieved 24 March 2023
[https://kathmandupost.com/visual-stories/2024/11/03/devotees-visit-balgopaleshwar-temple-for-bhaitika Devotees visit Balgopaleshwar Temple for Bhaitika], The Kathmandu Post, 3 November 2024, retrieved 11 December 2024
"Chhath Puja in Ranipokhari, world's largest : ICIMOD".
Desideri, Ippolito. (1995). "An Account of Tibet: The Travels of Ippolito Desideri 1712-1727 AES reprint". Asian Educational Services.
Kirkpatrick, William. (1811). "An Account of the Kingdom of Nepaul, Being the Substance of Observations Made During a Mission to that Country, in the Year 1793". W. Miller.
[https://kathmandupost.com/editorial/2018/09/28/rani-pokhari-blunder Rani Pokhari blunder], The Kathmandu Post, September 28, 2018, retrieved 14 September 2019
[https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2019/03/06/reconstruction-work-of-rani-pokhari-resumes Reconstruction work of Rani Pokhari resumes] by Anup Ojha, The Kathmandu Post, March 6, 2019, retrieved 14 September 2019
[https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2019/04/24/bhaktapur-sets-an-example-for-local-led-heritage-reconstruction-while-kathmandu-and-patan-fall-short Bhaktapur sets an example for local-led heritage reconstruction, while Kathmandu and Patan fall short] by Timothy Aryal, The Kathmandu Post, April 25, 2019, retrieved 14 September 2019
[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/international/nepal-completes-reconstruction-of-historical-rani-pokhari/videoshow/78814602.cms Nepal completes reconstruction of historical 'Rani Pokhari'], The Times of India, 22 October 2020, retrieved 12 August 2021
Kharel, Kusum. (2021-09-05). "Rani Pokhari".

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