R.P. Foundation

GACHHEN PROJECT

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April 2015. Several aftershocks have occurred since, notably a 7.4 magnitude aftershock on 12 May 2015, adding to the woes of the already devastated people. This was the worst earthquake in Nepal since 1934.The earthquake and aftershocks have caused heavy damage and numerous casualties in the vulnerable and landslide-prone country. Out of 75 districts, 30 are reported to be affected, with the Kathmandu Valley and the districts of Sindhupalchowk, Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Kavrepalanchowk, and Dolakha among the most severely affected. The quake has inflicted a huge loss, both humane and collateral. As of PDNA report 8,790 lost their life 22,300 were injured. Similarly 498,852 personal houses, 2,656 governmental buildings and the schools with 19,000 classrooms were severly damaged. 

Similarly 753 archaeological structures were also damaged from 2015 earthquakes.  The ancient town of Bhaktapur too suffered a heavy damage, both in terms of humane and collateral. Most shockingly many of city’s heritage sites as well as old houses from the medieval period fell prey to the quakes. Many old Newar settlements of the city were badly hit including Gachhen, a picturesque settlement rich in its architectural grandeur since many centuries. 

Few months after the great earthquake, the rescue and relief works were coming to an end, the reconstruction of the houses flattened or wrecked by the quakes then remained a mammoth task, which naturally demanded huge money and labour. Unfortunately, many householders were not economically capable to rebuild their houses. They were in dire need of helping hands, be it the State or others. To begin restoration or reconstruction it is imperative to dismantle the wreck houses with immediate effect. And with this thought, the Gachhen project was envisioned.

Rabindra Puri (RP) Foundation for Conservation takes the responsibility of demolishing the quake-hit houses in Gachhen. The Foundation on 31 May 2015 submitted a formal letter to District Administration Office (DAO) Bhaktapur to garner the supports from the government line agencies such as Bhaktapur Municipality, Department of Archeology as well as other stakeholders for its demolition initiative. While responding to the Foundation’s plea, an all agency meeting was summoned on 2 June 2015 by Mr. Anil Kumar Thakur, Chief District Officer at his chamber in the DAO. The meeting comprised of the CDO, Executive Officer of Bhaktapur Municipality, Head of Archeology Office in Bhaktapur, Chief of District Police Office and representatives of major political party unanimously vowed all possible supports to the Foundation’s initiative by signing a minute.

10 most important heritage houses of Gachhen with beautiful traditional doors and windows were chosen by RP Foundation for dismantling with a hope that the safely dismantled heritage items from those houses like the traditional bricks, decorative struts, beams, decorative doors and windows, all could be re used for reconstruction of those houses. The Foundation supported all the necessary expenses for this project through itself and GIZ.

The demolition of those houses in Gachhen had following objectives;

1. To help support the local inhabitants who have been rendered homeless following the great earthquake April 25th, 2015 and its successive aftershocks, by providing dismantling their wrecked houses.

2. retain the ancient materials used in the houses such as bricks, stones and wooden objects most importantly the quintessential sanjhya windows, struts and others.

By Mid August 2015 this project was successfully completed. The re-usable heritage items of those houses like bricks, wooden doors, windows and other supportive materials were all handovered to the respective house owners who were all very grateful for this project.