KATHMANDU, July 19: Faced with growing landslide risks and prolonged government apathy, locals in Bhaktapur have taken the initiative to protect the historic Nilbarahi Temple area. After nearly a decade of neglect by local authorities, a citizen-led movement has now evolved into a large-scale campaign. In just ten weeks, over Rs 10 million has been raised, and more than 25,000 people have contributed through voluntary labor.
Located in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-9, Nilbarahi is one of the four major Barahi shrines in the Kathmandu Valley. The conservation campaign, spearheaded by local youths, began ten weeks ago to preserve the sacred site.
During the labor drive on the campaign's tenth Saturday, thousands of locals, volunteers, and devotees participated in an inspiring show of solidarity.
According to Anish Baidya, secretary of the Nilbarahi Area Conservation Concern Committee, what began with just a few hundred participants has now grown to include three to four thousand people every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday—the designated days for volunteer work.
Priests carry idols away from temple to protect them from thiev...
“We started with community discussions led by local youths, and gradually the public participation and financial support grew,” said Baidya. “Now, people bring their own snacks, and there’s a growing number of supporters who provide food, drinks, and fruits for the volunteers.”
Volunteers have been actively involved in activities such as laying stones, improving drainage systems, building embankments by filling sacks with soil, and planting grass on slopes to prevent erosion. Crowd management is facilitated through help desks and public announcements via microphones at key locations.
While the enthusiasm among participants is deeply inspiring, so is their frustration with the local government. “The funds and plans announced by the authorities for Nilbarahi have remained only on paper,” said Satyaram Kasichhwa, a teacher who traveled from Bhaktapur with a group to volunteer. “We were left with no choice but to take action ourselves. This is a show of social unity, but it's painful to see the government lag behind.”
Spread across more than 500 ropanis (around 25 hectares), the Nilbarahi temple area holds immense religious, cultural, and environmental significance. Perched atop a ridge, the temple has faced increasing landslide threats from all sides, putting the very existence of this heritage site at risk.
The temple is not just a sacred site for residents of Madhyapur Thimi but also a spiritual center for the entire Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley.
Triggered by continuous rainfall and the worsening landslide threats, this grassroots campaign has now placed mounting pressure on elected officials of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality.
Although the municipality claims to have proposed multi-million-rupee conservation plans, the lack of tangible progress over the years led citizens to take matters into their own hands.
While the immediate volunteer work offers short-term relief from landslides, long-term protection will require a robust drainage system and strong engineering interventions—something locals hope the government will no longer ignore.
