Dharahara, Watchtower in Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dharahara is a white tower standing 203 feet (61.88 m) tall in the Sundhara neighborhood of Kathmandu, rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake. A circular spiral staircase inside leads to multiple viewing platforms that offer views across the city and surrounding mountains.
The original tower was built in 1825 under orders from Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa as a military watchtower for the royal family. The 2015 earthquake destroyed the structure completely, prompting Nepal to rebuild it between 2018 and 2021.
The name Dharahara comes from Sanskrit and means "high tower," reflecting its role as a landmark visible across the valley. Today people visit to see how the reconstruction honors the original design while serving as a memorial to those lost in the 2015 earthquake.
The entrance is located on the main road in Sundhara and is easy to reach on foot or by local transport. The elevators make the upper levels accessible for visitors who prefer not to climb the stairs.
The reconstruction used the same traditional building methods as the original, including a mix of brick dust and black lentil paste as a binder. A museum inside displays photographs and remnants from before the earthquake that document the earlier structure.
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