Do laws and institutions to preserve Nepal’s ancient monuments work?

Department of Archaeology, responsible for preventing breach of the law, is toothless. Observers say monuments can be saved only by making it strong and independent.

Last week, ‘Jalahari’, the golden receptacle that covers the base of the Shiva Linga and collects and drains liquids like water and milk offered to Lord Shiva at the Pashupatinath Temple, made headlines after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) took it off from the main temple to measure its weight. The golden receptacle had been installed in the third week of February last year .