Saptapatal Pokhari: A motivating case for Kathmandu heritage conservation

At a busy junction in Lagankhel, Lalitpur, further from the bus station, lies a land plot that once had a huge pond called Saptapatal Pokhari. The pond, which had a lot of religious significance, gradually got lost during the Kathmandu valley’s urbanisation drive. The state canals (rajkulos) that recharged the pond were quashed during the expansions of roads, and the pond lay lifeless for over three decades.

But, things are changing now. Locals of the area along with the Lalitpur metropolitan city have prepared a detailed project report (DPR) as efforts have been made to restore the pond. A budget of Rs 40 million has been set aside as the city government is soon to call a tender for the task. However, to get to this point, they have had to deal with a lot. From having to reclaim land from a school to facing a lawsuit, it took locals 15 years to ensure that the pond would be restored to its former glory.