Pimbahal_Pond

Pimbahal Pond

Pimbahal Pond

Artificial pond located in Lalitpur, Nepal

Pimbahal Pond (also known as Pimbahaa Pukhoo, and Pim Bahal Pokhari; Nepali: पिम्बहाल पोखरी) is an artificial pond located in Lalitpur, Nepal (historically known as Patan). According to Nepalese folklore, the pond was built by Lakheys, a type of demon. In 1967, the Nepalese government tried to turn the pond into a market, but received local resistance. Pimbahal Pond was destroyed due to the 1934 Nepal–India earthquake and the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. But was rebuilt after those incidents.

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History

Pimbahal Pokhari in 1884–5.

There are various legends concerning how the pond was built. One says that around the 14th century, Pimbahal was just empty ground. During the day, it was an active place but at night, it was said to be wandered by Lakheys, a type of demon in Nepalese folklore.[1] Lakheys would come every night and make loud noises, break into homes, scare children and cause a disturbance in the area.[1] Local resident Gaya Baje became annoyed by their acts, so he used his magical powers to control them and made them dig a pond at Pimbahal because "as long as the ground existed, the Lakheys would keep coming".[1] According to another legend, Lakhey's wife had to travel far away to get water during wintertime because the taps would run dry.[1] There were no ponds in Lalitpur during that time and, not wanting to see his wife have to walk far, the demon built the Pimbahal Pond in one night.[1]

The 1934 Nepal–India earthquake devastated the pond. The pond's restoration model was reportedly based on a painting by Henry Ambrose Oldfield.[2] In 1967, the Government of Nepal attempted to build a market on top of the pond which led to local resistance; as a result, the government backed down.[1] By 2014, the pond was reported to be in a neglected state and the city was having difficulty maintaining it.[3] On the north side of the pond, there is a Chandeswari Temple dating back to 1663 and also near Pimbahal Pond there a stupa that was damaged by Muslim invaders in 1357.[4] The April 2015 Nepal earthquake damaged the pond, but in 2017, the pond was restored to its original look.[5] Pimbahal Pond is one of the well-known ponds of Lalitpur.[6]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pimbahal Pokhari, Patan.
  1. [1]
    Mishra, Aashish (21 November 2020). "Ponds That Once Were". The Rising Nepal. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  2. [2]
    "७०० वर्ष पुरानो पिम्बहाल पोखरी प्राचीन स्वरूपमै पुनर्निर्माण". Setopati (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  3. [3]
    "Historical ponds of Kathmandu". Inside Himalayas. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  4. [4]
    "Pim Bahal Pokhari". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  5. [5]
    "प्राचीन स्वरूपमा पिम्बहाल". Kantipur (in Nepali). Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  6. [6]
    "Kathmandu Valley and Its Historical Ponds". ECS Nepal. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
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