May-June 2012

HERITAGE
Folklore suggests that the neighbourhood has
been a historically significant location since
the Kirat times and a majestic Peepal tree
(Ficus religiosa or Sacred Fig) in the area is
often cited as the remains from the prehistoric
Kitati era. Such speculations, although not
proven, have been verbally transmitted in
stories from generation to generation adding
to the charm and mystery of the place. The
historicity of the place is further heightened
by stories from the Rana times when the
Rajbhandaris of Kwalakhu were known to
have business relations with the then reigning
Ranas. As such the architecture of the area
seems to have influences from all surviving
time periods, as early as the ‘brick on mud
mortar’ Malla architecture to the lime plastered
Rana style and the cement concrete structures
of the present times.
NEIGHBOURHOOD AND THE
‘RAJBHANDARI HOUSE’:
A walk around Kwalakhu brings you face
to face with residents of different cultural
backgrounds, within the Newar community.
Incidentally it also brings you close to different
traditional professions, which included trade
and to a very large extend art. Even today,
majority of the shops in the neighbourhood
display metal sculptures and fabrics including
Pashmina along with Nepali paper products.
It is befitting that this neighbourhood now
houses Yala Mandala - a conglomeration of art,
history and culture of all of Nepal. Yala Mandala
Pvt. Ltd. is an art gallery that collects, designs,
and manufactures and preserves pieces that
are exclusive to the Nepali ways in terms of
Display at the ground floor gallery of Yala
spacesnepal.com 42
May - June 2012