Ranipokhari-Habitat of Bats (Photo Feature)

Kathmandu: The historical pond, Ranipokhari, was built by the Malla King Jagaj Jyoti Malla in 750 Nepal Sambat i.e. 1687 Bikram Sambat (1630 A.D.).

According to historians, King Malla constructed Rani Pokhari in memory of his wife Queen Rajlaxmi. The pond was built within 5 months. It was later renovated by King Jimitra Malla in 1735.

The pond is believed to be 40 years older than the Ranipokhari of Kathmandu. Apart from the historical consequence of the RaniPokhari, the pond also has great ecological consequences.

Weavers-‘Engineer of Birds’ (Photo Feature)

The trees in the periphery of the pond have been a habitat for various birds and small arboreal animals. The trees are also a habitat to the “Heroes of the Night“-Bats.

Bats are mammals, which are active at night. There are more than 1400 species of bats across the world. Bats have a huge contribution to the pollination of more than 300 species of fruits.

Similarly, the Bats have added a different level of attraction in Ranipokhari at Bhaktapur. People can see the mesmerizing scene of bats hanging upside down in the trees in the periphery of Ranipokhari.

(Glimpses of bats in Bhaktapur’s Ranipokhari trees)

(Photo Courtesy: Saroj Basnet)

Nepali version of the photo story