Hanuman Dhoka’s historic police office faces uncertain future (Photos)

Kathmandu: There was a time when Hanuman Dhoka instantly reminded people of the police office. If someone needed to be intimidated, one would often hear the phrase, “Let’s meet at Hanuman Dhoka.”

Indeed, the Kathmandu Police Circle and the Crime Investigation Division were located there, making the office function almost like a police headquarters due to the sheer workload. The police office, situated within the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square premises—listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—used to be overwhelmed with crowds.

Crowd of people at Taleju Bhawani Temple (Photo Feature)

However, the scene changed after the 2015 earthquake. The building was damaged in the quake, and the police office was relocated to Teku. It has since been moved to a modern building in Bhadrakali.

Despite the damage, some police personnel have continued to stay in the cracked Hanuman Dhoka building for security purposes. Established in 1955 (2012 BS), the office now bears a red sticker (indicating it’s unsafe).

Locals and the Department of Archaeology have demanded that the deteriorated and hazardous structure be demolished to create an open conservation area.

However, the police administration has proposed constructing either a tourist police post or a police museum on the same land. It is said that the land is officially registered under the police’s name.

(Glimpses of the deteriorated structure of police station in Hanuman Dhoka)

(Photos: Nepal Photo Library)

Nepali version of the photo story