KVPT

One of the valley’s largest and most impressive timber arcades, Kot Pati was originally intended as a rest-house for pilgrims. Extending more than 70 metres, the Pati was divided over time with makeshift doors and partitions to accommodate various vendors. Attached to the Pati is a small portal where worshippers of Bhimsen gather every month, a convenient alternative to the pilgrimage to the famous Bhimsen temple in Dolakha. As with many other buildings in the palace complex, Kot Pati was hastily rebuilt after the 1934 earthquake. The traditional tiled roof was replaced with machine-made flat pan tiles placed directly on timber  battens, causing significant water leakage into the building. This meant that the entire structure had to be dismantled and redesigned in the traditional configuration with the addition of modern waterproofing and plywood planking. The cement paving and steps were replaced with floor tiles and a new stone plinth, horizontal ceiling planks were removed to allow for a more spacious interior, and a doorway was built on the north side to serve as a public access point to the park behind the palace. The arcade will be reopened as a market after the restoration is completed.