Dharahara, also known as Bhimsen Stambha, is a tower 72 meters (236 feet) high, located in the center of Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal. Its origin dates back to 1832, when the prime minister’s equivalent, Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa, commissioned Queen Lalit Tripurasundari to build it. This tower is an important part of the architectural complex of Kathmandu, which is recognized by UNESCO. However, the tower was damaged several times and underwent reconstructions.
Inside the tower was a spiral staircase with 213 steps. On the eighth floor there was a round observation balcony with a magnificent view of the Kathmandu valley. The roof of the tower was adorned with a bronze mast reaching a height of 5.2 meters (17 feet).
As a result of the devastating earthquake in Nepal on April 25, 2015, most of the tower collapsed, but its base remained intact. Having collected the remains of 180 people from under the rubble of the tower, the process of reconstructing the tower began in October 2018. The official opening of the tower took place on April 24, 2021, on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the earthquake.