KATHMANDU: Nepal has put on display the royal crown used by former kings after 10 years of the abolition of monarchy.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli unveiled the royal crown amid a special ceremony in the Narayanhiti Palace Museum in Kathmandu. The crown is one of the most important symbols of monarchy used by kings for hundreds of years.
Speaking at the programme, PM Oli said that the crown reflected the change in the political system of Nepal and the rich history of the country.
“We need to preserve and respect our history. The palace museum will be developed as a history museum that not just reflects about monarchy but also different dynasties and periods of Nepal, its culture and diversity.”
According to the government, the crown consisted of 730 diamonds, over 2,000 pearls, precious rubies and other gems. The government said it had no estimate of the monetary value of the royal crown as jewelers called it a priceless artifact.
There was also no exact data about when and where the crown was made. The royal palace was converted into a museum after the abolition of the 239-year-old monarchy and departure of the last King of the Shah Dynasty Gyanendra Shah from the palace in 2008.
Although the museum was open for the public from 2009, some of the priceless items including the crown were not put on public display for security reasons. Now, the spectacular crown has been kept inside a special bullet-proof glass box with layers of machinery and human security.
