Bhaktapur, 6 February: In the courtyard of the Nepal Vocational Academy, built in the traditional style in the alley in front of Saraswati School in Bhaktapur, most of the artisans were busy carving wood. Nearby, there was a full-length, carved statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah, along with other artistic sculptures.
This scene caught his eye when the delegation led by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, who is on a visit to Nepal, entered the area on Wednesday. He expressed his desire to participate in the craftsman’s art. The craftsman taught him how to create artistic woodwork. Then, holding a hammer and chisel in his hands, the prince began carving patterns on wood.
He had reached Bhaktapur along with British Ambassador Rob Fenn and his wife to observe the historical artworks of Bhaktapur at the invitation of Nepal Vocational Academy chief and heritage expert Rabindra Puri. He was impressed by the woodwork and also observed the artworks with interest.
The academy is preserving the heritage by training the younger generation in everything from woodworking to sculpture, informed Puri, the academy’s head and heritage expert. His Royal Highness Prince Edward praised the academy for this work.
His Royal Highness Prince Edward at Bhaktapur
Puri welcomed the team, including Prince Edward, at the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and briefed them about the historical artifacts here. After that, he visited Nyatapol (five-storey temple), Namuna Ghar, Dattatraya Temple, etc. and reached the Vocational Academy. He also visited Vasuki Ghar in Nag Pokhari and continued his three-hour tour of Bhaktapur.
Today, British Princess Duchess Sophie also visited the maternity ward of Bhaktapur Hospital. Prince Edward and Princess Sophie had come to Bhaktapur for separate events. Prince Edward also visited the SOS Children’s Village in Sano Thimi on Wednesday.
They arrived in Nepal on Tuesday and are scheduled to visit the British Embassy in Kathmandu, the National Botanical Garden in Godavari, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Pokhara and other places. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip paid state visits to Nepal in 1960 and 1986.
