Narayanhity museum to open today

Nepal’s Narayanhity Royal Palace, which was turned into a museum after abolition of the centuries old monarchy, will be thrown open to the general public on Friday after its inauguration by Prime Minister Prachanda on Thursday.

Prachanda is set to inaugurate the century-old historical site as a museum, a day after the former King Gyanendra left for India on his first ever visit to foreign country following his ouster.

The palace, which was turned into museum after dethroning former king in 2008, will be open for general public from Friday.

After a nine-month long preparation, Nepal government on Monday announced that it will open the gates of the palace -- that was the abode of generations of monarchs in the Himalayan nation -- for the general public in phases.

In the first phase, the public will be allowed to enter the museum from the main gate of Narayanhity and visit 21 different rooms and halls spreading over the 4.2 million square feet complex, official said.

The people will also be allowed to visit the gardens of former kings popularly known as the ‘water-fountain´ as well as the site where the Royal massacre took place on June 2001, that killed 10 family members of late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.