Kathmandu, Feb. 29: In anticipation of a bright future for the restored and renovated Garden of Dreams, the first meeting of the Development Board took place. The focus of a five year joint initiative by the Austrian and nepalese governments, the restoration project will bring new public amenities for this central location as part of a novel tourism development scheme. The development Board, acting as legal partner to the project and representative of the government, will alow the national property to be utilised for educational, cultural, and recreational purposes, a model for the development of other nationa; properties. Until recently the historical garden complex which includes Neo-classical pavilions, ponds and plantings had been underutilised and neglected. Oeko-Himal, the local representative of the Australian Aid assistance, envisions the restored garden as a centre of urban life, a green haven in the midst of modern Kathmandu.

Constructed by Field Marshall Kaiser Shamsher in the 1920’s, the garden is one if the outstanding examples of colonial architecture in South Asia. Conservation Architects Goetz Hagmueller and Erich Theophile have carefully researched the history of the complex tracing the architectural and literacy precedents for the Field Marshall’s ambitious project. Mr. Lok Bhakta literary precedents for the Field Marshall’s ambitious project. Mr. Lok Bhakta Rana, son of the Field Marshall, serves as representative of th family who donated the property in trust to HMG, and was today appointed Member Secretary of the Development Board. The Honorable Mr. Jayaram Giri, Secretary of the Minister of Tourism, serves as Chairman of the Board. Other Board members include: representatives of the Nepalese Tourism Board, Mr. Prashant Singh, Private Sector experts in tourism and culture, Mr. Karna Shakya, and representative of the Austrian donor agency Oeko-Himal, Mr. Goetz Hagmueller.

Work has already begun to clean and restore the garden complex; future plans include new income-producing activities–cafes, cultural events, and eco-exhibits–which will support ongoing operating and maintenance expenses. The long-term profits from the restored complex have been earmarked to restore the Kaiser Shamsher’s personal library, housed in the adjacent Ministry of Education, and another Nepalese Monument deserving of both local and international interest and care.