Ratna Mandir, the palace on the shores of Fewa Lake in Pokhara dedicated to the former Queen of Nepal, Ratna Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, opened to the public on May 29. The government had not opened the palace, which was built in the 1960s, to the public even after the end of the royal rule. The palace, located on the shores of Fewa Lake, served as a retreat for the former royal family during their visits to Pokhara. According to local residents and historical records, the royal family would visit Pokhara twice a year, staying for up to a month each time. In response to the local interest in preserving Ratna Mandir as a heritage site for tourism promotion in Pokhara, the Nepal Trust, a government agency, opened the palace complex to the public, coinciding with Republic Day. The ownership of the palace complex was transferred to the Nepal Trust after the end of the royal rule in the country.

According to stakeholders and local tourism professionals, the opening of Ratna Palace has led to an increase in the number of tourists visiting Pokhara. Hotel owners in the Lakeside area have reported a growth in their businesses, as they have noticed an influx of domestic tourists. “While Ratna Palace may not be a primary tourist destination, visitors do not want to miss the opportunity to observe it,” said Hari Bhujel, a hotel owner in the Ratna Mandir area.

Mekh Bahadur Thapa, a 51-year-old resident of Pokhara-15, Rambazaar, took a day off from work to accompany his relatives from another district to visit Ratna Mandir in Lakeside. “As my guests expressed a keen interest in visiting the Queen’s palace, I took leave from the office for the day,” Thapa said. Thapa and his family and relatives visited the palace premises last week. “I was curious about the reasons behind closing the doors of this palace to the general public,” Thapa shared. Similarly, 54-year-old Suka Maya BK of Bhumahi in Nawalparasi decided to postpone her return home by a day. Upon learning that Ratna Mandir was open to the public, she became extremely curious and asked her relatives in Pokhara to take her to the Queen’s palace. “I was eager to see how the royal family lived during that time,” she added. According to Gita Mijar, Chief of the Nepal Trust Pokhara Office, nearly 4,000 people have visited Ratna Mandir within just two weeks of its opening. “The majority of these visitors are domestic tourists, who appear to be driven by their curiosity to observe the living standards of the royal family,” she added. Foreign tourist numbers low According to the Nepal Trust Pokhara Office, the number of foreign visitors to Ratna Palace has been relatively low. Since the opening day, only 10 foreigners have visited the palace so far. “Although foreigners come and inquire about tickets, they don't purchase them,” Laxmi Bhatta, a ticket counter attendant at Ratna Mandir, said. The Nepal Trust collects Rs 100 from Nepalis and Rs 1,000 from foreigners as an entry fee