Nhūvapi (“New Well”) at Bhīmasensthāna, Dhulikhel

Curated by Pabitra Bajrachary

Nhūvapi (“New Well”) at Bhīmasensthāna, Dhulikhel
Photo by Anil Basukala, June 2025

Nhūvapi (“new well”) DHU0050, situated in the northeastern part of Bhīmasensthāna, Dhulikhel, is a perennial spring enclosed within a rare śikhara-style stone structure, reflecting both architectural and cultural significance. Entered through a doorway surmounted by an image of Viṣṇu, its waters flow into a square pond with an adjoining basin for washing, once complemented by a nearby phalcā (public rest-house) dismantled in the mid-2000s. An inscription dates its founding to 1928 CE (VS 1985) during King Tribhuvana’s reign and Prime Minister Candra Śamśera’s tenure, commissioned by Viṣṇulāla Mākaḥju of Oṭola with his wife Vālamāyā and brother Kṛṣṇalāla, who dedicated it for their lineage’s prosperity. Long neglected, the well was later restored by Ward No. 7 of Dhulikhel Municipality, and though the tradition of annual cleaning during Sithi Nakha ceased in the 1990s, it remains an active water source where locals still gather for bathing, laundry, and daily needs, underscoring its enduring historical, social, and cultural importance.