In a public function held at Tilganga, Kathmandu on February 19 2008, Ambassador of India, laid the foundation stone for the new building of Nepal Bharat Maitri Pashupati Dharmashala at Tilganga, Kathmandu being constructed with grant assistance of NRs.150 millions from the Government of India.

The Pashupati Nath Temple at Kathmandu has great religious and cultural significance for Hindus all over the world and thousands of pilgrims apart from tourists from India and elsewhere in the world visit the temple daily. The Dharmashala being constructed with Indian grant assistance of NRs.150 million, as part of master plan of Pashupati Area Development Trust will have the capacity of over 400 beds with separate space for office, reception, prayer hall, kitchen, dining hall and power and other utilities. The Dharmashala will provide good quality and affordable resting-place to the Hindu pilgrims in the vicinity of the Temple and will significantly promote the development of the Pshupati Area.

Government of India has appointed a consultant for implementation of the project, while a Project Monitoring Committee consisting of representatives of Pashupati Area Development Trust and the Embassy has been constituted to oversee the project for its effective and timely implementation.

In his address during the function, Ambassador Mukherjee noted that the Government of India was happy in being part of the process of infrastructure development of an important cultural and religious heritage of Nepal. He underlined the importance of India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme as a cornerstone of overall relations between the two countries and expressed the hope that the Pashupati Dharmashala would stand as an important icon of age-old cultural bonds between India and Nepal.

This is among the 13 projects undertaken with Indian assistance in Kathmandu in recent years, and overall is part of more than 265 large and small projects currently being implemented under the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme in the sectors of education, health, community development and infrastructure covering all the districts of Nepal with an outlay of over NRs.21.5 billions.