Pimbahal Pond
{{short description|Artificial pond located in Lalitpur, Nepal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Pimbahal Pond
| native_name ={{native name|ne|पिम्बहाल पोखरी}}
| other_name =
| image = File:Pimbhaal pukhu or pond pimbahal patan.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Pimbahal Pond in 2014
| location = Lalitpur, Nepal
| group =
| coordinates = {{coord|27|40|34|N|85|19|16|E|region:ZZ_type:waterbody|display =inline,title}}
| type = Artificial pond
| date-built = 14th century
| date-flooded =
| length =
| width =
| area =
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| pushpin_map = Nepal
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Pimbahal Pond in Nepal
}}
Pimbahal Pond (also known as Pimbahaa Pukhoo, and Pim Bahal Pokhari; {{Langx|ne|पिम्बहाल पोखरी}}) is an artificial pond located in Lalitpur, Nepal (historically known as Patan). According to Nepalese folklore, the pond was built by Lakheys, a type of demon. In 1967, the Nepalese government tried to turn the pond into a market, but received local resistance. Pimbahal Pond was destroyed due to the 1934 Nepal–India earthquake and the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. But was rebuilt after those incidents.
History
File:Pimbahal Pokhari, Patan, 1884-5.jpg
There are various legends concerning how the pond was built. One says that around the 14th century, Pimbahal was just empty ground. During the day, it was an active place but at night, it was said to be wandered by Lakheys, a type of demon in Nepalese folklore.{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Aashish |date=21 November 2020 |title=Ponds That Once Were |url=https://risingnepaldaily.com/opinion/ponds-that-once-were |url-status=live |access-date=11 March 2021 |website=The Rising Nepal |language=en |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311160251/https://risingnepaldaily.com/opinion/ponds-that-once-were }} Lakheys would come every night and make loud noises, break into homes, scare children and cause a disturbance in the area. Local resident Gaya Baje became annoyed by their acts, so he used his magical powers to control them and made them dig a pond at Pimbahal because "as long as the ground existed, the Lakheys would keep coming". According to another legend, Lakhey's wife had to travel far away to get water during wintertime because the taps would run dry. There were no ponds in Lalitpur during that time and, not wanting to see his wife have to walk far, the demon built the Pimbahal Pond in one night.
On the north side of the pond, a Chandeswari Temple is dating back to 1663 and also near Pimbahal Pond there a stupa that was damaged by Muslim invaders in 1357.{{Cite web |title=Pim Bahal Pokhari |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/around-the-kathmandu-valley/patan/attractions/pim-bahal-pokhari/a/poi-sig/1508782/357120 |url-status=live |access-date=11 March 2021 |website=Lonely Planet |language=en |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311160238/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/around-the-kathmandu-valley/patan/attractions/pim-bahal-pokhari/a/poi-sig/1508782/357120 }}
The 1934 Nepal–India earthquake devastated the pond. The pond's restoration model was reportedly based on a painting by Henry Ambrose Oldfield.{{Cite web |title=७०० वर्ष पुरानो पिम्बहाल पोखरी प्राचीन स्वरूपमै पुनर्निर्माण |url=https://www.setopati.com/social/116132/ |access-date=11 March 2021 |website=Setopati |lang=ne |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311185156/https://www.setopati.com/social/116132 |url-status=live }} In 1967, the Government of Nepal attempted to build a market on top of the pond which led to local resistance; as a result, the government backed down. By 2014, the pond was reported to be in a neglected state and the city was having difficulty maintaining it.{{Cite web |date=8 May 2014 |title=Historical ponds of Kathmandu |url=https://www.insidehimalayas.com/ponds-of-kathmandu/ |access-date=11 March 2021 |website=Inside Himalayas |language=en |archive-date=12 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312115121/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/ponds-of-kathmandu/ |url-status=live }} The April 2015 Nepal earthquake damaged the pond, but in 2017, the pond was restored to its original look.{{Cite news |title=प्राचीन स्वरूपमा पिम्बहाल |language=ne |work=Kantipur |url=https://ekantipur.com/bibidha/2017/12/30/20171230072218.html|access-date=11 March 2021}} Pimbahal Pond is one of the well-known ponds of Lalitpur.{{Cite web |title=Kathmandu Valley and Its Historical Ponds |url=http://ecs.com.np/features/kathmandu-valley-and-its-historical-ponds |url-status=live |access-date=11 March 2021 |website=ECS Nepal |language=en |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311160024/http://ecs.com.np/features/kathmandu-valley-and-its-historical-ponds }}
References
{{Commons cat|Pimbahal Pokhari, Patan}}
{{Reflist}}
Category:Ponds in Kathmandu Valley