Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr. Jagdish Kharel, visited the historical monument sites in Okubahal and emphasized promoting the birthplace of Nepal’s national icon, Arniko. He highlighted Arniko’s legacy as a legendary architect who played a key role in enhancing Nepal’s cultural prestige across Asia.
Ward Chairman of Lalitpur Metropolitan City–6, Rupendra Raj Shakya highlighted that Ward 6 is the birthplace of national icon Arniko and a major hub for metal and sculpture industries and Mr. Kaji Ratna Shakya, Chief of Rudra Varna Mahavihar Committee, gave a brief of the monuments, highlighting their historical and cultural.
Arniko was born in 1244. At just seventeen, he traveled from Nepal to the court of the Yuan Dynasty in China, where his extraordinary talent quickly gained recognition. He designed and built several significant stupas in Tibet, Beijing, and Wutaishan. One of his most celebrated creations is the White Pagoda in Beijing, completed in 1278. Today, Arniko is honored in China as a symbol of longstanding Nepal–China friendship, and his legacy continues to highlight Nepal’s rich artistic and architectural heritage.