Rani Pokhari, meaning queen's pond, was built in 1670 AD by King Pratap Malla. He had the tank constructed to console his queen who was distraught with grief after their son was trampled to death by a...

Rani Pokhari, meaning queen's pond, was built in 1670 AD by King Pratap Malla. He had the tank constructed to console his queen who was distraught with grief after their son was trampled to death by an elephant. He had water collected from various holy places and river confluences in Nepal and India like Gosaikunda, Muktinath, Badrinath, Kedarnath and poured into the pond to sanctify it. It was built on eastern outskirts of the former city gate. Behind the pond is the Clock Tower, Ghantaghar, that was originally built in 1894 by Prime Minister Bir Shumsher but was destroyed in the 1934 earthquake. The one seen in this photograph is the later version. Behind the Clock Tower is Tri Chandra College, the oldest higher education in Nepal.