The special role of the Embassy of Nepal

The Embassy (12A Kensington Palace Gardens, London: above) is of historic and symbolic as well as functional and socio-political importance for Nepalis, UK citizens needing visa services for visiting Nepal, and in fact is a physical epicentre in the UK for Nepali-UK relations and friendship: it was provided to Nepal in 1937 built in 1865 for Samuel Morton Peto (an MP for two decades, and a renowned civil engineer and railway developer).

However, some years ago (2013) sale of the building, to generate funds, was mooted, and swiftly found the whole of the Nepali community and British friends of the community and Nepal, strongly opposing this idea:

“This building became ours because of the blood spilt by the Gurkhas and it is a historic symbol of Nepal’s sovereignty,” says the coordinator of the campaign and retired British Army major, Damar Ghale. “The embassy’s value cannot be measured in cash, it is priceless.”

The Nepal Embassy on 12A Kensington Palace Gardens consists of a four-storey stucco Victorian villa within a 750 acre property bordering Hyde Park. It was built in 1865 and is now a crown leasehold property

Source: https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/nation/FOR-SALE,322

This reaction provides valuable evidence of just what a place the Embassy building has in the heart of countless Nepalis and others. 

Ambassador of Nepal to centre right, and Lord Mayor of City of London to centre left

H.E. Dr Durga Bahadur Subedi, Ambassador of Nepal to the UK

Almost all programmes and announcements of importance take place at the Embassy or see H.E. the Ambassador and/or his senior deputies (DCM, etc.) presiding at those which do not take place in the building: examples of these latter being for example the Annual Nepali Mela at Kempton Park Racecourse, Buddha Jayanti (the Lord Buddha’s Birthday) celebration in Trafalgar Square, and others. 

Please also see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embassy_of_Nepal,_London

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