Nepal's first fire engine, 109 years old, now on public display

Nepal's first historic fire engine is now open for the public to view up close.

A museum has been set up at the Juddha Baroon Yantra premises in Basantapur, where the fire engine has been put on display along with old firefighting equipment.

Ahead of the display, the fire engine was repaired and repainted to restore its original look.

Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shamsher brought the country's first fire engine by setting up the Juddha Baroon Yantra in Basantapur in Bikram Sambat 1994.

The fire engine was ordered from Britain following a major fire at the White Palace (Seto Durbar). Since the valley was not connected to the Tarai and India by road at the time, the three fire engines brought from Britain were carried on people's shoulders from Bhimphedi in Makwanpur to Kathmandu.

There are also plans to preserve the old fire engines of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur and develop them into museums as well.