The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that violently shook Nepal on Saturday left more than human casualties in its wake.
Originally built for the queen of Nepal in 1832, the lighthouse lookalike was rebuilt following a powerful 1934 earthquake that claimed more than 16,000 lives, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Open to visitors for the past decade, as many as 200 people were inside the nine-story tower when it toppled, a police officer told Reuters.
Kathmandu's historic Dharahara tower collapses in Nepal quake, people reportedly trapped in rubble - pic via @ibnlive pic.twitter.com/jQd7qmvoRB
— alex ogle (@alex_ogle) April 25, 2015
Dharahara tower is busy destination for families on weekends. Today, it collapsed trapping many. Rescue ops ongoing. pic.twitter.com/wtuxDLkvWz
— Kashish Das Shrestha (@kashishds) April 25, 2015
Saddest was to stand on the mound of what use to be the Dharara landmark tower, and see the citizens, police and army pull the bodies out.
— Kanak Mani Dixit (@KanakManiDixit) April 25, 2015
The Kathmandu Valley includes seven groups of monuments that showcase a range of religious and artistic traditions that have made the area world famous, according UNESCO. Among the most well-known are tiered temples made of fired brick and timber.
"The roofs are covered with small overlapping terracotta tiles, with gilded brass ornamentation," according to a UNESCO description. "The windows, doorways and roof struts have rich decorative carvings. The stupas have simple but powerful forms with massive, whitewashed hemispheres supporting gilded cubes with the all-seeing eternal Buddha eyes."
Nepal earthquake: Our Director-General, Irina Bokova, has expressed her profound sympathy to the government and people...
Posted by UNESCO on Saturday, April 25, 2015
In the hours after the quake, rescuers picked through the rubble of historic structures around the region, including ancient wooden Hindu temples, according to Reuters.
"I can see three bodies of monks trapped in the debris of a collapsed building near a monastery," said Devyani Pant, an Indian tourist. "We are trying to pull the bodies out and look for anyone who is trapped."
People aghast at the sight of their historic temples destroyed. Thousands walking home, chaos #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/sSLGP6UsB5
— Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) April 25, 2015
Rescuers: 12 bodies recovered from under the Hari Shanker and Uma Maheswar Temple in Patan. pic.twitter.com/nMUGE2LrtY
— Kunda Dixit (@kundadixit) April 25, 2015
Patan Nepal pic.twitter.com/k83SKyps4E
— Kunda Dixit (@kundadixit) April 25, 2015
The quake also destroyed buildings in Patan Durbar Square, a World Heritage Site founded in the third century that was known for it's exquisite Buddhist and Hindu architecture.
BASANTAPUR DURBAR SQUARE IS GONE!!! pic.twitter.com/HnauT0fDia
— Kashish Das Shrestha (@kashishds) April 25, 2015
I took these photos an hour apart. Was wandering when quake demolished temples before my eyes. Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/RYtIZI4725
— Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) April 25, 2015
Searching through rubble at Patan Durbar Square after #kathmanduearthquake pic.twitter.com/ikXmqqenzx
— Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) April 25, 2015
— Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) April 25, 2015
Pictures of damaged historic buildings circulated widely on social media. Eyewitnesses noted that many buildings have cracks and could still collapse in the coming hours as tremors continue to shake the region.
The Kalmochan Temple built in Mughal style by Jang Bahadur at Thapathali down, only the Garuda stands guard. pic.twitter.com/KWfv4a7PHB
— Kanak Mani Dixit (@KanakManiDixit) April 25, 2015
I counted at least 7 major temples in Patan razed, including this one recently restored. pic.twitter.com/2ftOKf2gxk
— Kunda Dixit (@kundadixit) April 25, 2015
#NepalQuake: Basantpur palace, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites reduced to rubble. (via @itssbasanta) pic.twitter.com/bPrr4Kyiks
— Silverscreen.in (@silverscreenin) April 25, 2015
Historic #earthquake in #Nepal; much lost, many to mourn, as much to rebuild.Hopefully worst is over.Stay alert, safe pic.twitter.com/xLwn6JZ70a
— Kashish Das Shrestha (@kashishds) April 25, 2015
Running for my life with thousands of other not something I want to do again. pic.twitter.com/sLmATKypCR
— Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) April 25, 2015
Garuda and King Bhupatindra Malla figures knocked off pedestal now inside Patan Museum. #Nepalquake pic.twitter.com/wTENe9QT4w
— Kunda Dixit (@kundadixit) April 25, 2015
Still can't believe what I witnessed in #NepalQuake today. History crumbling, a nation in despair. pic.twitter.com/sFcOj2vzVi
— Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) April 25, 2015