*Hidden Treasure Found Under Nepalese Palace*
Source KATHMANDU, NEPAL, July 2011 (AFP): It must be treasure season. After the fabulous wealth of the Padmanabhaswamy temple, workers renovating a former royal palace in the Nepalese capital have discovered a stash of gold and silver ornaments weighing more than 300 kilograms (661 pounds), the government said Tuesday. Only one of three boxes has been opened so far and its contents would be worth about 17.5 million rupees (US$233,334) on the local gold and silver markets. The three boxes of treasures, thought to be more than 500 years old, were hidden in a store room under the sprawling 16th-century* Hanuman Dhoka palace*, a UNESCO world heritage site, a spokesman for the culture ministry said. "There are coins and ornaments that look like offerings to the Gods and Goddesses," he added. The 4.5-million-rupee government restoration project at the dilapidated palace, which housed Nepal's royals until the late 19th century and is now a museum, began two months ago and will go on until September. The palace in Kathmandu, with intricately carved features and several courtyards, served as a venue for the coronation of the country's kings until the monarchy was abolished three years ago. -- With best wishes S Chander
