The regal tastes in the life of "Nati Jarnel"

A childhood friend of Nepal’s former king Gyanendra BB Shah, Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana is a man of excellent tastes. His home speaks volumes of his personality, and the lineage he comes from. From life-size paintings of his ancestors to elaborately carved furniture, the interiors of his historical abode are drool-worthy.

From the moment you step in, you are surrounded by pieces that you want to closely examine. Everything in his elaborately done-up residence is huge, but the hugeness does not take itself away from its grandeur. Every item is carefully chosen, and you can see that a lot of thought has gone behind their placement.[break]

Though located at the center of Maharajgunj in Kathmandu, right opposite the Teaching Hospital, his home is really quaint and it does not feel like you have entered a place smack in the middle of a bustling city.

The gentle breeze that rustles the leaves in his large garden makes you forget that you have just stepped in through a busy and dusty road.

“I grew up in Laxmi Niwas which is right next door. So this place is home to me and I can’t move. So I’m making the best of what I’ve got,” says Rana with a characteristic smile that never seems to leave his face. The twinkle in his eyes, as he speaks about his home, family and forebears, tells you a lot about the kind of person he is. At the end of the day, he is a family man who is at ease at home. He believes in living life king-size, and that’s probably because he comes from an absolute ruling Rana family of yore.

“I love the things I own. Nothing is without importance or historical significance. Either they are gifts from my children or have been handed down from generations,” says Rana, pointing to a large plant holder next to the entrance that was chosen by his daughter who is now married and lives in Delhi.

Rana’s collection of antique, be it in the form of furniture or wardrobe items, are spectacular. He takes pride in them but does not keep them hidden and protected and does not hesitate to use them, either. His house is an extended showcase of all things lovely, and it suits Rana’s persona perfectly.

Carved wooden chairs

Brought all the way from India, this chair set comes in a pair. The intricate carvings give it a royal appeal, like everything else in the house. Rana is quite fond of these

chairs and they have thus become items more of decoration rather than pieces of furniture.

Exquisite mirror

Bought by his father in the 1940s, this mirror acts as a focal point in Rana’s living room. The mirror reflects lights off the massive chandelier in the center of the room and gives a view of the painting of Rana and his wife that is hung opposite to it. It is the placement that makes it more interesting.

Brilliant windows

Rana bought this large carved wooden window in 1970 in Bhaktapur after his marriage. Next to the entrance on the outside, the window has a raw appeal that is lacking in contemporary Nepali woodwork. The attention to details is fascinating, and it gives the house an Old World charms much before you enter to witness the aristocratic Rana grandeur inside.

Rolex wristwatch

The timepiece was handed down by his father and holds sentimental values for Rana who mentions that he still sports it on special occasions. Rana pays attention to details while dressing up; focusing more on accessories, and it takes a special item like this wristwatch to complete his attire.

Oil paintings of the Shah Kings

Bal Krishna Sama – Nepal’s all-rounder in literature, art, painting, plays, photography, stagecraft et al – painted this massive oil on canvas and presented it to Rana’s grandfather in 2006 BS (1949/50). The painting depicts generations of Nepal’s Shah Kings and is the centerpiece in a little space off the living room. Even the frame

is exquisitely carved and reminds you of an era gone by.

Royal cufflinks

The cufflinks have been passed down from generations and now the set is Rana’s pride. Though Rana doesn’t wear it often, the gleam and shine shows that he has been taking good care of these beauties.

Large tapestry

It was presented to the then Rana Premier Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana by Maurice Herzog, the first Frenchman to scale an 8,000+mt mountain in the world – this being the Nepal Himalayan summit of Mount Annapurna – in the early 1950s. The tapestry covers an entire wall on Rana’s living room. Rana confesses to being in love with it. The assortment of things happening within the frame is quite intriguing. Even the colors are very subdued and give off a pleasant vibe.

Antique belts

Rana is quite the connoisseur in terms of fashion, and his extensive collection of belts shows how meticulous he is about details while dressing. The old leather and felt belts come with captivating buckles that were designed for royal wear. They stand out alone too and can be donned with regular wear.