SAARC Diary: India to fund restoration of three heritage sites in Nepal
Venkatesh Iyer
New Delhi: India will provide funds for the restoration of three cultural heritage projects in Nepal as part of post-earthquake conservation and restoration assistance.
For the redevelopment of these cultural heritage sites, three MoIs were signed between the two countries recently.
The contract envisages restoration and refurbishment of the Seto Machindranath Temple, the construction of a Dharamshala at Budha Neelkantha, and conservation and creation of the Kumari Chhen and Kumari Niwas shrines, sources said.
These projects are being implemented under a $50 million (INR. 363 crore) grant from the Government of India in eight districts of Nepal.
The three heritage projects will be protected in compliance with Nepal’s Ancient Monument Preservation Act to restore the living heritage sites to their past glory and traditions.
The Seto Machindranath Temple is one of the largest shrines of the protector Deity of the Kathmandu Valley worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists alike. Its conservation and refurbishment will cost Nepali Rupees (NRs) 626 million.
The project for the preservation and development of Kumari Chhen and Kumari Niwas will cost NRs 456 million.
The Dharmashala at Budha Neelkantha falls within the heritage site of the Budha Neelkantha Temple, locally known as Narayanthan, whose restoration will cost NRs. 334 million.
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has been named as Project Management Consultant to oversee the conservation and refurbishment of these two projects. It will be working and coordinating closely with the Government of Nepal.
In November 2019 also, India had helped Nepal to construct the Mathadish Building for the Budha Neelkantha Temple for NRs 21.8 million.
