Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The ‘Award of Merit’ under the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Conservation Award for 2025 has been formally handed over to the Lalitpur-based Jyeshtha Varna Mahavihara which was reconstructed with the grant assistance of the Government of India. Mr. Chiri Babu Maharjan, Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City and Dr. Vivek Oberoi, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, Kathmandu were also present at the event. He handed over the metal plaque and official certificate to the Jyeshtha Varna Mahavihara Consumer Committee in the presence of Rakesh Pandey.

The event was attended by local communities, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), heritage conservation experts and government officials.

According to the Embassy, the conservation work of the Jyeshtha Varna Mahavihara was completed under the post-Gorkha earthquake reconstruction program of 2015 with a grant of approximately Rs 137.8 million from the Government of India. As technical consultant on the project, INTACH worked in coordination with the Central Level Project Implementation Unit (CLPIU) of Government of Nepal and the local community. It was inaugurated on March 22, 2080 by the then Urban Development Minister Dhan Bahadur Budha and the then Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Nabin Srivastav.

UNESCO awarded the project for its successful integration of modern seismic safety with community-centered conservation practices, preservation of historic Newari wood art and traditional architecture, according to a press release issued by the Indian Embassy. Arrangements have been made to carry out the religious rituals and cultural activities of the Newar Buddhist community without any hindrance in course of the conservation work.

According to the Indian Embassy, the Government of India had pledged one billion US dollars for post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal. So far, 50,000 private houses, 70 schools, one library, 122 health institutions and 17 cultural heritage sites have been reconstructed and handed over to the Government of Nepal. Projects to reconstruct more schools, health facilities and cultural heritages are in various stages.

Under the cultural heritage conservation scheme, the Government of India has been supporting 30 projects in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Sindhupalchowk, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading and Gorkha. Among them, Seto Machhindranath Temple, Kumari Ghar, Jyeshtha Varna Mahabihar, Jangam Math and Tarke Ghyang Monastery are notable heritage restoration projects.

Speaking at the function, Deputy Chief of the Mission, Dr. Rakesh Pandey said that the success of the Jyeshtha Varna Mahavihara project has further strengthened the deep cultural and historical ties between Nepal and India. He reiterated that the Government of India remains committed to work with the people of Nepal and the Government of Nepal for the preservation and restoration of our common cultural heritage.

Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chiri Babu Maharjan said that the Indian support for the conservation of the eldest varna Mahavihara has further strengthened the development partnership between the two countries. He also thanked the Government of India for its support in the restoration of other cultural heritages in Lalitpur and thanked UNESCO for the award.

Expressing gratitude to the Government of India for providing timely financial and technical support, the representatives of the Jyeshtha Varna Mahavihara Users’ Committee said that the reinstated Mahavihara is a symbol of the community’s resilience and Nepal-India friendship.