On February 12, 2021 India committed to Nepal that it will fund Nepali Rupees(NR) 142 million to restore 3 cultural heritage projects in Nepal. These projects are implemented as part of the US $50 million grant assistance committed by the Government of India for post-earthquake reconstruction of the Cultural Heritage sites across 8 districts of Nepal.
3 Cultural Heritage Projects:
- Conservation and furnishing of Seto Machindranath Temple(Total cost- NRs 626 million)
- Construction of Dharamshala at Budhanilkantha (Total cost- NRs. 334 million)
- Conservation and development of Kumari Chhen and Kumari Niwas in Lalitpur district (Total cost- NRs 456 million)
Key People:
For this purpose, 3 contract agreements were signed by the Shyam Kishor Singh, Project Director of Central Level Project Implementation Unit-CLPIU(Building) of National Reconstruction Authority(NRA), government of Nepal and contractors of the heritage sites.
Key Info:
Seto Machindranath temple and Kumari Chhen & Kumari Niwas will be conserved as per Nepal’s Ancient Monument Preservation Act 2013.
Implementing agencies
The Project Management Consultant of these 2 projects is Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). It will supervise the work in close collaboration with the authorities of the Government of Nepal.
The implementing agency of Dharamshala is CLPIU (Building) of NRA
Gist about the Projects
Seto Machindranath Temple
It is a significant living heritage site located in Jana Bahal in central Kathmandu, Nepal.
It is one of the main shrines of the protector God of Kathmandu Valley.
It is worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists.
Kumari Chhen & Kumari Niwas
Kumari Chhen lies south-west of the Kathmandu Durbar Square and is located inside Ratnakar Mahavihara.
It is the historic house of Living Goddess Kumari.
It is also called Kumari Bahal or Kumari Temple or Kumari Ghar.
The living goddess is central to culture and traditions of the Newar Buddhist community.
Kumari Niwas has an important place in the rituals associated with the living goddess
Dharamshala
It lies within the heritage area of Budhanilkantha temple locally known as Narayanthan
Note: In November 2019, India also built Mathadish building for Budhanilkantha temple at a cost of NRs 21.8 million.
Recent Related News:
On November 2, 2020 The new building of Bhimsen Adarsha Higher Secondary School, Nawalpur District, Nepal constructed with the Government of India’s financial assistance of NRs(Nepalese Rupees) 25.83 million, under the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Development Cooperation has been virtually inaugurated. The project was implemented by the District Coordination Committee(DCC), Nawalparasi, Nepal.
About Nepal:
Capital– Kathmandu
President– Bidhya Devi Bhandari
