After being involved in the preservation of various cultural heritage sites, NIBL has announced the Run for Heritage Conservation with an aim to raise some Rs. 10 million to assist the restoration of Bhai- Degah Temple in Patan Durbar Square.


Individual commitment and interest is always a matter in the push for the cause of conservation.  With inner feeling in the preservation of Nepal’s cultural heritage sites, Chairman and chief executive director of NIBL Prithvi Bahadur Pande has been carrying the cause forward. Thanks to his own initiative, some of the ancient cultural heritage sites have already been renovated. 


Pande’s family has been in the forefront of conserving Nepal’s ancient cultural heritage for a long time. Whether it is in the conservation of Changunarayan or Kalvairab of Hanuman Dhoka, there is his direct or indirect involvement. 


Nepal Investment Bank Limited (NIBL) is one of the major financial institutions in Nepal. The bank has not only achieved success commercially but has also been actively fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities and is playing a key role in the preservation of the valuable cultural monuments of the county for more than a decade.


With the intention to raise awareness about conservation of cultural heritages, NIBL is organizing the third NIBL Heritage Marathon on Saturday, 5 May 2012.


“The main agenda of the marathon is to help for the conservation of heritages as well as to create awareness about the importance of health,” said Prithivi Bahadur Pande, executive chairman.


Bhai- Degah Temple was originally a three storey wooden pagoda structure that collapsed in the great earthquake of 1934 A.D. (1990 B.S.).


According to the bank, Visa is one of the major supporters of the event and donated USD 5000 for the project.


The restoration project will be looked after by Sanskritik Sampada Samrakshan Samuha and over-seen by the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT).


“If we do not work for our heritage, we will be known as the generation that did not do anything,” said Pande.


The marathon will start from Durbarmarg and the winners will be distributed prizes of some NRs. 500,000.


According to the organizers, the event will feature various categories and it will include 21 Km half marathon for men, 10 Km open race for women, 5 Km race for school students (boys/girls), and handicapped open, 1 Km, for Nepali citizens. Meanwhile, for foreigners, the event will feature separate half marathon for men and 10 Km for women.


Bankers and financial institutions representatives can participate in Men’s 10 Km race and women’s 5 Km race. People above 50- years of age group can compete in veterans 5 Km race.

NIBL has been actively involved in heritage preservation for more than a decade now and it started this preservation activity from 2002 when it donated NRs. 1.5 million for the restoration of the legendary Kaal Bhairav statue at the Hanuman Dhoka.


During the first Corporate Heritage Marathon in 2007, the bank raised some NRs. 2.5 million and supported the restoration of the famous Sundari Chowk in Patan Durbar Square.


From the Second Corporate Heritage Marathon in 2009, the bank was able to raise NRs. 6.0 million and the money was used towards the improvement of Aryaghat, the cremation area at Pashupatinath.


Apart from the Heritage Marathon, the bank is also actively involved in other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.


In 2011, NIBL sponsored a major part of the Extreme Everest Expedition (EEE) - a clean-up expedition to Mt. Everest that successfully collected garbage from above 8,000 meters on Mount Everest in the region commonly referred to as the Death Zone, according to the press release issued by the bank.


This year the bank donated significant contributions to Shiva Parbati Briddashram, the first old age home in Nepal (Waling, Syangja), and to Shree Ranabir Janahit Higher Secondary School in Syangja.