Although Japan government has been providing assistance in many development sectors, this is first time it agrees to support the restoration and preservation of historical monuments of Patan Durbar Square, which were destroyed by earthquake in April 25.

The Government of Japan extended financial assistance totaling USD 77,805.00, equivalent to approximately 8.45 million rupees to the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT), a Nepali NGO, under the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Project (GCGP) scheme.

Following guidelines outlined by the Department of Archaeology and UNESCO, KVPT will use the grant to procure equipment necessary for the soaring, scaffolding, and fencing of the Krishna Temple, Char Narayan Temple, Visveswora Temple and Manimandap Pati located at Patan Durbar Square.

A grant contract for the project was signed and exchanged between Masashi Ogawa, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Dr. Rohit K. Ranjitkar, Program Director of KVPT, Nepal office.

The earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25, 2015 and its subsequent aftershocks damaged all of the aforementioned structures. As a true friend of Nepal and also an earthquake-prone country, Japan’s response after the earthquake was immediate. Now, Japan is currently working with the Department of Archaeology to support Nepalese efforts in renovating valuable cultural heritage in the Kathmandu valley.

“I am happy to have Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT) as a partner in restoring valuable cultural monuments situated in the historic Patan Durbar square. I look forward to witnessing KVPT use grant to procure the equipment necessary for the soaring, scaffolding, and fencing or Krishna Temple, Char Narayan Temple, Visveswora Temple and Manimandap Pati,”  said Japanese ambassador to Nepal  Masashi Ogawa addressing the program. “Sadly, all of these structures mentioned were severely damaged by last year’s devastating earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks. As a true friend of Nepal and another earthquake prone country, Japan’s response after the earthquake was immediate. Now Japan is currently working with the Department of Archeology to support Nepalese efforts in renovating valuable cultural heritage in the Kathmandu Valley.

Addressing the program, Kanak Mani Dixit, Honorary Chairman of KVPT thanked Japan government and Japanese Embassy supporting to preserve living heritage of Nepal. “The agreement is very important to start the renovation work,” said Dixit.

Dr. Rohit Ranjitkar, country director of KVPT, thanked Japanese Government and Japanese Embassy for showing interest in heritage preservation sites of Nepal.