The modest beginnings of KVPT manifest in the Trust's first project: the seemingly small but urgently needed repair of the Mani Gufa building on Patan Darbar Square.

The complete refurbishment of this outstanding example Malla period architecture was praised by numerous experts, including the 1993 UNESCO Mission to Nepal, as: "a demonstration that the highest standards of international conservation practice have been achieved in Nepal".

As buildings are dismantled in the historic core neighborhoods throughout the valley, a fund is imperative to acquire historically significant windows, doors, and other building components for safeguarding. Such artifacts can be incorporated into Nepal’s museums or even reused in the repair of other old houses within the World Heritage site.

In order to meet the overwhelming demand for heritage conservation and the cost that comes with it, KVPT organized its annual fundraiser. This flamboyant 19th century costume ball was one of Kathmandu's major social events in 1995.

The repair and restoration of this 17th century tower on the northern side of Patan Darbar Square was a critical contribution to the preservation of the valley’s most prominent urban ensembles. The tower had been in ruins for over ten years, and was threatened by imminent collapse before the Trust rescued it.

Babar Mahal Revisited was built on the foundation of the former stables of Barbar Mahal Palace. "I wanted to preserve Nepal's rich 19th century architecture", stated Gautam SJB Rana, former KVPT project director. Descendants of the Patan artisans who had built the palaces of Singha Durbar and Babar Mahal in the 1900s were involved in the reconstruction project. The legacy of traditional craftsmanship was passed on to them by their forefathers and continues to live strong among these Newar artists.

The entrance and balcony are flawless imitations of Singha Durbar. Similarly, the fountain of Keshar Mahal and walls from Bal Mandir were perfectly replicated. "The wooden windows were collected when old buildings were torn down to make room for modern buildings," says Rana. Traditional methods and materials, such as timber, brick, lime and mud, were used during the restoration process.

KVPT provided technical, as well as design support for the restoration of this historic building, which was converted into a music school.

In collaboration with the Patan Municipality, this ruined early 18th century temple was dramatically restored to its original configuration.

The 17th century Jal Vinayak (Ganesh) temple is located next to the Chobar gorge where the Bagmati river exits the Kathmandu valley. The temple’s Ganesh is an impression on a large rock that resembles an elephant’s head.

This fine 16th century pagoda within the Patan Darbar World Heritage Site had been in ruins for more than a decade. The successful conservation of this structure brought the Trust to its five-year goal of saving nine Patan monuments.

This rare structure, dating to the 13th century, is the only pagoda structure in Nepal that preserves its overall form while retaining the numerous carvings from the pre-Malla period.

The guest appartment above KVPT's offices is available for visiting scholars, students and project volunteers.

The outbreak of Nepal's civil war caused KVPT to hold an emergency conference in New York on the question of the trust's future and continued operations in the war-torn country. Three former US ambassadors reviewed the gravity of the situation, and concluded that international development assistance should continue "now more than ever". Ambassador Peter Burleigh emphasized that support of worthy projects should be encouraged, and Ambassador Michael Malinowski identified KVPT as "a fine example of an aid organization which functions with great effectiveness despite the obvious challenges of the present situation".

The Ayuguthi Sattal, an 18th century two-story pilgrims’ resthouse has been the focus of KVPT efforts since 1991, when the Trust in collaboration with HMG Department of Archaeology initiated emergency repairs.

The proposal to restore the building which was occupied by squatters, led to the government's move to nationalize he monument. This effort, although successful in the end, necessitated ten years of litigation.

The Yetkha Baha restoration was the second project under the banner of the "Buddhist Kathmandu Campaign". One of the earliest structures of the Kathmandu Valley this 13th century shrine building also served as the priest's residence. Although dilapidated, the principle facade preserved much of it’s original form and features including the door, thympanum, carved windows, and roof struts.

The huge stone image of the god Kalo Bhairav is said to have been accidentally discovered in a water reservoir outside of town. It was brought to Kathmandu Darbar Square and erected there by King Pratapa Malla during his reign in the 17th century.

 

This 11th century Buddhist monastic complex was the third project under the Buddhist Kathmandu Campain. The quadrangle retains much of its original configuration, architectural detail, and iconographic wood carvings.

The 18th century Kageswar Mahadev Temple is of prime importance. Today it retains only some of its historic materials and fabric. Originally it was most likely a 3-tier Newari style temple which was later restored with a shikhara dome replacing the upper two roofs.

The 16th century Jagannath Temple was the third project under the “Kathmandu Darbar Initiative”. Badly damaged by the 1934 earthquake the temple was completely reconstructed in 1936 reusing the original carved timber elements and some of the historic bricks. Due to poor maintenance over the past 70 years it became necessary to replace most of the roof structure such as rafters, wall plates and timber planking.

The fundraising event at Clarence House, London hosted by Prince Charles raised US$ 90,000 towards the restoration of the Patan Royal Palace Complex. The KVPT Board of Directors thanks all the participants for their generous support!

The purpose of this mission was to bring key consultants together for intensive fieldwork and project planning which would allow the scope of the ambitious undertaking to be outlined. The project overview listed project goals, activities, and conservation challenges, and cost estimates were developed. Most importantly, the mission reviewed preliminary survey work, documentation and research prepared by Niels Gutschow and his team in 2005-2006.

This neo classical garden is situated in the midst of Kathmandu. It was created in the early 1920s by Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana (1892-1964) and became famous as the garden of the Six Seasons. It was one of the most sophisticated private gardens of that time. Kishore Narshingh, a prominent architect who designed and built Singha Durbar Palace in 1907 also supervised the construction of the Garden of Dreams. Today, only half of the original garden exists.

An excerpt from the Vanity Fair article, written by Lucinda Lambton: "After a glorious efflorescence as the link between Hindu India and Buddhist China, Nepal was isolated from the world until 1950. The result: Kathmandu Valley, where a medieval past is vibrantly present, architectural marvels are part of everyday life, and the sacred is pervasive. Amid thousands of temples, pagodas, monasteries, and other hallowed structures, the author salutes preservation efforts to bring Nepal's magic into a third millennium. Where does the magic of the Kathmandu Valley come from?"

Having received five small grants under the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, KVPT was invited to apply for the large grant competition.

The Trust's employees posing in front of the restored water spout.

The stone-carved base of the Bhandarkal pavilion needed to be completely dismantled and rebuilt with new foundations. A visiting team of professors and students from the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria supervised the stone conservation work. The timber-carved pavilion was reconstructed by a master craftsman from Bhaktapur who based his work off of a painting by Henry Ambrose Oldfield, circa 1853.

The original gilded copper cast spout at Tusha Hiti dated from 1634, and was stolen in May 2010.The project commissioned a replica made in the traditional lost wax cast process. Donors are invited to support the gilding of the spout.

The rehabilitation of historic water sources: the restoration of the Tusha Hiti stepwell and the renovation of the Bhandarkhal water tank, was jointly funded by the governments of Germany and the US.

Minor repair and restoration projects, which are part of the ongoing Patan Palace project, illustrate how significant projects can be undertaken for relatively modest amounts of money. Your sponsorship of such "architectural jewels" not only saves an important monument, but will be commemorated by a stone inscription to be designed and installed on-site by KVPT.

$35,000HELP REBUILD THE PALACE'S LOST TOWER GO TO FACEBOOK TO FIND OUT HOW...