KVPT

The main public square in the center of historic Kathmandu includes several tiered temples and shrines of the Malla period (12th-17th century). These temples have undergone numerous changes over the centuries, including new paint finishes during the Rana period. Several temples were partially reconstructed after their upper tiers collapsed during the earthquake of 1934. The Kathmandu Darbar Initiative was a response to the growing threats faced by these temples. The program took place from 2002 to 2005 and included the complete restoration and conservation of 8 major buildings: Jagannath Temple, Indrapur Temple, Narayan Temple, Kal Bhairab Shrine, Kageshwar Mahadev Temple, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, and the Mahadev Temples. The restoration of these temples, all of which faced the threat of of damage and possible collapse, secured the future of an important area of the square near Hanumandhoka. The project was notable for greatly expanding the base of local and international private sector fundraising. In addition to physical rehabilitation of monuments, the initiative included the training of project personnel in documentation, conservation, historical research, and site supervision. The collaboration with international experts in seismic strengthening and the conservation of historic paint finishes established critical norms for future conservation efforst in the Kathmandu Valley.