KATHMANDU DARBAR INITIATIVE
RESTORATION: MAY 2002 - SEPTEMBER 2005FUNDED BY:
WORLD MONUMENTS FUND
SOALTEE HOTEL
SURYA NEPAL
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK NEPAL
GERMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
The main public square in the center of historic Kathmandu includes several tiered temples and shrines of the Malla period (c. 1200 - 1769). These temples have undergone numerous changes over the centuries, including new paint finishes during the Rana period (1846 - 1951). 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 project 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, Laxmi Narayan Temple, and the Mahadev Temples.
The restoration of these buildings, all of which faced the threat of collapse in the event of an earthquake, secured the future of an important urban ensemble. 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 training of project personnel in documentation, conservation, historical research, and site supervision. International collaborations with specialists in seismic strengthening and the conservation of historical paint finishes established critical norms for future conservation efforts in the Kathmandu Valley.
