- The Government of Nepal, with support from ADB, has reconstructed over a dozen monuments along the Bagmati. Over the years, they had suffered much damage from weather conditions and earthquakes. Now these heritage buildings stand tall in their full glory.
- The century old buildings along the Bagmati now stand fully reconstructed with their old intricate stone and woodwork intact. They have been built back better using traditional materials and method and are seismically stronger.
- The restoration of cultural heritage has shown build back better is possible. This is part of the ADB-financed Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project which envisages a clean, green, and healthy Bagmati River system that is full of life and valued by all.
The Government of Nepal, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has renovated and reconstructed over a dozen structures along the Bagmati River. These monuments, which include temples and rest houses, reflect Kathmandu’s rich cultural heritage.
Over the years, they suffered much damage from weather conditions and earthquakes. The century-old buildings now stand fully reconstructed with their old intricate stone and woodwork intact. They have been built back better and are designed to withstand future earthquakes. Over 70 historical monuments are next in line for renovation. This site is one of the cornerstones of the Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project financed by ADB. The project also supports construction of a dam upstream to augment the river’s flow during the dry season and provide clean water for religious purposes, riverbank improvement and beautification, wastewater and solid waste management and an upgradation of an existing flood forecast system to counter the threat of natural disasters.
The vision of the Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project is a clean, green, and healthy Bagmati River system that is full of life and valued by all.
Transcript
Kathmandu, Nepal
The Bagmati River remains the primary artery of the Kathmandu Valley, a teeming metropolis of millions.
The river holds immense religious and social value, and remains the cultural locus on which the city still functions.
The riverbanks are lined with ghats, religious space for cremation and sattals, rest houses for pilgrims.
These monuments reflect Kathmandu’s rich and unique cultural heritage.
Over the years, they suffered much damage from weather conditions, earthquakes, and years of neglect.
The Government of Nepal, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has renovated and reconstructed over a dozen structures, which include temples and rest houses.
These monuments, built over a century ago, now stand fully reconstructed with their old intricate stone and woodwork intact.
The original designs were preserved, and traditional bricks and terra-cotta tiles were used.
Traditional building method with surkhi – lime and red mud – was applied.
Local artisans from Bhaktapur and Kirtipur were employed for the intricate woodwork.
These buildings have been built back better and designed to withstand future earthquakes.
Arnaud Cauchois
Country Director
Asian Development Bank, Nepal
"All these buildings had been destroyed by the 2015 earthquake. It was very important to bring in innovation to make them stronger in case of a new earthquake. What this project has done to strengthen the earth resistance of these buildings is to insert the beams here... one here... one here... and then we have several other beams and what this does is it stops the seismic load from going through the entire walls."
Damodar Gautam
Director General
Department of Archaeology
"Nepal is rich in cultural heritage. Our monuments are our identity. It is our responsibility to preserve the cultural heritage around Bagmati River. I would like to thank ADB for its cultural heritage renovation work around the Bagmati area. Over 70 historical monuments are next in line for renovation. This site is one of the cornerstones of the Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project financed by ADB."
Arnaud Cauchois
Country Director
Asian Development Bank, Nepal
"Together with this, we are building dams upstream. We are building wastewater treatment plants. We are landscaping the riverbanks of the river. So this is all the concept together which we hope will help restore the health of the Bagmati and beautify the river so that the city of Kathmandu becomes more livable in a sense. Meanwhile, the removed heritage buildings stand ready for use."
Prahlad Manandhar
Curator
Manandhar Sattal
"We have been taking care of the sattal founded by our forefathers. I have no doubt that these renovated buildings will continue to serve future generations."
