KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 21 Nepal has secured two Awards of Merit in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation announced by the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok. According to the announcement made on February 21, ten outstanding projects from six countries, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Vanuatu, were recognised under the 2025 edition of the awards. Among the Nepali winners is the Jestha Varna Mahavihara Conservation Project in Lalitpur, which received the Award of Merit. The project focused on the conservation of the 17th-century monastery, a site of significant religious and cultural importance to the Newar Buddhist community. In its citation, the jury noted that the conservation initiative adopted a comprehensive approach, combining archival research, structural repairs, archaeological impact assessment and preparation of a detailed conservation plan. The project was undertaken after the structure had suffered severe deterioration, including damage from the 2015 earthquake. The jury particularly highlighted the effort to preserve the vihara as a living heritage site. Daily rituals were allowed to continue during the conservation works, sacred elements were safeguarded, and mechanisms for long-term maintenance were incorporated to ensure continued community use and resilience.

The second project, the Lowo Nyiphug Namrol Norbuling Monastery Conservation Project in Mustang, also received the Award of Merit, along with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development. The monastery, a 500-year-old complex built and expanded by resident monks, represents a distinctive blend of Tibetan Buddhist monastic architecture and the Mustang Valley's earlier cave-dwelling traditions. The earthen architectural typology of the site has been increasingly vulnerable to climate change-induced precipitation and seismic risks. According to the jury, the conservation effort stood out for integrating modern seismic-resistance techniques while maintaining respect for the site's spiritual and cultural significance. The involvement of practitioner-builders from the local monastic community was cited as a key strength, ensuring that traditional construction knowledge remained central to the process. The project, implemented in the post-earthquake context, was further commended for strengthening long-term resilience by supporting maintenance systems and enabling continued local stewardship. The Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, organised by UNESCO's regional office in Bangkok, recognise exemplary efforts in preserving and revitalising cultural heritage across the region.