KATHMANDU, APRIL 27
Nepal commemorated ten years since the devastating 2015 Gorkha Earthquake with a major event focused on cultural heritage rehabilitation, reaffirming commitment to building more resilient communities.
The event titled 'A Decade of Rehabilitation: Reflecting on the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake', was organized on April 25 by the Department of Archaeology with support from UNESCO, Bhaktapur Municipality, and the Oriental Cultural Heritage Sites Protection Alliance (OCHSPA), in collaboration with Changunarayan Municipality, Lalitpur, and Kathmandu Metropolitan City, according to the press release issued by the UNESCO.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey inaugurated the event at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, alongside mayors, deputy mayors from Kathmandu Valley, and a member of parliament. Speaking at the inauguration, Pandey stressed the importance of cultural heritage in community resilience and development."The 2015 earthquake inflicted significant damage on our cultural heritage, but its gradual restoration is rebuilding our hope and confidence in our ability to overcome this challenge. Recognizing Nepal's vulnerability to earthquakes more than many other nations, I appeal to all levels of government to prioritize proactive disaster preparedness to minimize future losses," stated the minister Pandey.
Following the inauguration, the programme continued to explore, with in-depth sessions involving how municipal officials from the Kathmandu Valley support to strengthen and drive recovery efforts, including enhancing disaster preparedness for cultural heritage sites, improving information management, supporting systematic research, promoting traditional materials and craftsmanship, and strengthening first responder training, the release further stated.
The commemoration also provided an opportunity for the third meeting of the International Scientific Committee for the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property. The meeting featured presentations on progress, key learnings, and recommendations highlighting successful restoration efforts, challenges faced, and strategic directions for future heritage preservation initiatives. Site managers, along with national and international heritage experts shared insights on a wide range of topics, from initial emergency response and reconstruction to disaster risk reduction of cultural heritage, community resilience and roles, rescue archaeology, post-earthquake recovery status, and integrated management frameworks for the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site, it noted.
Subhagya Pradhananga, Director General of the Department of Archaeology, emphasized collective responsibility in her address: "Heritage preservation is our shared responsibility. Today's dignified gathering is also a collective pledge to preserve the glorious history of our heritage and to pass it on to future generations."
The two-day discussions will be followed by a capacity-building workshop on the historic urban landscape approach and conservation management planning for the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site on April 27–28.
Jaco du Toit, UNESCO Representative to Nepal, praised the resilience shown by communities in the aftermath of the earthquake. "Today marks an important milestone in our collective journey of recovery but also highlights the strength and resilience of Nepalese in the face of severe challenges. Amid devastation, communities displayed remarkable resilience, uniting to rescue and restore," he said, commending the government's leadership in heritage restoration.
The event underlined the need for sustained collaborative action, guided by the International Scientific Committee's recommendations, in line with the 1972 World Heritage Convention. UNESCO reaffirmed its continued support to the Government of Nepal and local authorities in strengthening cultural preservation efforts.
