Restoration of Seto Machindranath temple starts

 Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra, chief executive officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City today jointly did the bhoomipooja to mark the starting of work of conservation and restoration of Seto Machindranath temple.

The conservation work of Seto Machindranath temple is first of the 28 cultural heritage conservation and restoration projects being under taken with a reconstruction of Rs 5,800 million committed by government of India for the cultural heritage sector, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. "All the 28 sites were identified by government and both India and Nepal signed MoU in this regard in August 2017," it reads, adding that the Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Building) of NRA is the implementing entity has been identifying agencies for the restoration works as per be conserved as per Ancient Monument Preservation Act.

The Seto Machindranath Temple will be conserved as per Nepal’s Ancient Monument Preservation Act, and Department of Archaeology’s Basic Guidelines and Manual for conservation and reconstruction of heritage affected by devastating earthquake of 2015, using material close to the original building material at the time of its construction as per the traditional ethos, local traditions and values that sustains and enriches such living heritage sites in Nepal.

The decorative art surfaces and features such as repoussé work, decorative and non-decorative woodworks including timber members with traditional polychrome arts will be documented and conserved through minimal interventions. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)  has been engaged to provide technical support during the conservation and restoration work as per the Detailed Project Report approved by the government.

Believed to have been built in 10th Century AD during Malla era, the temple was damaged during the devastating earthquake of 2015. The temple located in the heart of Kathmandu city is visited by Hindus and Buddhist devotees to worship Seto Machindranath is considered to be one of the Protectors of the Kathmandu Valley.