The Metropolitan Museum of Art is returning stone sculpture to Nepal

The Consulate General of Nepal in New York and The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced yesterday the return of a tenth century stone sculpture, Shiva in Himalayan Abode with Ascetics, to Nepal.

An agreement was signed by acting consul general Bishnu Prasad Gautam and president and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Daniel H Weiss to bring the arts back to Nepal, according to a press note issued by the Consulate General of Nepal in New York.

The sculpture depicts Lord Shiva, a revered Hindu deity, with his two ascetic disciples in a mountain abode at Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. The sculpture, which is approximately 13 inches high, was given to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1995 and remained in the collection until recent Museum research, based on that of renowned Nepali scholar Lain Singh Bangdel and his book, 'Inventory of Stone Sculptures of Kathmandu Valley', determined that the object belonged to the Kankeswari Temple (Kanga-Ajima) in Kathmandu and that it should be returned to Nepal. The Museum contacted Nepal earlier this year to offer the return of the sculpture, and is arranging for the object to be transported to Nepal, the press note reads.

"We are deeply grateful to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, its president and chief executive officer, the Board of Trustees, the Museum’s scholars and officials for their initiative and cooperation in returning this lost artifact back to Nepal," Speaking on the occasion, acting consul general Gautam said. "We also offer thanks to many supporters and interested parties for their love of Nepali art," he said, adding that Nepal appreciate the Museum's ongoing dedication and commitment to working for the preservation and promotion of world cultural heritage. "The warm cooperation we have received from the Museum has deeply contributed to Nepal's national efforts to recover and reinstate its lost artifacts, including the Museum’s initiative to return two Nepali artifacts--Uma Maheshwara (Shiva and Parbati), and Standing Buddha in 2018."

The Consulate looks forward to working closely with the Museum for the promotion of art and culture, as these collaborative efforts truly contribute to preservation of the cultural heritage, and further strengthen the long-standing ties between the peoples of Nepal and the United States of America, he added.

"The Museum is committed to the responsible acquisition of archaeological art, and applies rigorous provenance standards both to new acquisitions and the study of works long in its collection in an ongoing effort to learn as much as possible about ownership history," the Metropolitan Museum of art president and CEO Weiss said, "In returning this sculpture to Nepal, the Museum is acting to strengthen the good relationship it has long maintained with scholarly institutions and colleagues in Nepal and to foster and celebrate continued cooperation and dialogue between us."

At a signing ceremony hosted at the Museum, the Consulate General honoured officials with ceremonial Nepali dhaka scarves (khada), in appreciation of the Museum’s contribution to preservation and promotion of world cultural heritage, including Nepali art.

More private-sector investment in the ACA can attract high-spending tourist

Increased private-sector investment in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) could bring in more high-spending tourists to help boost the local economy in a post-Covid market, according to a new IFC report.

The report—'Architectural and Cultural Heritage Tourism Products in Nepal: An Assessment of New Private Sector Investment Opportunities in the Annapurna Conservation Area'—examines the opportunities for investors to capitalise on the area’s triple offering of landscape, architecture, and culture.

The Annapurna Conservation Area now caters to two main visitor groups:  Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims visiting Muktinath, an important site for both religions, and adventure tourists—hikers, trekkers, and mountaineers. The Annapurna Area has long been the most popular trekking destination in the country, accounting for roughly 60 per cent of all trekking holidays.

The report says that the area could attract higher value tourists who could spend about 20 per cent more, if there was greater action to boost accommodation. While there are over 1000 hotels, lodges, and tea shops, these cater to low-budget travelers, the report reads. In order to appeal to higher-value tourists, the report lays out four potential investment concepts: converting old, abandoned houses in a street in Tukuche village into boutique hotels; redeveloping an abandoned, heritage house in Jharkot into a boutique luxury hotel; establishing a network of lodges along the Seven-Passes trail in Manang; and setting up a coffee shop franchise in Lower Mustang and Manang.

“High spending tourists are willing to pay premium prices for comfortable accommodation in the Himalayan region, as has been the case in Bhutan,” said IFC’s resident representative in Nepal Babacar S Faye. “In view of the gigantic losses that Nepal’s tourism industry has suffered due to the pandemic, it should create a new roadmap to align with the new market reality," Faye said, adding that it has the opportunity to attract more high-end tourists, a move that will impact the supply chain, and have positive ripple effects on the country’s economy.

To attract higher spending tourists and sustain local communities engaged in tourism, the report makes it clear that more private sector investment is crucial. Tourism in Nepal has been the hardest hit sector by Covid-19 impacts. An estimated 230,000 jobs are at risk, 20,000 tour and trekking guides unemployed, and 2,600 trekking agencies closed, amounting to a loss of around $460 million to the country’s GDP.

The study is part of IFC's continued support to Nepal's tourism sector as it struggles to recover from the pandemic.

Indian help for earthquake affected cultural heritage sites

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu signed an agreement with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for post-earthquake reconstruction of 11 cultural heritage sites in Nepal.
The agreement was signed by deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu Dr Ajay Kumar on behalf of the government of India and member secretary at INTACH Dr Mrs CT Mishra. On the occasion, senior officials from the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri were also present.
The INTACH will provide Design and Project Management Consultancy services for reconstruction of 11 cultural heritage sites in four districts, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Solukhumbhu. The INTACH will work with the Department of Archaeology (DoA) under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to reconstruct and conserve cultural heritage sites as per Nepal’s guidelines on reconstruction of cultural heritage sites.
The INTACH is one of the largest heritage organisations of the world with over 190 chapters across India, according to a press note issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.

Indian Women’s Association hands over two electric vehicles to PADT

President of the Indian Women’s Association (IWA) Namrita Puri today handed over two 8-seater electric vehicles (EV) with high end Lithium ion batteries to member-secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Dr Pradip Dhakal at the premises of Pashupatinath Temple.
“These eco-friendly vehicles are manufactured by an Indian Company Gayam Motor Works,” according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Puri, on the occasion, said that these eco-friendly vehicles will be helpful for the pilgrims visiting the holy Pashupatinath temple especially for elderly anddifferently abledpeople, women and children. “These vehicles will also create employment opportunity for two women,” she said, adding that handing over of e-vehicles will be another milestone in strengthening cultural and religious ties between people of India and Nepal and bringing people of the two countries closer.
Indian Women’s Association (IWA) – an organisation of Indian Women under the patronage of Embassy of India in Kathmandu with the aim to provide friendly meeting ground for Indian Women resident in Nepal – provides a forum for interaction with Nepali women and works to promote goodwill and friendship between the Indian and Nepali community. It organises philanthropic activities to benefit women and children in Nepal. Recently, it has organised charitable events with Nava Indradhanus English Boarding School in Kathmandu, Koseli Foundation, Bal Sarathi, Nepali Snehi Kaakha and Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital.
Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) is established to conserve and operate the Pashupatinath Temple and adjoining Area, which is enlisted as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

US Embassy to help restore Dzong monastery in Mustang

US ambassador Randy W Berry and Provincial Assembly member Mahendra Bahadur Thakali inaugurated the restoration of the 16th century Dzong Chode Shedup Choepel Ling Gompa – popularly known as Dzong monastery – at Dzong village in Mustang today.
The US embassy contributed $100,000 – through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) – of the total $123,681 budget allocated for restoring and seismically strengthening the historic site, which was damaged during the 2015 earthquakes, according to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.
Dzong Gompa Management Committee will contribute the remaining $23,681, and Heritage and Environment Conservation Foundation Nepal will carry out the restoration work, which is expected to be completed by September 2020.
Through extensive consultations with the local community and DGMC, HECFN will seismically strengthen the structure while preserving the centuries old paintings inside the monastery, the press note reads, adding that the project will employ local artisans and provide on-site training to local youths to sustain maintenance of the monastery after the project is completed. “Our cultural preservation partnership with Nepal is a tangible symbol of our mutual friendship, and shows our respect for Nepal’s diverse and rich heritage,” said ambassador Berry in the statement. “This restoration will support local community efforts to protect these structures, and encourage future generations to continue caring for these unique, invaluable treasures of the Himalayan culture.”
AFCP is the only US government programme that provides direct grant support to preserve cultural heritage in developing countries. Since 2003, the US embassy has supported 24 other AFCP projects totalling $3.37 million in Nepal. AFCP projects in Nepal include the restoration of ancient Buddhist chhortens in Upper Mustang, the 11th century Rinchenling Monastery in Humla, MahaKal Bhairav temple in Kathmandu Durbar Square and the historic Gaddi Baithak palace in downtown Kathmandu recently.