The hiti of Kathmandu Valley have been named to the 2022 World Monuments Watch, a selection of 25 heritage sites of worldwide significance whose preservation is urgent and vital to the communities surrounding them.
Despite urabnisation, many of Kathmandu’s
and the netowrk of channels that supplied water to them are still functioning and form a vital part of the city’s water supply system.Heritage concervationists say the inclusion of Kathmandu Valley’s hiti by the Wold Monuments Fund (WMF) in its Watch2022 list will encourage Nepal to continue to its work in the preservation and promotion of the heritage of the valley. Foremost among the conservation groups is the Chiva Chaitya Organization (CCO) which has been working for restoration of Kathmandu Valley heritage.
“We feel that inclusion of hiti of Kathmandu Valley in the Watch2022 of the WMF has given due respect to the importance of Nepal’s heritage on the world stage,” says Prabodh B S Kasaa of the CCO. “We believe that the necessary recognition of the hitis by the WMF is because of the contribution of individuals and organisations working in preservation and promotion hiti."
Bénédicte de Montlaur of the WMF says that saving endangered cultural heritage has never been more important. He adds: “The daunting global challenges facing heritage in the twenty-first century require innovative, sustainable, and replicable solutions. By supporting communities in preserving the places they treasure most, we can strengthen social bonds and foster a greater understanding that our futures as global citizens are inextricably linked.”