Preserving Lumbini's past

A state-of-the-art Conservation Center was inaugurated at the Lumbini Museum officially on 11 May, a day before Buddha Jayanti.

The new facility is located at the museum in the sacred birthplace of Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and safeguards centuries-old Buddhist artifacts and architecture for future generations.

Lumbini Museum is world’s only contemporary museum dedicated to both Buddha and his birthplace. Designed by renowned Japanese architect Tange, the museum’s once-neglected structures have now been revitalised by Nepali and international experts.

The museum’s modernist architecture, now preserved alongside sacred artifacts, offers a rare blend of spiritual sanctity and architectural heritage.

The new Conservation scenery is equipped with diagnostic tools, climate-controlled storage, and dedicated restoration workspaces. It is a specialised facility designed to serve as a hub for scientific preservation, conservation, and the study of the region’s archaeological treasures, ranging from terracotta and stone sculptures to architectural relics dating back over two millennia.

The lab also aims to train local heritage professionals and students, fostering long-term sustainability in cultural preservation. The Center is expected to draw scholars, pilgrims, and visitors from around the world.

“This lab is more than just a facility, it’s part of a larger effort to build conservation expertise in the country,” said Jason Meeks, Deputy Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy in Nepal. “Training programs for local professionals and students will ensure that this work continues well into the future.”

The project is a collaborative initiative involving The Buddha Foundation, the U.S. Embassy’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), Department of Archaeology (DoA), and Anupam Heritage Lab (AHL).

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey, emphasised that the Conservation Center will not only strengthen Nepal’s capacity in heritage conservation and education but also pave the way for Nepal to emerge as a regional leader in the field.