Sankhu is a traditional Newar settlement located in the North East of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, and was inscribed on the tentative World Heritage List in 2008.
The April and May 2015 earthquakes had a devastating effect on the historic settlements of the Kathmandu Valley, and Sankhu was one of the most severely affected communities, with more than 65% of its buildings seriously damaged or destroyed. Over 2000 people were rendered homeless and forced to find shelter in tents or temporary sheds on the town's periphery. Outmigration has been a problem for many years, and has been further compounded following the earthquakes, with the departure of much of Sankhu’s core population. Two years on, much is needed to be done to restore this community to its former glory, and to rebuild the rich cultural heritage of the town.
The dire situation from the destruction of the historic town of Sankhhu raises the following issues to be addressed:
The rehabilitation and reconstruction planning needed for historic settlements is a sensitive issue. It has to address multiple development issues, show concern for the welfare of its inhabitants and create an environment in which everyone can prosper. Furthermore, the preservation of both tangible heritage and intangible practices and traditions will strengthen the core identity of such historic communities. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach with the active participation of the community and local authorities is vital in order to draw up a Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Master Plan. Additional support from national and international experts is essential to help with defining goals for the project, and develop a clear implementation process.
The community of Sankhu as the main beneficiary will have to take the lead in managing the town's rehabilitation process. Close collaboration with all stakeholders, such as the municipal office, religious groups, cultural organisations, reconstruction committees, and youth clubs is crucial for a successful outcome.
Achieving the development goals and at the same time adhering to the proposed heritage conservation guidelines related to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Sankhu is a complex process, which will requires a multidisciplinary approach with the involvement of economists, sociologists, anthropologists, historians, urban planners, architects, engineers, and conservation architects, among others.
It is to be noted that the launch of WHF campaigns usually starts in October and that presentations to the World Heritage Committee (reporting and side-event) would take place twice during the course of the project.
Sankhu is a traditional Newar settlement, and is inscribed on Nepal’s Tentative List. The 2015 earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.8, caused massive destruction to the historic core of Sankhu itself.
According to UNESCO’s detailed damage assessment, 65% of traditional dwellings were severely damaged or destroyed, and a total of 85% of households have been affected. Approximately two-thirds of the town's monuments, such as temples (mandirs), priest houses, rest houses (sattals) and votive architecture (chaityas and small shrines) have been seriously damaged.
Traditional Newari architecture uses natural building materials and requires regular maintenance. Many of the Sankhu houses have been poorly maintained, compounding the effects of the earthquake. Almost every street was turned to rubble as people dismantled their damaged houses in the wake of the disaster. The once beautiful traditional streetscapes are at high risk of being lost forever.
A concerted effort for raising funds for the reconstruction of this historic town is crucial, before it is too late. Time is very much of essence to bring together government agencies, national and international development partners and the community in this common endeavor to save Sankhu.
An estimated overall extra-budgetary funding of US$ 600,000 is needed for the implementation of this activity.
These funds will cover the rehabilitation process, as well as personnel cost (multidisciplinary experts), capacity building activities, mission expenses, communication, design and printing of the informational material.
A communication & visibility plan will be developed in consultation with the donor(s) and will include (but not limited to) the options below:
Visibility material |
Placement / Event |
Outreach |
Audience |
|
Article on the WHC website Homepage |
Logo |
WHC website: whc.unesco.org |
Public
|
9,735,000 41.650.000 pageviews |
Reports to the World Heritage Committee |
Logo |
World Heritage Committee session |
Public; WH Committee members, observers, NGOs, site managers, press |
Approx 2,000 participants from 193 countries |
Public event |
Logo |
Public launch event in Kathmandu at Sankhu |
Public |
Approx 200 at event as well as local media coverage |
UNESCO Kathmandu web page – news story, project update |
Logo |
UNESCO Kathmandu website & social media: unesco.org/new/en/kathmandu/home |
Public |
Approx 5,000 pageviews per month |
Nipuna Shrestha
Project Officer
Culture Unit
UNESCO Office in Kathmandu
s.nipuna@unesco.org