Mission Panauti

Restoring a Living Newar Heritage Town
Panauti is one of Nepal's most beautiful and distinctive Newar towns, and one of the most remarkable outside the Kathmandu Valley. Its rich cultural heritage remains visible in its streets, houses, and temples. The Rabindra Puri Foundation for Conservation is committed to restoring Panauti's heritage sites through direct investment and by inspiring and training local residents to restore their town using traditional techniques. By 2030, the Foundation aims to restore Panauti to its former standing as a celebrated heritage city through the reconstruction, renovation, and revitalisation the town needs.

This work is rooted in partnership with the community. With local support, the Foundation has already restored seven houses and helped residents restore additional buildings themselves. Traditional houses such as Matan Chhen, Kun Chhen, and Dware Ghar are complete, while newly built traditional structures, including the Museum of Stolen Arts, offer visitors new places to explore.

The Foundation is also investing in the people of Panauti. Rangeen Children's Home is established, with plans to extend its care to older people, women, and people with disabilities. The Nepal Vocational Academy is operating in Panauti, alongside workshops for woodcarving, stonecarving, and metalcasting. The team has also partnered with Read Nepal to construct the Gyan Bikash community library and a souvenir shop for tourists in the historic heart of the city.

Restoring an entire town is no easy task, but it is not impossible. Once achieved, Panauti can serve as a model for the restoration of Nepal's many other historic towns.