The Museum of Stolen Arts, part of the Mission Panauti project and opening in 2027, is a place where the loss of Nepal’s heritage can be seen and felt. It brings visitors face-to-face with the stolen deities ,so that they understand what was taken, why heritage matters, and why repatriation and restitution are urgent. Its central mission is to sensitize the Nepali public and visitors from around the world, and to build the social, ethical, and political pressure needed on national and international authorities to stop the continuing loss of Nepal’s heritage.

Fifty stolen images, recreated in stone

The museum will open with replicas of 50 stolen stone images from Nepal. Forty-seven are finished and on view at the Heritage Gallery in Bhaktapur at the Toni Hagen House. Every piece was carved under the leadership of renowned stone artist Timir Nashan Ojha. His team of 11 Nepalese and Indian stone carvers worked with him.

These stone images will move to the museum once it is complete and stay on permanent display from 2027. Alongside the stories of loss, the collection also introduces visitors to the legacy of Nepal’s rich cultural heritage.