Source: PIB
Context
In July 2026, the 17th-century Jestha Varna Mahavihar — a historic Buddhist monastery in Lalitpur, Nepal — received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Merit 2025 for its outstanding conservation and restoration following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake (magnitude 7.8). The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu handed over the Award of Merit at a ceremony where Jaco Du Toit, UNESCO Representative in Nepal, presented a metal plaque and official certificate to the Jestha Varna Mahavihar User Committee, in the presence of Chiri Babu Maharjan (Mayor, Lalitpur Metropolitan City) and Rakesh Pandey (Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Kathmandu). Also known as Jyaba Bahi or Chakrabahil, the monastery lies 300 metres from the UNESCO-listed Patan Durbar Square. It was recognised for exemplary community-centred conservation, combining modern seismic retrofitting with preservation of Newari woodcarvings + architecture, while sustaining the living heritage and practices of the Newar Buddhist community. The restoration was funded through the Government of India’s post-2015 earthquake cultural heritage reconstruction grant of NPR 13.78 crore.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal (Total: 4)
- Kathmandu Valley (1979).
- Sagarmatha National Park (1979) — Everest.
- Chitwan National Park (1984).
- Lumbini (1997) — Buddha’s birthplace.
Who is UNESCO?
- Full form: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- Established: 16 November 1945.
- HQ: Paris, France.
- Members: 194 countries (India joined 4 November 1946).
- Director-General: Audrey Azoulay (France; since 2017).
- Motto: “Building peace in the minds of men and women.”
- Notable programmes: World Heritage List (1972), Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), Memory of the World (1992), Man and the Biosphere (MAB), Global Geoparks.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to Jestha Varna Mahavihar, consider the following statements:
- It is a 17th-century Buddhist monastery in Lalitpur, Nepal.
- It received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Merit 2025.
- Its restoration was funded by India’s post-Gorkha earthquake grant of NPR 13.78 crore.
- It lies within the UNESCO-listed Patan Durbar Square.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; Jestha Varna Mahavihar is located 300 metres AWAY from Patan Durbar Square — NOT within it.)
Q2. With reference to UNESCO, consider the following statements:
- It was established on 16 November 1945.
- It is headquartered in Paris, France.
- Its current Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.
- India joined UNESCO in 1950.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; India joined UNESCO on 4 November 1946, NOT 1950.)
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: 300 m from Patan Durbar Square, not within.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: India joined UNESCO in 1946, not 1950.
