Chiva Chaitya - Respect, Promote, Protect

The Chiva Chaitya Organization (CCO) is delighted to share an exciting milestone in our journey of heritage preservation. This year (2025), CCO has been selected as a recipient of the Memory of the World (MOW) Grant , awarded by the Asia Culture Center (ACC) and the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) . The Memory of the World Programme , launched by UNESCO in 1992, is a global initiative dedicated to safeguarding, preserving, and facilitating access to the world’s invaluable documentary heritage. By supporting projects that document and protect fragile records, manuscripts, and inscriptions, the program ensures that humanity’s shared memory is passed on to future generations. With this grant, CCO will document 100 stone inscriptions across the Kathmandu Valley , working closely with expert epigraphists. These inscriptions, many of which are centuries old, are not only vital historical records but also reflections of the Valley’s diverse cultural, religio...

At Chiva Chaitya Organization, we had the privilege of welcoming students from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, for a special learning session in Kathmandu. Our CEO, Mr. Amar Tuladhar, shared insights into the conservation challenges and heritage values of the Kathmandu Valley, while students engaged directly with the living heritage around them. This experience reminded us of a simple truth: heritage itself is a classroom, and learning often happens far beyond four walls. During their time here, the students joined us in heritage walks, observations, and reflective discussions that connected academic study with real-life heritage stewardship. By experiencing Chivas (stone stupas) and Hitis (stone spouts) within the city’s daily rhythm, they witnessed how these ancient structures—blending religious, historical, and practical functions—continue to serve communities today. From courtyards and public squares to narrow alleys, Chivas and Hitis revealed themselves not as reli...