The U.S. Embassy in Nepal, together with the World Monuments Fund and the Chiva Chaitya Organization, has announced the completion of restoration work on Yenga Hiti, a historic water system located in Lagan, Kathmandu. The project was funded by a grant from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).
At an inauguration event, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks joined local leaders and government officials to mark the reopening of Yenga Hiti’s water flow after 50 years. Meeks stated: “The restoration of Yenga Hiti is more than the repair of a heritage site; it is the renewal of a living water system that has served this community—and the nation of Nepal—for over fifteen hundred years. The U.S. Embassy remains committed to the strong and long-lasting U.S.-Nepal partnership. We will continue to support cultural preservation, community resilience, and a prosperous future for both our countries.”
Yenga Hiti is part of a broader initiative called "Hitis of Kathmandu Valley: A Water Heritage Rehabilitation Project," which received $275,000 from AFCP. The goal is to restore at least three traditional hitis in Kathmandu Valley while offering training opportunities for students and heritage professionals and supporting conservation planning.
This restoration was made possible through collaboration with several organizations including the Yenga Club, Chiva Chaitya Organization, Department of Archaeology, as well as local and provincial governments.
Since 2003, nearly $4.6 million in AFCP funding has supported 28 cultural preservation projects across Nepal, making Nepal one of the most active partners in this program.