A critical analysis of challenges in tangible cultural heritage conservation in Lalitpur Metropolitan city, Nepal

Abstract

Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) possesses a high concentration of tangible cultural heritage, including the Patan Durbar Square UNESCO World Heritage site. Post-2015 Gorkha Earthquake restoration efforts face multifaceted technical, institutional, financial, and socio-economic challenges. This study quantifies and ranks these constraints using a mixed-method approach comprising field surveys (n = 145), Relative Importance Index (RII) analysis, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Results reveal that the erosion of traditional craftsmanship and skilled labor (RII = 0.92), scarcity of authentic building materials like dachi apa bricks (RII = 0.91), and structural seismic vulnerability (RII = 0.89) are the primary technical bottlenecks. Financially, the absence of a dedicated municipal heritage fund (RII = 0.92) and rigid public procurement frameworks constrain execution quality. Empirical field observations across 213 municipal projects revealed widespread usage of non-authentic substitutes (39 projects utilized machine-made bricks and 39 used cement mortar). To ensure sustainable conservation, the paper advocates for a single-window inter-agency coordination mechanism (RII = 0.92), a municipal heritage material bank, specialized procurement norms under Nepalese law, and community-led Guthi revival.