KATHMANDU: Water has started flowing again at Yenga Hiti, an ancient stone spout located in Yangal of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-21, following a major restoration. The hiti is considered a highly significant community water source, believed to have provided water to local residents for nearly 1,500 years. For centuries, its protection and upkeep had been managed by the local community.
After decades of decline, water has returned to the hiti nearly 50 years later, thanks to a joint restoration effort by Yenga Club and Chiva Chaitya Organization, with support from the World Monuments Fund (WMF) and the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.
Along with the restoration, CCTV cameras have been installed around the site to enhance security and monitoring of the heritage area.
Yenga Hiti was listed in the World Monuments Watch in 2022. The restoration work was carried out under the World Monuments Fund’s Kathmandu Valley Hiti Conservation Project (2023–2026).
The project received major support from the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, along with contributions from The Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, the World Monuments Fund Watch Committee, American Express, and Iron Mountain, among others.
Photos: Nepal Photo Library
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