India won the top UNESCO prize ‘Award of Excellence’ 2015 for the remarkable conservation efforts of the Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple in Kerala.
“The award recognises the remarkable conservation effort undertaken at the sacred site which employed age-old rituals and conservation techniques drawn from vastu shastra focusing on architecture and construction,” UNESCO said in a statement.
As such, the tangible attributes of the temple are inextricably linked with its intangible heritage which dates back generations, thus ensuring that “spirit of place” resonates throughout the site, the UN body said.
Award of Merit
Sdaring Xieng Thong Temple in Luang Prabang won the Award of Merit. With this it became the first project in Lao People’s Democratic Republic to receive the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award.
A 150-year-old Sino-Portuguese monument was former residence of a Thai aristocrat. It has been converted into a historic inn and local museum. It was awarded UNESCO’s “Award of Merit” in Heritage Award.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the adaptation of the former residence of local aristocrat Luang Rajamaitri into a 12-room heritage inn and museum sparked an awareness about heritage conservation and catalysed a larger movement to revitalise the once-declining 150 year-old riverfront town.
The enlistment of more than 500 shareholders to invest in the transformation of the house created an innovative new social enterprise model for urban heritage conservation.
About Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple
- Vadakkunnathan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at city of Thrissur, Kerala.
- The temple is a classic example of the architectural style of Kerala and has monumental towers on all four sides and also a kuttambalam.
- Mural paintings depicting various episodes from Mahabharata can be seen inside the temple. The shrines and the Kuttambalam display vignettes carved in wood.
- The temple was declared as a National Monument by India under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
About UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation
When?
- The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation were established in 2000.
Why?
- To recognize and encourage private efforts and public-private initiatives in successfully restoring structures of heritage value in the region.
- Since 2000, UNESCO has received 562 entries from 24 countries and a total of 174 projects have received UNESCO Heritage awards for conservation till now.
- The winning projects have set high technical and social standards for conservation in the region. They have increased local preservation efforts as well.
