Stolen Malla-Era Artefact Returned to Kathmandu’s Basantapur Durbar Square

A carved wooden artefact from the Malla period has been returned to its original location at Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu after being recovered from the United Kingdom. The wooden toran, which once belonged to the entrance of Kumari Ghar, had been missing for years after it was illegally taken.

What Was Returned

The recovered object is a traditional toran, a carved wooden arch often placed above doorways in Nepalese architecture. Torans from the Malla period are known for detailed woodwork, symbolic motifs and religious craftsmanship. This period represents a significant chapter in Kathmandu Valley’s cultural and artistic history.

How It Was Recovered

The toran was identified overseas and later claimed by Nepal under international heritage protocols. After cooperation between the Government of Nepal, organisations working on heritage restitution and authorities in the United Kingdom, the artefact was formally returned and reinstated.

Why the Return Matters

The return of the artefact holds importance on several levels:

• It restores an original part of Kumari Ghar, a heritage building and an active cultural site.
• It highlights the need to protect historic objects from illegal trafficking.
• It reinforces ongoing efforts to bring back heritage items taken from South Asia over the last several decades.

For Nepal, this recovery is not only about one artefact, but about recognising cultural ownership and historical continuity.

A Step Forward for Heritage Protection

The return of the toran is also a reminder that lost heritage can be traced, negotiated and brought home when records, research and international cooperation align. It may encourage similar future efforts to recover objects taken from temples, palaces and historic homes across the Kathmandu Valley.

As global awareness about heritage protection grows, cases like this show the value of respecting cultural identity and returning historical objects to the communities where they continue to hold meaning.