US provides USD 285,000 grant for restoration of one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world

Kathmandu: The United States has provided a grant of USD 285,000 for the restoration and seismic strengthening of Lo Gekhar Monastery in Marang Village of Mustang district bordering China.

The US Embassy in Kathmandu said in a tweet that the grant was provided under the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation to Norbusum Foundation for the monastery also known as Ghar Gompa.

Gandaki Provincial Assembly Member Mahendra Thakali, LoGekar Damodar Kunda Municipality Chair Lopsang Bista and PAO at the US Embassy Garrett Wilkerson jointly inaugurated the restoration work at one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world.

We're pleased to announce a grant of $285,000 from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation to Norbusum Foundation for the restoration and seismic strengthening of Lo Gekhar Monastery, or Ghar Gompa, in Marang Village of Mustang district. pic.twitter.com/sDfaIEzGR6

— U.S. Embassy Nepal (@USEmbassyNepal) November 8, 2021

The monastery suffered major damages during the 2015 earthquake and subsequent years of severe climatic conditions.

The project will fully restore the monastery building, document and catalog artifacts and develop a sustainable maintenance plan so more worshippers & guests will be able to safely visit the monastery. The project will be completed in September 2023, reads the tweet.