Digital documentation of endangered medieval manuscripts in individual and Vihāra collections from various Newār settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

The main focus of the project was to digitise rare medieval Sanskrit manuscripts, related to Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as secular topics, in Newar communities, as well as to rescue those threatened by the earthquake of 2015. In total the project were able to digitise 687 manuscripts.

Newar people living in small medieval towns have contributed enormously to the development of literary culture in Nepal, with manuscript culture being a part of Newar religious lives. After completion of the earlier pilot project EAP676, the team continued the work surveying manuscripts in Newār settlements and also Vihāra collections in Newar communities where manuscript culture still exists. The main focus of the project was to digitise rare medieval Sanskrit manuscripts as well as rescue those threatened by the earthquake of 2015. In total the project were able to digitise 21 separate collections consisting of 687 manuscripts and 28050 folios. These included religious manuscripts related to Buddhism and Hinduism, literary works, medical texts, records of events, and other secular texts. These are important records for Buddhist and Hindu Newars to perform religious duties and also for scholars of Newar Buddhism, Vajrayana rituals, Hinduism, the Vajracharya priests and practitioners and others.

Project Details


Location: Nepal, Southern Asia, Asia Organiser(s): Endangered Archives Programme (EAP) Project partner(s): Tribhuvan University Funder(s): Arcadia Funding received: £23,260 Commencement Date: 10/2015 Project Status: Completed
Project owner? Update this project



Related Projects

Arcadia Logo high res

Documenting the contemporary history of science in India

To collect, preserve and make available online endangered cultural artefacts related to the contemporary (~200 years) history of science in South Asia. It will also develop a …

Explore project
Arcadia Logo high res

Digital Preservation of Kerala Archives

To survey and digitize some of the most important collections of palm-leaf manuscripts in the Thrissur and Ernakulam districts, Kerala, India in both institutional and family …

Explore project
Arcadia Logo high res

Mapping Archaeological Pre-Columbian Heritage in South America

To produce an integrated public access database for the pre-Columbian archaeological heritage of South America, focussing on Brazil and Colombia.

Explore project