Abathsahayeswarar Temple & BJPCI Project bag UNESCO Heritage Award

Two Indian heritage conservation projects—the Abathsahayeswarar Temple Conservation Project in Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu, and the BJPCI Conservation Project of Mumbai, Maharashtra—have won UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2024. These two heritage conservation projects were among eight from the Asia Pacific region that won the 2024 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) announced the award winners at its regional office in Bangkok, Thailand, on 6 December 2024.

Abathsahayeswarar Temple Conservation Project

The Abathsahayeswarar Temple Conservation Project won the Award of Distinction in the UNESCO’s Award category. 

Lord Dakshinamurthy (Lord Shiva) is the presiding deity of the Abathsahayeswarar (Apatsahayesvarar )Temple located in the Thukkatchi village in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu. 

The 7th century Tamil  Saivite work ‘Thevaram’ and one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams mentions the temple. 

The Temple was awarded the UNESCO Award of Distinction for using modern engineering expertise and the know-how of Hindu temple builders, sthapathi, for structural conservation.

Award of Merit for BJPCI Conversation Project 

The  BJPCI (Sir Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution) Conservation project bagged the Merit Award of UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2024. 

The BJPCI school building, built in 1908 in Gothic style, is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was built to promote education amongst the economically weaker sections of society. The restoration work was done during the school's two-month summer break. 

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation was established by UNESCO in 2000.

The  Award recognises the efforts of individuals and organisations in Asia and the Pacific region to restore, conserve, and transform structures and buildings of heritage value.

The seven-member Jury of expert conservation practitioners in architecture, archaeology, and community development selected the 2024 UNESCO Award winners based on three criteria: their understanding of place, technical achievements, and sustainability and impact. 

The international jury members were conservation practitioners in architecture, archaeology, and community development.

Award Winners of the 2024 

The UNESCO Award has five categories, with the highest being the Award of Excellence. The other award categories are the Award of Distinction, the Award for New Design in Heritage Context, the Award of Merit, and Special Recognition for Sustainable Development.

Following are the list of the eight winners of the 2024 UNESCO Award 

Awards of Excellence

• Inari-yu Bathhouse Restoration Project in Tokyo, Japan

Award of Distinction 

• Abathsahayeswarar Temple Conservation Project, in Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu
• Gunan Street Historic Block Conservation Project, in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China.

Award of Merit 

• BJPCI Conservation Project, of Mumbai, India;
• Guanyin Hall Teahouse Conservation Project, Chengdu in Sichuan Province of China; 
• Helou Pavilion Conservation Project, of Shanghai, China;
• Observatory Tower Conservation Project, of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Special Recognition for Sustainable Development

• Gunan Street Historic Block Conservation Project 
• Helou Pavilion Conservation Project, of Shanghai, China;

Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts

• Rabindhorn Building, Bangkok, Thailand 

About UNESCO

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) is a United Nations Agency set up 16 November 1945.

UNESCO’s mission- build a culture of peace, eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

Members:195 Members and 8 Associate Members 

Headquarters: Paris, France 

Also Read: 24 New Sites Included in UNESCO Heritage List at New Delhi Meeting