Case 4:
KAGBENI FOLK MUSEUM
PRESENTED BY:
Jasmina Shrestha
Niharika Mathema
Roji Puri
BACKGROUND
A village along Annapurna Circuit that
straddles the border between lower
and upper Mustang.
Known as the “Gateway to Upper
Mustang”
The centerpiece of Kagbeni is its
Fortress ruins
With the influx of Tourism in recent
years, new buildings and hotels have
nudged their way between Kagbeni’s
old mud and stone houses
However, in the old part of the town
surrounding the fortress, the buildings
haven’t substantially changed for
hundreds of years.
BACKGROUND
One of Kagbeni’s most recognizable
landmarks is its “Red Monastery”
Buddhism remains the fundamental
part of the culture in Kagbeni.
Kagbeni is steeped in Tibetan
influence.
The main ethnic groups are Thakalis,
Gurungs and Tharus.
The layout of Kagbeni bears
testimony of war and reflects its
border position.
FOLK MUSUEM
Deals with Folk culture and heritage.
Covers local life in rural communities.
Displays historical objects that were used as part of people’s everyday
life. For e.g. Clothes, tools, artwork, brass implements, local fossils
etc.
Supports Kagbeni’s rich culture and natural heritage.
WHY THIS PROJECT????
Kagbeni has enough potential of cultural,
religious heritage and ancient sites.
The Folk museum can help build a
sustainable society by acquiring,
conserving, researching, communicating
and exhibiting the tangible and intangible
evidence of the people and their lifestyle.
The museum can improve the
understanding of the culture and lifestyle.
It can be a strategic alliance between
culture and tourism.
Target Users
Community members (Especially Women)
Domestic tourist
International tourists
Neighboring Villagers
Traders
Research persons
OBJECTIVES
To preserve Mustangi culture
To demonstrate their indigenous knowledge and skills
To enhance the economic growth of the place
To make ethnic individuals and group self reliant
Tourism development
Women empowerment
To utilize local resources and manpower for
sustainable development
Social Aspect
Possibilities Challenges
Rich in culture and heritages Difficult to maintain religious
Heritage preservation for future harmony
generation (cultural Implementation of rules and
sustainability) policies
Gender Equity Mass immigration of
Encourage cohesiveness among predominantly males abroad
different sectors of society Lack of skilled local manpower
Achieving women empowerment
Economic Aspect
Possibilities Challenges
Can lure more tourist High expectation of the locals
Employment opportunities Government conflict between
Entrepreneurship immediate profit and investment
towards sustainable development
Community members specially
women can become self reliant Corruption
and financially independent
Environmental Aspect
Possibilities Challenges
Explore and preserve vernacular Natural calamities
architecture Extreme Climate>>maintain
Rich in Biodiversity and natural thermal comfort, thermal
heritage insulation
Alternative energy development Difficulty in understanding and
Natural resource conservation applying vernacular technology
Reuse Recycle >> Pollution
Plastic prohibited area Solid waste management
Neatly display the tangible and
intangible element in museum
STAKEHOLDER MAPPING
TOURISTS GAUNPALIKA REPRESENTATIVES
POWER
TRAVEL AGENTS AMMA SAMUHA
DONERS AGENCIES LOCAL BODIES
MEDIA HEAD OF THE SOCIETY
PRIEST
WARD CHAIR PERSON
NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES NGOs and INGOs
VILLAGE COMMITTEES KMTNC
PRIVATE SECTORS NTNC
HOUSEHOLDS ACAP
OTHER VOULENTEER GROUPS LIKE RED
CROSS, ROTARY CLUB
PILGRIMS
YOUTH CLUBS
INTEREST
THINGS TO BE CONSIDERED
Wellbeing >>social cultural and environmental
Sense of place
Active participation/ engagement
Heritage preservation
Memory/ identity
New audiences/ inclusion
Creativity and innovations
Seismic resilient design
Passive Design- trombe walls, insulating material, cavity walls, reusable
materials ,natural lighting system…
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Traditional Dress and Jewelries Display
Wool Craft
Shaligrams
Traditional Tools and Utensils
Tourist information center
Souvenir shop
Library
Documentation and inventory collection of the place’s
archeological artifacts
Multifunctional space>>> for woman and children to learn
Amphitheatre
THANK YOU!
