Divya B Thakkar

UR3596

This DRP explores the rejuvenation of abandoned traditional water systems—Hitis (stone spouts) and Pokharis (ponds)—in Bhaktapur, Nepal, by integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) with cultural landscape preservation. The study catalogs 24 Hitis and proposes two pilot site interventions aimed at ecological restoration and community engagement. It examines historical, technical, and cultural attributes through spatial mapping, fieldwork, and stakeholder interviews. The proposed NbS toolkit emphasizes groundwater recharge, public health, and socio-cultural revitalization. This work contributes to sustainable urban water management in heritage contexts and offers replicable strategies for similar urban landscapes facing ecological and cultural degradation.