Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple of India. [Photo/UNESCO]

The Conservation of the Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple in Kerala, India has received the Award of Excellence in this year's UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

Five sites in China received the recognition, including Honorable Mentions for YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and San Fang Qi Xiang in Fujian province, Awards of Merit for Pingyao Traditional Courtyard House in Shangxi province and the Cangdong Heritage Education Center in Guangdong province, as well as an Award of Distinction for Saltpans of Yim Tin Tsai in Hong Kong.

Xieng Thong Temple in Luang Prabang won the Award of Merit and became the first project in Lao PDR to receive the award.

A total of 12 winning projects from India, China, Lao PDR, Australia and Thailand have been recognized in this year's Heritage Awards.

Tim Curtis, Chair of the Jury and Chief of UNESCO Bangkok's Culture Unit, said he was impressed with the quality of the entries received this year as well as the geographical expanse they covered, showing that the awards’ message of the importance of cultural preservation is gaining momentum in the region.  

"The Jury were very pleased with this year's submissions, which included fascinating projects from across Asia Pacific. This reflects a continuing trend over the years where we are seeing a broader diversity of typologies being submitted to the Awards coming from a wider geographical spread," said Curtis.