The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation were established to recognise the best efforts of private-sector individuals and organisations in preserving buildings and structures of heritage value in the Asia-Pacific region. The award is meant for the best conserved/restored building, structure or complex over fifty years old. In its inaugural year (2000), the Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards drew twenty-six entries from twelve different countries and administrative regions in UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Region, which consists of forty-six nations.

The aim of the annual award is to promote conservation of the region's built heritage, which is often threatened by unchecked development, neglect, or inappropriate reuse. Recognising successful preservation efforts helps spur additional projects within the same community, advocating the culture of preservation and conservation through the use of appropriate conservation techniques and approaches. Three conservation projects from south Asia were awarded – two in India and one in Sri Lanka. Chanwar Palkiwalon ki Haveli in Amber, Rajasthan (India) was given the ‘Excellent Project’ award, Hotel de l'Orient in Pondicherry (India) received the ‘Outstanding project’ award, and "Harishchandra" Building in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka was accorded an Honourable Mention.