List of World Heritage Sites in Nepal

Sagarmatha National Park

Chitwan National Park

Kathmandu Valley

Lumbini

Location of World Heritage Sites in Nepal

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.^[1] Nepal ratified the convention on 20 June 1978, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list.^[2]

As of 2019, there are four sites in Nepal on the list and a further fifteen on the tentative list (the official list of sites that may be considered for future submission).^[3] The first sites in Nepal to be added to the list were the Sagarmatha National Park and the Kathmandu Valley; both were added in 1979.

World Heritage Sites[]

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, whereas vii through x are natural.^[4]

Site	Image	Location	Year listed	UNESCO data	Description
Sagarmatha National Park		Solukhumbu District	1979	120; vii (natural)	[5]
Kathmandu Valley		Kathmandu Valley	1979	121; iii, iv, vi (cultural)	The site has been listed as endangered 2003–2007 due to the partial or substantial loss of the traditional elements of six out of seven monument zones and resulting general loss of authenticity and integrity of the whole property.[6]
Chitwan National Park		Chitwan District	1984	284; vii, ix, x (natural)	[7]
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha		Rupandehi District	1997	666; iii, vi (cultural)	[8]

Tentative list[]

In addition to the sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list.^[9] As of 2019, Nepal recorded 15 sites on its tentative list.^[2]

Site	Image	Location	Year listed	UNESCO data	Description
The early medieval architectural complex of Panauti		Kabhrepalanchok District	Cultural	1996	The site includes the Indresvar Mahadev temple built in 1294, the Brahmayani temple built in the 17th century, and numerous heritage structures.[10]
Tilaurakot, the archaeological remains of ancient Shakya Kingdom		Kapilvastu District	Cultural	1996	The site is the cardinal point of the ancient Shakyan city of Kapilavastu, where Gautama Buddha spent 29 years of his lifetime.[11]
Cave architecture of Muktinath Valley of Mustang		Mustang District	Cultural	1996	Originally used as burial chambers in 1000 AD, the caves eventually became meditation chambers, military lookouts, or storage units up to the 14th century as part of the Kingdom of Lo.[12]
The medieval palace complex of Gorkha		Gorkha District	Cultural	1996	The site includes the medieval palace and cave of Gorakhnath, Kalika temple and other monuments.[13]
Ramagrama, the relic stupa of Lord Buddha		Nawalparasi District	Cultural	1996	The site includes the only undisturbed original stupa containing relics of Buddha, which was built in the 6th century BC[14]
Khokana, the vernacular village and its mustard-oil seed industrial heritage		Lalitpur District	Cultural	1996	The site includes a system of drainage and chowks, traditional houses, chaityas, a mother deity temple, and its mustard fields and processing sites.[15]
Medieval Earthen Walled City of Lo Manthang		Mustang District	Cultural	2008	The walled city was the capital of the Kingdom of Lo in the 15th century. Notable monuments include the palace and monasteries of Jampa Lakhang and Thupchen Lakhang from the 15th century and the monastery of Choede Lakhang from the 18th century.[16]
Vajrayogini and early settlement of Sankhu		Kathmandu District	Cultural	2008	The site includes the Lichchhavi period (2nd to 9th century AD) settlement of Sankhu and the Vajrayogini temple complex constructed in the mid 17th century.[17]
Medieval Settlement of Kirtipur		Kathmandu District	Cultural	2008	The site includes the Newar monuments of Chilancho Vihar, Jagat Pal Vihar, Buddha Dharma Sangha Shikhara, Baghbhairab Temple, Vath (Layaku), Umamaheshvar Temple, Indrayani Pith, Chitu Bahail, Lokeshwar Shikhara, Buddha Temple, Chve Bahal and Kwe Bahal.[18]
Rishikesh Complex of Ruru Kshetra		Palpa District	Cultural	2008	The site includes an ancient route and cremation site between Muktinath and Damodar Kunda, the settlement of Ridi, and the entire complex.[19]
Nuwakot Palace Complex		Nuwakot District	Cultural	2008	The site includes Nuwakot Palace and various temples and shrines, such as Bhairab Temple.[20]
Ram Janaki Temple		Dhanusa District	Cultural	2008	The site is composed of classical and neo-classical designs with elements of fortification.[21]
The Medieval Town of Tansen		Palpa District	Cultural	2008	The site includes Bhairab Temple, the Purankot Durbar, the Srinagar Durbar (Fort), the Bansha Gopal, the Mukundeshwar Mahadev, the Amar Narayan Temple, the Ran-Ujjeshwari Bhagawati Temple and the Tansen Durbar.[22]
Sinja Valley		Jumla District	Cultural	2008	The site includes the capital of the Khasas kingdom from the 12th to 14th centuries.[23]
Bhurti Temple Complex of Dailekh		Dailekh District	Cultural	2008	The site includes 22 monuments constructed through the Western Malla architectural style.[24]

References[]

• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-fourth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
• "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-seventh session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.