
In 1997, The World Heritage Committee added Lumbini, the
birthplace of Lord Buddha on the World Heritage List.There are 630 properties
inscribed on the World Heritage List (480 cultural, 128 natural and 22 mixed
properties in 118 States Parties) .
And did you know that Kathmandu Valley, yes Kathmandu Valley is in the World Heritage
List ? And even more, it was added on the list way back in 1979. There are all together 4
properties from Nepal in the World Heritage List as follows :
Kathmandu
Valley (1979)
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Criteria : CulturalAt the
crossroads of the great civilizations of Asia, seven groups of Hindu and Buddhist
monuments, as well as the three residential and palace areas of the royal cities of
Kathmandu, Patan and Bhadgaon, illustrate Nepalese art at its height. Among the 130
monuments are pilgrimage centers, temples, shrines, bathing sites and gardens - all sites
of veneration by both religious groups.
More details on Kathmandu. |
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Sagarmatha
National Park, including Mt. Everest (1979)
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Criteria
: NaturalSagarmatha is an exceptional area with dramatic mountains, glaciers and deep
valleys, dominated by Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world (8,882 metres). The
park shelters several rare species, such as the snow leopard and the lesser panda. The
presence of the Sherpas, with their unique culture, add further interest to this site.
Biographical Province 2.38.12 (Himalayan Highlands)
Geographical Location Lies in the Solu-Khumbu District of the
north-eastern region of Nepal. The park encompasses the upper catchment of the Dudh Kosi
River system, which is fan-shaped and forms a distinct geographical unit enclosed on all
sides by high mountain ranges. The northern boundary is defined by the main divide of the
Great Himalayan Range, which follows the international border with the Tibetan Autonomous
Region of China. In the south, the boundary extends almost as far as Monjo on the Dudh
Kosi. The 63 settlements within the park are technically excluded as enclaves.
27°45'-28°07'N, 86°28'-87°07'E
Date and History of Establishment Created a national park on 19 July
1976 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979.
Area 114,800ha. The park lies adjacent to the proposed Makalu-Barun
National Park and Conservation Area (233,000ha). |
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Royal
Chitwan National Park (1984)
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Criteria : NaturalBiographical Province 4.08.04
(Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest)
Geographical Location Chitwan lies in the lowlands or Inner Terai of
southern central Nepal on the international border with India. The park's boundaries
extend from the Dauney Hills on the west bank of the Narayani River eastward 78km to Hasta
and Dhoram rivers. The park is bounded to the north by the Narayani and Rapti rivers and
to the south by the Panchnad and Reu rivers and a forest road. 27°20-27°40'N,
83°52'-84°45'E
Parsa Wildlife Reserve is contiguous to the eastern boundary of the park and extends as
far eastwards as the Bheraha and Bagali rivers. 27°15'-27°35'N, 84°45'-84°58'E
Date and History of Establishment Chitwan was declared a national park
in 1973, following approval by the late King Mahendra in December 1970. The bye-laws
(Royal Chitwan National Park Regulations) were introduced on 4 March 1974. Substantial
additions were made to the park in 1977 and the adjacent Parsa Wildlife Reserve was
established in 1984. The habitat had been well protected as a royal hunting reserve from
1846 to 1951 during the Rana regime. An area south of the Rapti River was first proposed
as a rhinoceros sanctuary in 1958 (Gee, 1959), demarcated in 1963 (Gee, 1963; Willan,
1965) and later incorporated into the national park.
At the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few undisturbed areas of the Terai
region which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal, with its very rich
flora and fauna. One of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros lives in
the park, which is also among the last refuges for the Bengal tiger.
Area Chitwan was enlarged from 54,400ha to its present size of
93,200ha in 1977. Parsa Wildlife Reserve covers 49,900ha. There was a proposal to further
enlarge the protected areas complex by establishing the 25,900ha Bara Hunting Reserve
(Wegge, 1976; Smith and Mishra, 1981), adjacent to and east of Parsa Wildlife Reserve, but
this has been dropped (B.N. Upreti, pers. comm., 1986). |
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Lumbini,
the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha (1997) |
Criteria : CulturalSiddhartha Gautama was born in 623
BC at the famous gardens of Lumbini, and his birthplace became a place of pilgrimage.
Among the pilgrims was the Indian Emperor Ashoka, who erected one of his commemorative
pillars there. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage center, of which
the remains associated with its early history and the birth of the Lord Buddha form a
central feature.
More details on Lumbini. |
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