N E PA L

World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 81

82 | Gems of South Asia
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World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 83

 HERITAGE SITES IN NEPAL

Kathmandu Valley

Date of Inscription: 1979

Minor modification inscribed
year: 2006
Criteria: (iii) (iv) (vi)
Property : 188.9500 ha
Buffer zone: 239.3400 ha
Kathmandu Valley
N27 42 14.22 E85 18 30.888
Ref: 121bis

The cultural heritage of the Kathman-

du Valley is illustrated by seven groups
of monuments and buildings which dis-
play the full range of historic and artistic
achievements for which the Kathmandu
Valley is world famous. The seven include
the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka
(Kathmandu), Patan and Bhaktapur; the
two important Buddhist stupas, Swayam-
bhunath and Boudhanath; and two fa-
mous Hindu temples, Pashupatinath and
Changu Narayan.

84 | Gems of South Asia

Hanumandhoka Durbar Square, Kathmandu
© Swapnil Acharya

Shait Gumbad Masjid, Bagerhat

© Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO

World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 85

 Hanuman Dhoka or the
Kathmandu Durbar Square
lies in the heart of Kath-
mandu City. The historical
buildings and temples in the
area were erected from the
time of King Ratna Malla
(1484-1520 AD) to Prithivi
Bir Bikram Shah (1875-
1911 AD), covering the
period of Malla, Shah and
Rana period on Nepalese
history. Some of the popu-
lar monuments within the The Chariot of the Living Godess Kumari on Indra Jatra
square are the Taleju Tem- Basantapur, Kathmandu
© Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka
ple, Shiva-Parvati Temple,
Big Bell, the image of Kal
Bhairav, Kumari Ghar and
Kasthamandap.

86 | Gems of South Asia


Krishna Mandir on Shree Krishna Janmasthami
© Prajwal Bhattarai
Patan is considered as
the oldest among the three
cities of the Kathmandu
Valley. It is known as La-
litpur, which means the
City of Arts. The city of
Patan was founded in 3rd
century AD by King Veera
Dev. Patan Durbar is also
embellished with numerous
chowks (Courtyards), royal
buildings, art and architec-
tural monuments and reli-
gious temples in different
styles. All those historical
monuments in collective are
called Patan Durbar Square.
Most of the monuments in
the square date back to the
medieval Malla period from
16th to 18th century and
the monuments in the area
are mostly credited to King
Siddhi Nar Singh Malla,
Shri Niwas Mala and Yog
Narendra Malla. This pal-
ace complex comprised
more than 30 monuments
including Bhimsen Tem-
ple, Vishwa Nath Temple,
Krishna Mandir, Stone
Column, Taleju Temple
and the Golden Temple.
World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 87
 Patan Durbar Square Panorama
© Om Prakash Yadav

88 | Gems of South Asia

World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 89
 Bhaktapur or the City
of Devotees is one of the
three main cities of Kath-
mandu valley. According
to the Gopal Raj Vamsavali
and other chronicles, King
Anand Dev is credited as
the founder of Bhaktapur
The five-storeyed Nyatapola temple, Bhaktapur
90 | Gems of South Asia
City in 1197 AD.
There is also a men-
tion that he had built a
royal palace called Tripura.
However the existence of
the city could be traced
back to the Lichhavi period
(185-750 AD).
© Prajwal Bhattarai
 Children playing beside the Bisket Chariot, Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur Durbar
square is also dotted with
many courtyards (chowks),
royal buildings, pagodas,
Buddist shrines, stone spouts
and temples dedicated to dif-
ferent Gods and Goddesses.
It has numerous examples
of high architectural build-
ings erected during different
© Swapnil Acharya
centuries by different kings.
Most of the present struc-
tures were erected from the
123th to the 18th century
AD. Some of the prominent
monuments are the Golden
Gate, 55 Windows Palace,
Vastala Temple, Nyatapola,
Bhairav Nath Temple and
Bhimsen Temple.
World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 91
 The temple and the crematorium on the left
© Prajwal Bhattarai

Pashupatinath is regarded as one of

the holiest sites for Hindus. It is abode of
Lord Pashupatinath, the guardian spirit of
Nepal. The temple of Pashupatinath is a
large double-roofed pagoda of brass and
gilt gold; the gateway is plated with sil-
ver. It stands on the western bank of the
Holy
Bagmati River and contains the sa-
cred Linga of Lord Pashupatinath. Before
the temple stands an enormous gilt figure
of the bull Nandi, the mount of Shiva,
flanked by a golden trident.
There is a crematorium outside the
temple by the side of the wide but shal-
low river and the wooded surroundings
are dotted with small shrines.
Devotees on the bank of Bagamati river
© Swapnil Acharya

92 | Gems of South Asia

 Swyambhunath
© Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

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 The monument of Swyambhunath
and its surrounding temples
© Om Prakash Yadav

The famous Swayambhunath

Stupa, situated on the top of a hill
lying West of Kathmandu, is re-
garded as one of the oldest monu-
ment in the Valley.
The Stupa, which seems to have
been founded during the Lichchavi
Period, has been the centre for
Buddhist religion, education and
culture. Especially it is an impor-
tant pilgrimage centre as well as
the centre of art, architecture reli-
gion and culture of Mahayana Bud-
dhism.
There are five images of Pan-
chadhyani Buddha around the
main stupa of the Swayambhu. Two
Sikhara temples known as Pratap-
pur and Anantpur are standing on
either side of the main stupa.

94 | Gems of South Asia

 Boudanath Stupa is believed to have
been built in the 5th Century AD dur-
ing the reign of the Lichchavi Kings. It
is the biggest stupa in Nepal in terms of
height and expansion. The stupa stands
over three-tiered platform raised over the
crossed rectangles in order to bring the
Yantra form.
Usually, the monument sites in Kath-
mandu valley are planned with one ma-
jor monument followed with other many
temples and shrines around it. But Boud-
dhanath is an exception. As in stupa archi-
tecture, there are 108 small niches around
the stupa accommodating the icons of
Buddhas,
Bodhisattvas and other female dei-
ties along with conjoint figures in erotic
poses. Likewise, at the bottom level, it
is surrounded with praying wheels em-
bossed with the famous mantra Om Mani
Padme Hum fixed in more than hundred
and forty niches. The monument of Bouddhanath
© Swapnil Acharya

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 The eyes of Boudhanath
© Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

96 | Gems of South Asia


The temple of Changu Narayan
© Dhilung Kirant
Changu Narayan tem-
ple is the best example of
Nepalese temple archi-
tecture. Besides the tem-
ple, the temple complex
abounds other equally
important examples of
artworks erected during
Lichhavi and Malla Peri-
ods, which have made the
entire complex as an open
museum.
An inscription carved
on the victory pillar in the
year 464 A.D. is the oldest
authentic record so far dis-
covered from this monu-
ment zone. The other im-
portant aspect of Changu
Narayan is the storehouse,
which is full of antiquities,
icons, and historical docu-
ments in the form of in-
scriptions, ornaments and
utensils.
The lord residing in
this place is worshipped
by the Hindus as Garud
Narayana and by the
Buddhist as Hari Vahana
Lokesvara, one among the
many Lokesvaras in Ma-
hayana Buddhism.
World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 97
 Sagarmatha National Park
Date of Inscription: 1979
Criteria: (vii)
Property : 114800.0000 ha
Solu-Khumbu District of the
Sagarmatha Zone
N27 57 55 E86 54 47
Ref: 120
The Sagarmatha National
Park was established in 1976 AD.
The park has several prominent
peaks including Mt. Everest (Sa-
garmatha or Chomolungma), the
highest peak of the world at 8848
m.
The topography is mostly
rugged and steep with deep val-
leys and glaciers. The national
park can be divided into four
climate zones because of the ris-
ing altitude (2,845m to 8848m).
The climatic zones include a for-
ested lower zone, a zone of al-
pine scrub, the upper alpine zone
which includes upper limit of
vegetation growth, and the Arctic
zone where no plants can grow.
In the lower forested zone,
98 | Gems of South Asia
birch, juniper, blue pines, firs,
bamboo and rhododendron grow.
Above this zone all vegetation are
found to be dwarf or shrubs. As
the altitude increases, plant life is
restricted to lichens and mosses
until it cease to grow at about
5,750 m due to the permanent
snow line in the Himalayas.
Sagarmatha is also home to
some rare spices like Himalayan
black bear, red panda, lynx, musk
deer, wild yak and snow leopard.
Besides, many other animals
such as Himalayan thars, langur
monkeys, hares, mountain foxes,
martens, and Himalayan wolves
are found in the park.
There are over 118 species of
bird, the most common being
impeyan pheasant, blood pheas-
ant, red billed cough, yellow
billed chough, snow pigeon and
Himalayan griffon.
The presence of the Sherpas,
with their unique culture, adds
further interest to this site.
A view of the Sagarmatha National Park from Khumjung
© Muhammad Fadli

World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 99

 An aerial view of Sagarmatha National Park
© UNESCO/Francesco Bandarin

The Himalayan Peaks

© UNESCO/Francesco Bandarin

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Chitwan National Park
Date of Inscription: 1984
Criteria: (vii) (ix) (x)
Property : 93200.0000 ha
Chitwan District of the Asiatic rhinoceros lives in the
Narayani Zone
N27 30 E84 20
Ref: 284
Chitwan, the first park
in Nepal, was established in
1973 AD. It is situated in the
Rapti valley in the tropical
lowlands of the inner Terai
and is one of the few remain-
ing undisturbed vestiges of
the ‘Terai’ region, which for-
merly extended over the foot-
hills of India and Nepal.
It has a particularly rich
flora and fauna. There are
Jungle Safari in Chitwan National Park
Dhilung Kirant
around 50 speices of mam-
mals, 526 species of birds
and 49 species of amphibians
and reptiles. One of the last
populations of single-horned
park, which is also one of the
last refuges of the Bengal ti-
ger. Chitwan is also home to
other animals like grey langur,
sambar deer, leopard, striped
hyenas, white stockinged
gaur and wild boar.
Sloth bears are among the
main attractions of the Park.
Smaller carivore species are
golden jackal, yellow-throat-
ed marten, ratel, smooth
coated otter, small Indian civ-
et, large Indian civet, spotted
linsang, common palm civet,
binturong, small Indian mon-
goose, Indian grey mongoose,
crab-eating mongose, leopard
cat, marbled cat and fishing
cat.
Further mammal species
found in the park are rhesus
monkeys, Indian pangolin,
northern palm squirrel, red
giant flying squirrel, particol-
oured flying squirrel, Indian
porcupine, hispid hare, In-
dian hare and ganges dolphin.
Among the reptiles are differ-
ent kinds of snakes including
the python.
The river areas breed am-
phibians like the endangered
snouted gharial, popularly
known as Gangetic Crocodile
and marsh crocodiles. Dur-
ing the summer, the forest
comes alive with the arrival
World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 101
 One-horned rhino in Chitwan National Park
© Vibek Raj Maurya

102 | Gems of South Asia

of migrant birds including paradise
flycatcher, Indian pitta and parakeet,
while in winter the park gives refuse
to birds like waterfowl, Brahminy
ducks, pintail, bar-headed geese, cor-
morant and migratory birds from Si-
beria. Other bird varieties are wood-
pecker, hornbill, peacock, peahen,
florican and redheaded trogon.
The vegetation consist mainly of
moist deciduous forests, with the sal
as dominating tree species. In the
Churia Hills pine trees predominate.
On the floodplains of the large Rivers,
by name the Rapti, the Reu and the
Narayani there are large areas covered
with Elephant grass alternating with
riverine Forests mainly composed of
Simal, Khair and Sisau trees. Over all
there are around 600 plant species in
the park.
Another factor enriching the
Chitwan experience is the colourful
Tharu culture. There are also sites of
religious and historical importance
at Devghat, Pandavnagar, Balmiki
Ashram and Kabilaspur.

World Heritage in SAARC Nations | 103

 Lumbini,
the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
Date of Inscription: 1997
Criteria: (iii) (vi)
Lumbini Zone, Rupandehi District,
Western Terai
N27 28 08 E83 16 34
Ref: 666rev
In the plains south of the first foot-
hills of the Churia range lays Lum-
bini, birthplace of Gautam, the Lord
Buddha. Lumbini is a sacred place for
Buddhist from all over the world.
Emperor Asoka of India visited
Lumbini in the 249 BC, along with the
monk Upagupta, and erected one of
the polished granite pillars, popularly
known as the Asokan pillars, with the
following inscription: King Piyadasi,
beloved of devas, in the 20th year of his
coronation, himself made a royal visit.
Buddha Sakyamuni having been
born here, a stone railing was built
and a stone pillar erected. The Bhaga-
van (Buddha) having been born here,
Lumbini village was tax-reduced and
entitled to the eighth part.
The temple of Maya Devi is one of
the important shrines in Lumbini. It
houses ruins from the early period dat-
104 | Gems of South Asia
ing back from 3rd BC century to 7th
century AD. The Maker Stone depict-
ing the birth which depicts the exat
spot where the Buddha was born is also
exhibited in the temple.
There is also an image of Maya
Devi, containing a stone relief depict-
ing the birth scene of Siddhartha Gau-
tam. The sculpture shows Maya Devi
supporting herself by holding on to a
branch of a Sal tree, and the newborn
infant standing upright on a lotus ped-
estal. Two celestial figures are engaged
in the act of pouring water and lotuses
from the heavens. Hindus and Bud-
dhists have worshiped this shrine since
the beginning of the Christian era.
The significance of Lumbini rests
more on its intangible dimensions of
memory as the birthplace of the Lord
Buddha than on its tangible remains,
and pilgrimages added a further in-
tangible dimension to it. In the words
of the World Heritage inscription: As
the birthplace of the Lord Buddha,
the sacred area of Lumbini is one of
the holiest places of the world’s great-
est religions, and its remains contain
important evidence about the nature
of Buddhist pilgrimage centers from a
very early period.
The shrine of Mayadevi, mother of Lord Buddha
© UNESCO/Okahashi Junko

Mayadevi temple, Lumbini

© UNESCO/Okahashi Junko

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 Mayadevi temple, Lumbini
© Prajwal Bhattarai

106 | Gems of South Asia

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