There are 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. These sites are classified as 2 cultural sites and 2 natural mixed sites. You can learn more about each of these sites below:
Nepal UNESCO Sites
- Chitwan National Park (1984)
- Kathmandu Valley (1979)
- Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha (1997)
- Sagarmatha National Park (1979)
Chitwan National Park (1984)
Chitwan National Park is one of the natural sites listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. This was inscribed in 1984 and is located near the city of Bharatpur in Nepal. Th park was established in 1973 and spans a total land area of 932 square kilometers. The park covers the Inner Terai lowlands within the south-central district of Nepal. It is located among the Churia Hills, which rises to an altitude of 100 meters. Majority of the protected area encompasses the Narayani-Rapti river system, which serves as a natural boundary to the human settlements within the area.
This park is home to a wide range of fauna and flora species, most of which are endemic to the area.
Kathmandu Valley (1979)
Kathmandu Valley is one of the cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. It was inscribed in 1979 and the protected area was extended in 2006. However, it was entered into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Danger in 2003 until 2007. This area is recognized as one of the most populated and developed areas in Nepal. This area also lies at the crossroads of ancient civilization within Asia. In fact, the area encompasses about 130 monuments such as Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage sites. Since this area is the economic and cultural hub of Nepal, many of the British historians refer to it as the “Nepal Proper”.
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha (1997)
This is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District in Nepal. It is a cultural site that was inscribed into the list in 1997. According to Buddhist tradition, this site is where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddharta Gautama. Hence, this is an important site for Buddhists. There are also several temples and important historical monuments located in the site that reflect its status as a holy site for the Buddhists.
Sagarmatha National Park (1979)
Sagarmatha National Park is another one of the natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. This protected area covers the entire Himalayas region that is encompassed by Mount Everest. The total land area covered within this protected site is about 1,148 square kilometers. It is also recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area, as well as Sacred Himalayan Landscape.
View my complete list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.