Kathmandu Valley

• Natural disaster (severe earthquake of 25 April 2015)
• Uncontrolled urban development resulting in the loss of traditional urban fabric, in particular privately-owned houses
• Lack of coordinated management mechanism
• Construction of forest road ; project for tunnel road in Pashupati Monument Zone Project for the extension of the Kathmandu International Airport
• New development projects, in particular the crematorium in Pashupati Monument Zone and the reconstruction of Bhaidegah Temple

Total amount granted: USD 10 million (1979-2001) from the International Safeguarding Campaign; USD 45,000 (2005) and USD 20,000 (2011) from Netherlands Funds-in-Trust. 

On 25 April 2015, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck middle Nepal, 80 kilometer northwest of Kathmandu. The earthquake and the aftermath resulted in disastrous loss of human life and extensive and irreversible damage to the historic monuments and buildings of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property. According to initial assessments carried out by UNESCO and its partners on the ground, the monuments and sites within the property have suffered extensive damages, as well as other cultural and natural heritage sites located in the area. In particular, major damages have been reported in the Durbar Squares of Patan, Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu) and Bhaktapur. All historical structures within the seven monuments zones of the property were affected. 

On 25 January 2015, in response to Decision 37 COM 7B.65, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/121/documents.  However, the contents of this report will have to be assessed in the new context and therefore, are not presented in this report.

The devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April 2015 resulted in huge loss of human life and extensive damage to the historic monuments and buildings of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property. Initial assessments conducted jointly by UNESCO and the Department of Archaeology, Nepal, recorded damages caused by the earthquake to the property. In particular, the historical structures of the Durbar Squares of Patan, Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu) and Bhaktapur are almost completely destroyed. The temples in all seven monument zones of the property have been severely affected and many of them have collapsed completely. It is therefore recommended that the Committee express its condolences to the States Parties of Nepal, India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan for the tragic loss of life and damage to the property following this disastrous earthquake.

Considering the extensive damage of the earthquake to the property which represents both ascertained and potential danger, in accordance with paragraphs 177 to 179 of the Operational Guidelines, it is further recommended that the Committee inscribe the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The Committee may also request the State Party, in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to develop and implement an Emergency Action Plan to address threats and to define both the corrective measures and the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) as soon as possible, and call upon the international community to assist the State Party of Nepal in its efforts to protect, conserve and rebuild the monuments after this disaster.

A first mission is already being planned with the participation from UNESCO, ICCROM, ICOMOS-ICORP, ICOM, and the Smithsonian Institution.  This mission is at the invitation of the Department of Archaeology of Nepal. It is scheduled to take place in the next few weeks, to be followed by an emergency field training for Nepali professionals to take place in June 2015. An update of this report may be presented to the Committee at the time of its 39th session in Bonn.