Nepal Marks World Heritage Day with Call for Preservation and Awareness

World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day of Monuments and Sites, is being observed in Nepal today alongside global celebrations aimed at raising awareness about the importance of preserving cultural monuments and heritage sites.

First commemorated in 1983 under the initiative of UNESCO, the day serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to safeguard historical landmarks for future generations. Nepal, home to ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is marking the occasion with various programs focused on heritage conservation.

Among the UNESCO-listed heritage sites in Nepal are the historic Durbar Squares of Basantapur, Patan, and Bhaktapur, the sacred temples of Pashupatinath and Changunarayan, the monasteries of Bouddhanath and Swayambhunath, Lumbini—the birthplace of Lord Buddha—as well as Chitwan and Sagarmatha National Parks.

As part of this year’s celebration, a heritage walkathon was organized in the Kathmandu Valley, bringing together conservationists, cultural experts, and local communities. According to Sandip Khanal, an official at the Department of Archaeology, the march was coordinated by several heritage conservation committees and attended by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pande.

This year’s theme, set by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 Years of ICOMOS Actions.” The theme underscores the urgent need to protect heritage sites from natural disasters and human conflict, while emphasizing the importance of preparedness and collective action.