List of World Heritage Sites in Nepal


The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Nepal ratified the convention on 20 June 1978, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list.
, there are four sites in Nepal on the list and a further fifteen on the tentative list. The first sites in Nepal to be added to the list were the Sagarmatha National Park and the Kathmandu Valley; both were added in 1979.

World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, whereas vii through x are natural.
SiteImageLocationYear listedDescription
Sagarmatha National ParkSolukhumbu District1979120; vii
Kathmandu ValleyKathmandu Valley1979121; iii, iv, vi The site has been listed as endangered 2003–2007 due to the partial or substantial loss of the traditional elements of six out of seven monument zones and resulting general loss of authenticity and integrity of the whole property.
Chitwan National ParkChitwan District1984284; vii, ix, x
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord BuddhaRupandehi District1997666; iii, vi

Tentative list

In addition to the sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list., Nepal recorded 15 sites on its tentative list.
SiteImageLocationYear listedDescription
The early medieval architectural complex of PanautiKabhrepalanchok DistrictCultural1996The site includes the Indresvar Mahadev temple built in 1294, the Brahmayani temple built in the 17th century, and numerous heritage structures.
Tilaurakot, the archaeological remains of ancient Shakya KingdomKapilvastu DistrictCultural1996The site is the cardinal point of the ancient Shakyan city of Kapilavastu, where Gautama Buddha spent 29 years of his lifetime.
Cave architecture of Muktinath Valley of MustangMustang DistrictCultural1996Originally used as burial chambers in 1000 AD, the caves eventually became meditation chambers, military lookouts, or storage units up to the 14th century as part of the Kingdom of Lo.
The medieval palace complex of GorkhaGorkha DistrictCultural1996The site includes the medieval palace and cave of Gorakhnath, Kalika temple and other monuments.
Ramagrama, the relic stupa of Lord BuddhaNawalparasi DistrictCultural1996The site includes the only undisturbed original stupa containing relics of Buddha, which was built in the 6th century BC
Khokana, the vernacular village and its mustard-oil seed industrial heritageLalitpur DistrictCultural1996The site includes a system of drainage and chowks, traditional houses, chaityas, a mother deity temple, and its mustard fields and processing sites.
Medieval Earthen Walled City of Lo ManthangMustang DistrictCultural2008The walled city was the capital of the Kingdom of Lo in the 15th century. Notable monuments include the palace and monasteries of Jampa Lakhang and Thupchen Lakhang from the 15th century and the monastery of Choede Lakhang from the 18th century.
Vajrayogini and early settlement of SankhuKathmandu DistrictCultural2008The site includes the Lichchhavi period settlement of Sankhu and the Vajrayogini temple complex constructed in the mid 17th century.
Medieval Settlement of KirtipurKathmandu DistrictCultural2008The site includes the Newar monuments of Chilancho Vihar, Jagat Pal Vihar, Buddha Dharma Sangha Shikhara, Baghbhairab Temple, Vath, Umamaheshvar Temple, Indrayani Pith, Chitu Bahail, Lokeshwar Shikhara, Buddha Temple, Chve Bahal and Kwe Bahal.
Rishikesh Complex of Ruru KshetraPalpa DistrictCultural2008The site includes an ancient route and cremation site between Muktinath and Damodar Kunda, the settlement of Ridi, and the entire complex.
Nuwakot Palace ComplexNuwakot DistrictCultural2008The site includes Nuwakot Palace and various temples and shrines, such as Bhairab Temple.
Ram Janaki TempleDhanusa DistrictCultural2008The site is composed of classical and neo-classical designs with elements of fortification.
The Medieval Town of TansenPalpa DistrictCultural2008The site includes Bhairab Temple, the Purankot Durbar, the Srinagar Durbar, the Bansha Gopal, the Mukundeshwar Mahadev, the Amar Narayan Temple, the Ran-Ujjeshwari Bhagawati Temple and the Tansen Durbar.
Sinja ValleyJumla DistrictCultural2008The site includes the capital of the Khasas kingdom from the 12th to 14th centuries.
Bhurti Temple Complex of DailekhDailekh DistrictCultural2008The site includes 22 monuments constructed through the Western Malla architectural style.