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State of Conservation (SOC)

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha (2004)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from2000-2001)
Total Amount Ap proved: 40,000USD

2001   Brick Conservation of the Alcove Remains of the Maya Devi Temple ...   20,000  USD
2000   Support for the Organization of an International Scientific ...   20,000  USD
Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Tourism Pressure; Lack of capacity in conservation techniques; Lack of management mechanism (including legislation); Lack of presentation and interpretation; Floods/Hurricanes.

Additional Details:

Additional development pressures include pilgrimage activities. 

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

The report submitted by the State Party to the Secretariat on 21 January 2004 draws attention to the conflicting recommendations made by successive expert missions on whether the excavated part of the shrine should be covered or left exposed. It also mentions that the Maya Devi shrine is a living pilgrimage site with worldwide spiritual value, incessantly visited by devotees, whose religious sensibilities had been affected by the disagreeable conditions whereby the Marker Stone and the image of Maya Devi were accommodated in a temporary shelter. It was due to this situation that the decision was taken to reinstall a permanent protective structure.

 

The report also indicates the provision of a management plan of the holy complex which includes issues regarding entry regulation, guidance and facilities for visitors, promotional activities, access control to the main sanctum, logging of weather record and security measures of the property. It also highlights the action taken by the State Party whofully implemented the UNESCO recommendations made at the 2001 International Scientific Experts Meeting, using them as guidelines for the restoration work of the Maya Devi shrine.

 

A UNESCO/ICOMOS joint mission undertaken in May 2004 assessed the impact of the newly constructed Maya Devi shrine on the World Heritage value of the property as a whole. The mission findings and recommendations will be reported at the time of the 28th session of the Committee.

 

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

28COM15B.66
Link to the decision
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Expresses its grave concern over the fact that the newly-constructed Maya Devi Temple affects the authenticity and integrity of the property; 2. Urges the State Party to review, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies, the existing management protocols and elaborate a revised comprehensive conservation and management plan which ensures the longterm safeguarding of the authenticity and integrity of the property; 3. Expresses its great disappointment that the project plans were not submitted to the Committee before construction began; 4. Requests the State Party to determine, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies, the best measures to reverse the negative impact of the structure affecting the World Heritage value of the property and the appropriate management mechanisms to prevent such situations in the future; 5. Requests the World Heritage Centre to investigate the procedure which allowed the authorization of the construction of such a building without the knowledge of the World Heritage Committee; 6. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2005, a report on the measures proposed to be taken to reverse the threats posed to the property; 7. Decides to examine the state of conservation of this property at its 29th session in 2005.

Draft Decision: 28 COM 15B.66

The World Heritage Committee,

1.       Takes note of the UNESCO/ICOMOS joint reactive monitoring mission findings and recommendations, which took place in May 2004.

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
State Party:
Nepal
Date of Inscription: 1997
Nomination records (Year): 2010, 1992, 1996
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(vi)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2011
2009
2008
2006
2005
2004
Threats*
  • Ritual/spiritual/religious and associative uses
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Management activities
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-04/28.COM/15B
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1460

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.