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State of Conservation (SOC)

Kathmandu Valley  (1993)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1979-1989)
Total Amount Ap proved: 77,000USD

1989   Work and equipment for the restoration of the roof of the Patan ...   14,000  USD
1989   Urgent works for the restoration of the roof of the Patan Temple ...   20,000  USD
1980   Additional financial assistance for Swayambhu Temple in Kathmandu ...   13,000  USD
1979   Financial assistance for the consolidation of Swayambhu Temple in ...   30,000  USD
Missions**

November 1993: UNESCO / ICOMOS joint mission

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Collapse of the roof of the Patan Temple; Landslide; Revision of the implementation of the Action Plan; Need for restoration/consolidation works

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

The World Heritage Committee, at its sixteenth session, and subsequently the Bureau, at its seventeenth session, were informed of the alarming state of conservation of the historic building and monuments in the Kathmandu Valley. As a result, the WHC and ICOMOS were requested to undertake a global review mission to the World Heritage Site and report to the Committee of its outcome.

The mission, which is composed also of experts who participated in the preparation of the Kathmandu Valley Master Plan in 1977, is now scheduled to be fielded during the third and fourth weeks of November 1993 as confirmed by the Nepalese Authorities.

The mission, accompanied by the Nepalese counterparts, will carry out the survey and the study of the seven properties within the World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979. The following three main aspects of the mission will be considered.

  1. Changes which have taken place to the World Heritage Site and on the influences which have led to those Changes. Special attention to be given to their boundaries, and their possible extension might be considered.
  2. The environmental conditions affecting the World Heritage Site and its monuments. Factors such as encroachment, rebuilding, traffic pressures, introduction of modern services, as well as assessing the present mechanism of control, their effectiveness and whether any recommendations for change should be noted.
  3. The current practices in the conservation of buildings and other structures within the World Heritage Site; suggest guidelines on conservation techniques appropriate to traditional Nepalese buildings and make recommendations for any training considered to be necessary.

 

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

17COMX
Link to the decision

Kathmandu Valley (Nepal)

A joint UNESCO/ICOMOS mission was undertaken in November 1993 to evaluate current and past conservation activities to examine boundaries and to study the possibility of setting-up buffer zones, to verify the state of the listed the monuments, to assess the support capacities of the national and municipal authorities and to evaluate proposed amendments to the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act. The mission's conclusions stressed the continuing urgency of the situation and defined sixteen areas in which significant improvements should be made in order to maintain the integrity of the original inscription. The mission also suggested increased international support and a permanent UNESCO presence at the site. ICOMOS suggested that the Government of Nepal consider recommending to the Committee to place the Kathmandu Valley on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in order to increase international support, and that a follow-up mission be undertaken in a year's time in order to assess, in cooperation of the Nepalese authorities, the progress made in the sixteen areas of concern.

The Observer from Nepal stated that his Government would seriously consider the recommendations made by the mission. In his opinion, threats to the site were not so severe that listing on the World Heritage in Danger List would be appropriate. Nepal was actively taking measures, notably for improved conservation, management and legal protection of the site, among others, and the state of conservation would improve in the near future. Nepal would appreciate receiving technical assistance from the Fund and ICOMOS to support its conservation efforts.

The Committee concluded that the mission report should be studied in-depth and that the recommendations should be reviewed with the Nepalese authorities. The Committee requested the Centre to report on this matter to the Bureau at its next session.

 

No draft Decision

Kathmandu Valley
State Party:
Nepal
Date of Inscription: 1979
Nomination records (Year): 2006, 1979
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)(vi)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2011
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
Threats*
  • Housing
  • Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
  • Land conversion
  • Avalanche/ landslide
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Financial resources
  • Human resources
  • Management activities
  • Other Threats:
    Need for restoration/consolidation works
Documents
WHC.93/CONF.001/03
WHC.93/CONF.002/05
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1723
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2003 -2007
Threats to the Site:

The exceptional architectural design of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur is gradually disappearing due to uncontrolled urban development.


* : 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.