Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
Factors affecting the property in 2018*
- Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Lack of appropriate documentation to establish the authenticity of the property
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Factors identified at the time of inscription in 2016:
- Management systems / Management Plan (lack of an Integrated Master Plan of Nalanda; need for strengthened approaches to visitor management and interpretation)
- Other (lack of appropriate documentation to establish the authenticity of the property)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2018
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2018**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2018
On 30 November 2017, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1502/documents/ and presents progress with a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions as follows:
- Historical research at the property continues: the peripheral mound between the Temple and the main access pathway as well as the Rukmini Sthan mound, which is located approximately 1 km from Nalanda, were documented in 2016-17, while research on Nalanda’s sculptures is in progress and a report on the property’s conservation and management was recently completed;
- A century’s worth of historical excavation drawings has been conserved and digitized;
- Ongoing conservation and consolidation work has been undertaken at the Temple and Monastery sites between 2016 and 2017, while the patching and repairing of different structures has continued and superficial accretions have been chemically removed. The conservation work has been made subtly distinguishable from the original structure;
- The property’s general landscape is being upgraded, including garden development at the Sarai mound area, which will commence shortly, and a new garden layout around Temple sites 12, 13 and 14;
- A Detailed Project Report has been finalized for upgrading and extending the Nalanda Museum in order to enhance the visitors’ experience, notably through interactive displays;
- A Regional Planning Area Authority was created in August 2017 in order to monitor the preparation and implementation of the Integrated Master Plan, which the State Party hopes will be completed in 2018. The agency preparing the Plan has submitted a Preliminary Inception Report, which outlines the methodology and process for the preparation of the Plan and includes a proposal to designate a “Special Area” covering the inscribed property and its buffer zone, and possibly establish Development Control Regulations to regulate land use in the peripheral area;
- No developments or changes in land use have been proposed. The State Party assures that Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) will be undertaken for any developments envisaged within the property and its vicinity;
- Methodology and implementation plans for the documentation and conservation of the property continue to be developed on the basis of established norms, including the principle of minimal intervention.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2018
The State Party has made progress on a number of the recommendations made by the Committee at the time of inscription. In particular, useful historical and academic research continues to be carried out; nevertheless, a research programme with a specific focus on establishing the authenticity of the property, along with corresponding documentation of the differentiation of authentic archaeological fabric, would be advantageous. As recommended at the time of inscription in 2016, the Integrated Master Plan should contain appropriate recommendations and approaches for any development plans proposed within or in the vicinity of the property that may have an impact on its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), including authenticity or integrity. The State Party’s reassurance that a HIA will be prepared for any such future development plans is welcomed, as is the State Party’s commitment to continue to develop a methodology and implementation plan for the documentation and conservation of the property.
The State Party has not provided a specific update on the Committee’s request to work out a conservation plan for the excavated remains of the property. A formal conservation plan is an important element in the suite of mechanisms intended to safeguard the OUV and authenticity of a property such as this, and it is therefore recommended that the Committee reiterate its previous request. Furthermore, although the State Party reported on the upgrading and extension of the Nalanda Museum, the State Party has not reported on how it has strengthened approaches to visitor management and interpretation through the preparation and establishment of a visitor management plan, which had also been requested by the Committee at the time of inscription. A reiteration of this request by the Committee is likewise recommended.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2018
42 COM 7B.6
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar (India) (C 1502)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 40 COM 8B.20, adopted at it 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
- Acknowledges the progress made by State Party on a number of the recommendations made by the Committee at the time of inscription of the property;
- Takes note of the continuing historical and academic research related to the property and encourages the State Party to develop a research programme focused specifically on defining the authenticity of the property, including the necessary documentation to differentiate authentic archaeological fabric;
- Requests the State Party to include appropriate recommendations and approaches in the Integrated Master Plan regarding any development plan within or in the vicinity of the property that may have an impact on its Outstanding Universal Value, including authenticity or integrity;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to work out a formal conservation plan for the excavated remains of the property;
- Also reiterates its request to the State Party to strengthen its approach to visitor management and interpretation, notably by preparing and implementing a visitor management plan;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020.
42 COM 8B.4
Changes to names of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/8B,
- Approves the name change to Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar as proposed by the Indian authorities. The name of the property becomes Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar in English and Site archéologique Nalanda Mahavihara à Nalanda, Bihar in French.
42 COM 8B.44
Statements of Outstanding Universal Value of Properties Inscribed at Previous Sessions and Not Adopted by the World Heritage Committee
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/8B.Add,
- Adopts the Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for the following World Heritage properties inscribed at previous sessions of the World Heritage Committee:
- Denmark, Kujataa Greenland: Norse and Inuit Farming at the Edge of the Ice Cap;
- India, Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar;
- India, Historic City of Ahmadabad;
- Iran (Islamic Republic of), Historic City of Yazd;
- Japan, Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region;
- Poland, Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine and its Underground Water Management System;
- South Africa, ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape.
Draft Decision: 42 COM 7B.6
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 40 COM 8B.20, adopted at it 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
- Acknowledges the progress made by State Party on a number of the recommendations made by the Committee at the time of inscription of the property;
- Takes note of the continuing historical and academic research related to the property and encourages the State Party to develop a research programme focused specifically on defining the authenticity of the property, including the necessary documentation to differentiate authentic archaeological fabric;
- Requests the State Party to include appropriate recommendations and approaches in the Integrated Master Plan regarding any development plan within or in the vicinity of the property that may have an impact on its Outstanding Universal Value, including authenticity or integrity;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to work out a formal conservation plan for the excavated remains of the property;
- Also reiterates its request to the State Party to strengthen its approach to visitor management and interpretation, notably by preparing and implementing a visitor management plan;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020.
Exports
* :
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.