Nepal plans to re-open heritage sites to tourists in August

KATHMANDU: Nepal is planning to re-open the historical structures and monuments enlisted by the UNESCO as World Heritage sites to the tourists as well as the general public from August 17 as only 15 per cent of the sites have been damaged in the recent devastating earthquakes.

The Hanumandhoka Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Bouddhanath, Pashupatinath, and Changunarayan area are the major sites visited by the tourists.

The number of tourists arriving in the country has suddenly decreased in the aftermath of the earthquakes that claimed over 9,000 lives on April 24.

However, the government has made it clear that only 15 per cent of the world heritage sites were damaged by the earthquakes.

The bodies concerned, who visited the sites to check their condition have claimed that they are not completely damaged, an official said.

The heritage sites are certainly affected by the quake and aftershocks but they are not completely ravaged as reported by a section of media, said Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Bhesh Narayan Dahal.

Various government and non-government teams, in coordination with the local people, have been working to remove the rubble of the structures.

Meanwhile, two aftershocks were felt in Nepal today. A 4.5 magnitude tremor was recorded at 1.37 pm (local time) with epicentre at Sindhupalchowk district.

Another 4.1 magnitude tremor was recorded at 2.45 am (local time) with epicentre at Sindhupalchowk district, according to the National Seismological Centre.