Doha: Unesco’s World Heritage Committee’s 38th session, under the Chair H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, has accepted Nepal’s progress report on the state of its four inscribed properties, including Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha in 623 BC.
Nepal delegation chief and Department of Archaeology Director-General, Bhesh Narayan Dahal, said, “The committee has accepted the report on all listed properties and is satisfied with Lumbini’s restoration work done as per the required norms.”
Unesco inscribed Lumbini in the list in 1997 because of its outstanding universal value as it is one of the most holy places for one of the world’s great religions and archaeological remains provide evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage from a very early period.
Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, with other departments, carried out restoration and development work, said Dahal, who led a three-member panel on Observer status to the session.
The United Nations Development Programme has contributed around $1m for preparation of a master plan for the development of Lumbini.
It focuses on restoring an area of around 7.7 square km known as the Lumbini Garden, and the Ashoka Pillar. QNA
