Kathmandu Valley Earthquake. UNESCO World Heritage sites destroyed or damaged

KATHMANDU VALLEY FILE PHOTO: UNESCO sites and other historical buildings from before the Nepal 2015 Earthquake. According to UNESCO’s preliminary assessment on the ground, the monuments and sites within the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property, as well as several other cultural and natural heritage sites located in the area, have been heavily affected. In particular, Durbar Squares of Patan, Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu) and Bhaktapur are almost fully destroyed.

Patan Durbar Square, Central Valley, Nepal, November 2012. Located about 5 km south of Kathmandu in the Kathmandu Valley, on the southern side of the Bagmati River, Patan is one of 3 royal cities in the valley. The others are Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. A destination for connoisseurs of fine arts, Patan is filled with wood and stone carvings, metal statues, ornate architecture, including dozens of Buddhist and Hindu temples, and over 1200 monuments. The city is known for its rich tradition of arts and handicrafts. Photo by Frits Meyst / MeystPhoto.com