UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley namely Katmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Stupa were officially set to open on Monday. On the presence of tourism Minister Kripasur Sherpa, reopening program was organized at Bhaktapur Durbar Square along with traditional cultural Mahakali dance.
All of these world heritage sites were partially damaged by recent 7.8 magnitude deadly earthquake. But these places are now cleaned up, repaired and set to open for tourists with safety measures taken where necessary. Local communities of Nepal greatly depends upon tourism industry and was badly affected by earthquake; which is now believed to be overcome through disaster and get back into normal. The positive and factual message like Nepal is safe to travel should be spread through medias and all those who loves Nepal should visit Nepal in their next holidays to rebuild and immerse in the immense natural beauty along cultural diversity that small Himalayan nation Nepal has to offer.
In the reopening program at Bhaktapur, Chairman of Nepal Tourism Board and Secretary of Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry, Sureshman Shrestha stated that seven hundred forty two heritage monuments were damaged and takes around 10 to 12 billion rupees for reconstruction. It is believed all these heritage sites will be reconstructed in 2 to 5 years. However, most importantly, visiting Nepal is believed to be most effective way of rebuilding Nepal and bringing the lives of local communities into normal.
