World Heritage Sites

Within its parameters 800 kilometres (500 mi) long and 200 kilometres (125 mi) wide, Nepal has 10 sites listed with UNESCO as World Heritage sites : eight cultural and two natural.  Seven of these cultural sites are within 20 km of each other and located within the Kathmandu Valley. 

The origin of World Heritage sites, initiated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) in the mid 20th century, were intended to preserve specific sites of particular cultural or natural value that are a boon to the common heritage of humankind.  Since its inception and as of 2006 there were 840 World Heritage sites worldwide: 644 cultural, 162 natural, and 24 mixed.