The Government of Nepal has officially submitted the final nomination document to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, proposing the inclusion of Tilaurakot, Kapilbastu, in the esteemed list of World Heritage Sites.
Tilaurakot holds historical significance as the capital of the ancient Shakya republic and the place where Siddhartha Gautam, later known as Buddha, spent 29 years.
The Ambassador of Nepal to France and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Sudheer Bhattarai, formally presented the nomination document to Lazare Eloundou Assomo at the central office of the World Heritage Centre in Paris, France. Sanuraja Shakya, the Member-Secretary of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), expressed immense pleasure in a press release, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of national and international experts, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Lumbini Development Trust, and the Department of Archaeology.
The strategic nomination document, prepared by a team of professors from Durham University in collaboration with various stakeholders, was submitted under the UNESCO Japanese Fund in Trust Project. Archaeological excavations since 2014 provided the necessary evidence for Tilaurakot’s potential inclusion in the World Heritage Sites list.
The LDT has initiated the necessary processes and preparations, seeking positive support and cooperation for Tilaurakot’s enlistment in the World Heritage Sites list by 2025. The directive committee, formed to facilitate and provide directives for this purpose, plays a crucial role in ensuring means and resources required for the recognition of Tilaurakot Kapilbastu.
The press release notes that Tilaurakot was listed as a possible world heritage site by UNESCO in 1996. The recent submission of the final nomination document marks a formal advancement in the registration process of Tilaurakot at the World Heritage Centre. The document, carefully crafted by national and international experts, includes the necessary evidence and bases for enlisting Tilaurakot Palace in the prestigious list of World Heritage Sites. The government’s commitment, as reflected in the fiscal year 2078/79 BS, further underscores the importance of preserving and recognizing Tilaurakot’s historical and cultural significance on the global stage.