The Department of Archeology Thursday began the demolition of illegal structures around the world heritage site of Syambhunath in the Valley in the presence of Minister for Culture Bal Bahadur K.C.

The Department, the local administration, Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Syambhunath Area Management Federation are conducting the demolition after a similar effort in Pashupatinath temple complex, another world heritage listed in the Valley.

A master plan for Syambhunath was developed in 1980. UNESCO has protested the construction of illegal structures scarring the original landscape of the holy site.

UNESCO has threatened delisting the sites from its list.