UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsura arrived in the capital Wednesday for a four day official visit, officials said.
Matsura visits Nepal amid UN threats to delist several world heritage sites around Kathmandu Valley especially near Hanuman Dhoka and Baudhanath for failure to maintain the original character of monument zones; Nepal is trying to enlist new areas in the prestigious international list.
Matsura will visit Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, also enlisted as one of the world heritage sites during his stay in Nepal as some reports said the area might be deluged by the unilateral construction of a dam down south in India. The crumbling Maya Devi temple complex depicting the nativity of the founder of the Buddhist faith is being restored jointly by His Majesty’s Government, the Japanese Buddhist Federation and UNESCO.
Matsura will met senior officials including Prime Minister elect Sher Bahadur Deuba during his stay in Nepal.