World Heritage.
Nepal has applied to UNESCO, the arm of the United Nations that promotes protection of cultural and natural heritage worldwide, to list nine more locations in the country as World Heritage Sites. Nepal already has 10 listed sites, seven of them in the Kathmandu Valley. UNESCO has ten criteria for the world heritage list, six applying to cultures living and dead and four for natural sites. For inclusion, nominated sites must have "outstanding universal value" and meet at least one of the ten criteria. There are currently 878 World Heritage Sites, and about three-quarters of the countries in the world have at least one site listed.

Nepal's proposed additions are the medieval walled city of Lo Monthang in the Mustang region; the temple of Vajrajogini and the old town of Sankhu nearby; the medieval town of Tansen, with its enormous gate studded to protect against elephant attack; the old hilltop village of Kirtipur, near Kathmandu; and Nuwakot Palace, the retreat of the founder of the recently-expelled Shah dynasty. Also in the filing are the 12th century Ram Janaki temple, believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu goddess Sita, and the Rishikesh temple complex in southern Nepal, a pilgrimage site mentioned in Hindu scripture, and two sites in western Nepal dating to the Khasa kingdom, the Bhurti Temple Complex and the cultural remains in the Sinja Valley.

A Living Cultural Heritage:
Nepal's heritage is alive and dynamic. Shamanism, animism & Witch craft are still practiced in remote regions Temples, shrines monuments and monasteries are extremely active with devotees burning butter-lamps, singing hymns, chiming temple bells and playing drums.


World Heritage Sites (Natural):

• Everest National Park (1148 Sq. Kms.)

• Royal Chitawan National Park (923 Sq. Kms.)

World Heritage Site (Cultural):

• Swayambhu

• Bouddha

• Bhaktapur

• Changunarayan

• Pashupatinath

• Kathmandu Durbar Square

• Patan Durbar Square

• Lumbini

National Parks:

• Royal Barida National Park (968 sq. Kms.)

• Langtang National Park (1710 sq. Kms.)

• Shey-Phoksundo National Park (355 sq. Kms.)

• Rara National Park (106 sq. Kms.)

• Khapted National Park (225 sq. Kms.)

• Makalu-Barun National Park (2330 sq. Kms.)

Wildlife Reserve:

• Sukla Phanta Reserve (305 sq. Kms.)

• Parsa Reserve (499 sq. Kms.)

• Koshi-Tappu Reserve (175 sq. Kms.)

Conservation Areas:

• Annapurna (2600 sq. Kms.)

• Makalu-Barun (2330 sq. Kms.)

Hunting Reserve:

• Dhorpatan (1325 sq. Kms.)

Wildlife:
This country harbors one of the world's best habitat for One horned rhino, Royal Bengal tiger, Show-Leopard, Clouded-Leopard, Red panda, Blue-sheep and long snouted fish eating Gharial. Other wildlife includes wild elephant, buffaloes, bisons, blue bell, Brown, bear, Sloth bear, Leopard, crocodiles and many varieties of cat, dog, deer and antelope families. And 840 different species of wetland, migratory and residential birds.


Endangered Species:
Tiger, Rhino, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard Red Panda, Brown Bear, Asamese Macaque, Gangetic Dolphin, Wolf, Wild Elephant, Giant horn-bill, Swamp deer, Wild yak, Nayan, Tibetan antelope, Black buck, Four horned antelope, Musk deer pigmy hog, Haspd hare, Pangolin, Gharial, Indian bustard, Saras Crane, Impean Pheasant, Python.