Nepal

Summary:

Tilaurakot, the ancient capital of the Shakya kingdom and childhood home of Siddhartha Gautam (Buddha), failed to get inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris.

• Despite years of detailed archaeological research and documentation, the proposal was deferred following the recommendation of ICOMOS (UNESCO’s advisory body on cultural heritage).
• No member country supported Nepal’s nomination or proposed amendments during the committee discussions, highlighting Nepal’s weak diplomatic efforts.
• India’s reservations played a significant role, as it promotes Piprahwa Ganwaria (near Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh) as the Shakya capital instead of Tilaurakot.
• Experts suggest a joint trans-boundary nomination involving India could improve chances, similar to other successful UNESCO sites shared by countries.
• Archaeological evidence at Tilaurakot includes a walled settlement dating back to the 8th century BCE, artifacts, ancient coins, and structural remains matching descriptions by Chinese pilgrims Faxian and Xuanzang.
• Nepal had placed Tilaurakot on the tentative list since 1996; previous attempts also failed.
• The failure is seen as a diplomatic setback rather than a reflection on the site's historical and archaeological value.
• Experts and officials emphasize persistence and improved international coordination for future nominations.

Archive: https://archive.is/MgNrm