More than 7,800 people lost their lives when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25. In addition to the destruction of homes and infrastructure, many ancient temples and historic sites were badly damaged or destroyed.
Much of the damage from the earthquake was focused in and around the Kathmandu Valley, where the majority of the country’s religious and heritage sites are located.
“It’s the largest concentration of World Heritage Sites anywhere in the world, and absolutely unique in their style and in their mixture of Hindu and Buddhist and secular traditions,” said Debra Diamond, Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art at the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Galleries.
In Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 50 percent of the temples are gone, according to Christian Manhart, director of the UN’s Office of Cultural Heritage in Nepal.
These buildings hold more than historical significance; the citizens of Nepal value their religious traditions and many visit temples on a daily basis. Tourism is also a vital industry for the country, with visitors arriving from all over the world to see the Himalaya Mountains and spiritual sites.
Several important sites were spared in the earthquake, and citizen volunteers and soldiers are already working together to clear debris and rebuild. The recovery process could take more than a decade and will likely require a great deal of foreign aid to complete.
Nepal's recovery was also set back by a 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck May 12, injuring more than a thousand people.
Warm up questions
-
Where is Nepal?
-
Where are the Himalayas? What do you know about this mountain range?
-
What do you know about the recent earthquake in Nepal?
Critical thinking questions
-
What buildings are significant in your community? Why are they significant?
-
What effect could the earthquake damage have on tourism? Why is this important to Nepal’s economy?
-
Does the restoration of these damaged buildings matter? Why or why not?
