One year after the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake on April 25th, the Nepalese government began rebuilding many cultural heritage sites that were destroyed or damaged by the disaster.

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli lays a wreath at a memorial for earthquake victims in Kathmandu. (Source: THX/VNA)

Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli performed the foundation-laying ceremony to begin the reconstruction of the Anantapur Temple at Swayambhunath Stupa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located in the heart of Kathmandu, this temple welcomes thousands of visitors every year, but it was flattened in the earthquake on April 25 last year.

In addition, reconstruction work has begun at four other memorial sites, including a temple in the famous town of Bhaktapur and two halls that were once used for royal ceremonies.

While reconstruction has just begun at some temples, including the Changu Narayan complex dating back to the 5th century, Nepalese officials say it will take many years before the structures can be fully restored.

A total of 741 ancient architectural structures, including temples, towers, and palaces, were destroyed or damaged in the severe earthquakes on April 25 and May 12 last year.

The Basantapur, Patan, and Bhaktapur Durbar squares, as well as the Swoyambhunath, Bouddhanath, and Pashupatinath temples, were severely damaged in the earthquakes.

In mid-June 2015, the Nepalese government reopened the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu.

On April 24th and 25th, Nepal held a commemoration ceremony marking the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, featuring various programs.

The ceremony took place at the Swayambhunath temple exactly one year after the earthquake, although the main memorial service for the victims was held on April 24th, the day of remembrance according to the Nepalese calendar.

Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari visited Barpak village in Gorkha district, the epicenter of the earthquake, while Prime Minister Oli met with earthquake victims in Sindhupalchowk district.

The earthquake a year ago claimed the lives of nearly 9,000 people, injured 22,000, and destroyed more than 900,000 homes.

To date, approximately 4 million people are still living in temporary shelters because the earthquake flattened their homes.

Local residents say they have to pray in makeshift huts because the monastery and temples here have all been destroyed.

According to Vietnam+