Nepal reopens heritage sites after earthquake.

(Baonghean) - Nepal reopened hundreds of earthquake-damaged sites in its heritage areas on June 15, in an effort to attract tourists back to the Himalayan nation after nearly two months of two earthquakes that killed almost 8,800 people.

At least 743 historical sites were devastated by earthquakes on April 25 and May 12 in Nepal, including ancient temples, monasteries, and palaces recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The earthquake disaster occurred during the peak tourist season, causing thousands of tourists to hastily leave the country, leaving hotels and mountaineering companies struggling with a lack of customers.

A relic belonging to the ancient Swayambhunath Stupa temple was destroyed after the earthquake on April 25 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: Reuters

Authorities have been working quickly to restore the affected monuments amid concerns about safety and protecting thousands of sculptures from being stolen by criminals exploiting loopholes.

The Nepalese government, facing tight budgets, has chosen to accelerate the reopening of the heritage site despite UNESCO's warning last week that visitors should "reconsider the necessity of visiting these sites" as they remain in an "unstable" condition.

Bhesh Narayan Dahal, head of Nepal's archaeology department, said many structures are now safe, and visitors will be required to wear helmets in areas where safety might be lacking.

Last week, the government announced it would send international experts to study the geology of the mountain ranges to assess their safety before reopening climbing routes to tourists.

Hundreds of climbers abandoned their attempts to conquer Everest this year after an avalanche triggered by an earthquake on April 25 killed 18 people.

Among the areas open to tourists was Bhaktapur, a 12th-century town located 20 km east of the capital Kathmandu. Before the disaster, more than 1,000 tourists visited Bhaktapur's ruins daily, paying a fee of $15 per person. On June 15th, no tourists were present.

Thu Giang

(According to Reuters)