Marking the World Heritage Day on Thursday, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City unveiled a master plan to link two world heritage sites—Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square and Swayambhunath Stupa which lies in 2.2km walking distance.

The city also unveiled a new mobile app “World Heritage to World Heritage Trail” where a visitors can get the information about historical monuments that fall along the trail without the need for a human guide.

Addressing the master plan unveiling ceremony, Kathmandu Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya said opening of the trail will help connect the locals with tourists and improve their socio-economic status.

“We want to connect locals and their everyday lifestyle to preserve the heritage, art and culture. This time we have a master plan, and we are in its execution phase,” said Shakya.  The metropolis has set itself a three-year target to implement the master plan.  The 2.2 km trail hosts around 400 households, 80 percent of them belong to the Newar community.The master plan talks about giving a traditional look to the trail; offering subsidies to locals to renovate their houses into traditional from; promoting local arts, culture and the way of life; and establishing library and museum and information help desk for visitors.  

Lawmaker Jeevan Ram Shrestha said there are 20 historical monuments between two different UNESCO world heritage sites. “If we could only show visitors the monuments and cultures, it will further promote our culture and heritage globally,”  he said. The trail passes through Maru Ganesh, Maru Hiti, Banja Hiti, Dami Tole, Sunta Galli, Michya Galli, Bhelu Mahadev, Dallu, Nipu Hitti and Bhuikhel before ending at Swayambhunath. The entire length of the trail connects the ward 15, 18, 19, 20, 23 and 24 of Kathmandu. The metropolis has allocated Rs 100 million for the construction of infrastructure in the first phase of the master plan.

“The metropolis has also come up with several new plans to improve the trail and attract visitors in view of the tourism year 2020,” said Ward Chairperson of Kathmandu-18 Nuchhe Kaji Maharjan, also the coordinator of the Cultural and Tourism Committee of the metropolis.

Before unveiling the master plan, officials from the metropolis, locals and heritage conservationists had organised a march from Bhuikhel from Swayambhunath to Hanuman Dhoka.