Nepal re-opened earthquake-damaged monuments at Kathmandu’s Durbar Square last week, trying to draw visitors back to the Himalayan nation less than two months after two devastating tremors killed about 8,800 people.

Hundreds of monuments at key heritage sites are now open across the country after the cash-strapped government opted to push ahead despite recent cautionary statements issued by Unesco.

The UN body advised visitors to “reconsider the necessity of visiting those sites” because they were still in a “precarious” state.

Bhesh Narayan Dahal, chief of the government’s archaeology department, also stressed the historical importance of the monuments to Nepal in defending the decision to reopen so soon. He said many of structures were now safe and visitors would be required to wear safety helmets in certain places.

At least 743 monuments were damaged by the quakes that struck Nepal on April 25 and May 12, including centuries-old temples, monasteries and palaces listed as world heritage sites by Unesco.

After the first earthquake struck during the peak tourism season, thousands of visitors fled the country, leaving hotels empty and trekking companies without customers.