UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

WHAT IS WORLD HERITAGE?

• World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

WHAT IS THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION?

• The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international agreement that was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972.
• The countries who ratify the Convention (States Parties) have become part of an international community, united in a common mission to identify and safeguard our world’s most outstanding natural and cultural heritage.
• The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.

• The UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
• A Heritage site can be a building, a city, a complex, a desert, a forest, an island, a lake, a monument, or a mountain.

• About UNESCO
  • UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.
  • It is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) headquartered at the World Heritage Centre in Paris, France.
  • UNESCO was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations’ International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN INDIA

India has 40 world heritage sites that include 32 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site. (Till August 2021)

CULTURAL SITES (32)

1. Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh (1983)
2. Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra (1983)
3. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)
4. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh (1989)
5. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Gujarat (2004)
6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), Maharashtra (2004)
7. Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
8. Dholavira: a Harappan City, Gujarat (2021)
9. Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra (1987)
10. Ellora Caves, Maharashtra (1983)
11. Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh (1986)
12. Great Living Chola Temples (1987,2004) 
    1. Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu
    2. Airavateshwarar Temple, Darasuram, Tamil Nadu
    3. Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
13. Group of Monuments at Hampi, Karnataka (1986)
14. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu(1984)
15. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka (1987)
16. Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
    1. Chittorgarh
    2. Kumbhalgarh
    3. Ranthambhore
    4. Amber Sub-Cluster
    5. Jaisalmer
    6. Gagron
17. Historic City of Ahmadabad, Gujarat (2017)
18. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993)
19. Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)
20. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (2021)
21. Khajuraho Group of Monuments, Madhya Pradesh (1986)
22. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, Bihar (2002)
23. Mountain Railways of India
    1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1999), Darjeeling, West Bengal
    2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway (2005) Ooty, Tamil Nadu
    3. Kalka-Shimla Railway, Himachal Pradesh (2008)
24. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
25. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
26. Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007)
27. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh (2003)
28. Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha (1984)
29. Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh (1983)
30. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (Capitol Complex, Chandigarh) (2016)
31. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)
32. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)

NATURAL (7)

33. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)
34. Kaziranga National Park, Assam (1985)
35. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan (1985)
36. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam (1985)
37. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, Himachal Pradesh (1988,2005)
38. Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal (1987)
39. Western Ghats (2012) Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu

MIXED (1)

40. Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim (2016)

LATEST INDIAN SITES ON THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST

In 44th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Fuzhou, China (In 2021) two new sites (1) the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana and (2) Dholavira: A Harrapan City, Gujarat added on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana

• Popularly known as the Ramappa Temple, Rudreshwara .
• Located in the village of Palampet in Telangana. 
• It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kakatiyan period (1123–1323 CE).
• It was built by a Kakatiya General Recharla Rudra, during the period of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva
• The distinctive Vimana of the temple is made of lightweight porous ‘floating bricks,’ which reduced the weight of the roof structures. 
• The site is located close to the Ramappa Cheruvu, a Kakatiya-built water reservoir.

Dholavira: A Harappan City, Gujarat 

• The ancient city of Dholavira is an urban settlements dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE (Before Common Era). 
• Discovered in 1968, the site has unique characteristics, such as its water management system, multi-layered defensive mechanisms, extensive use of stone in construction and special burial structures.

Sites Under Protection of Archaeological Survey of India 

• Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh
• Ajanta Caves (1983), Maharashtra
• Ellora Caves (1983) Maharashtra
• Taj Mahal (1983) Uttar Pradesh
• Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984) Tamil Nadu
• Sun Temple, Konarak (1984) Odisha
• Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
• Fatehpur Sikri (1986) Uttar Pradesh
• Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986) Karnataka
• Khajuraho, Group of Temples (1986) Madhya Pradesh
• Elephanta Caves ( 1987), Maharashtra
• Great Living Chola Temples at Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (1987 & 2004) Tamil Nadu
• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987) Karnataka
• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)Madhya Pradesh
• Humayun’s  Tomb, Delhi (1993) Delhi
• Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993) Delhi
• Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003) Madhya Pradesh
• Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park (2004) Gujarat
• Red Fort Complex, Delhi (2007) Delhi
• Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts) (2013) (Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums) Rajasthan
• Rani-ki-Vav (The Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan (2014) Gujarat
• Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda (2016) Bihar

Under Protection of Ministry of Railways

• Mountain Railways of India ( Darjeeling,1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka-Shimla(2008) West Bengal,  Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004) Maharashtra

Under Protection of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee

• Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, (2002) Bihar

Under Protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museum

• The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010) Rajasthan

Under Protection of Chandigarh Administration 

• The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016) Chandigarh

Under Protection of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation 

• Historic City of Ahmedabad  (2017) Gujarat

Under Protection of Bombay Municipal Corporation 

• Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2018), Govt of Maharashtra

Under Protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation

• Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019), Govt of Rajasthan

NATURAL SITES: (7)

Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

• Kaziranga National Park (1985), Assam
• Keoladeo National Park (1985), Rajasthan
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985), Assam
• Sundarbans National Park (1987) West Bengal
• Nanda Devi  and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988, 2005) Uttarakhand
• Western Ghats (2012) Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu
• Great Himalayan National Park (2014) Himachal Pradesh

MIXED SITE: (1)

Under Protection of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changes

• Khangchendzonga National Park (2016) Sikkim