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UNESCO World Heritage Sites


India is home to forty-two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In September 2023, Santiniketan, founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, is designated as India's forty-first world historic site. In September 2023, the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka were added to the list by UNESCO. With this addition, India now has 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites.


Most recent information regarding India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

  • UNESCO added the Hoysala Temples of Karnataka, which date back to the 12th century, to the list in September 2023.

  • UNESCO designated Santiniketan, West Bengal, as a World Heritage Site in September 2023.

  • Dholavira, Harappan City in the Rann of Kutchh, will be inducted as India's 40th UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 27, 2021.

  • The Rudreswara Temple, also known as the Ramappa Temple, is located in Palampet, Warangal, Telangana. On July 25, 2021, UNESCO listed it on the List of World Heritage Sites.


India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a location that has been designated as having exceptional cultural or physical significance and being of exceptional worth to humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. UNESCO works to promote global natural and cultural heritage identification, conservation, and upkeep. A good example of this is the 1972 UNESCO-accepted Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.


Listed as Natural World Heritage by UNESCO

Sites with unique cultural features, such as geological formations and physical, ecological, and cultural landscapes, are recognized as UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites.

Below is a list of India's UNESCO-designated Natural World Heritage sites:


Natural World Heritage Site

State

Year of Notification

Kaziranga National Park

Assam

1985

Keoladeo Ghana National Park

Rajasthan

1985

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Assam

1985

Nanda Devi National Park and Valley of Flowers

Uttarakhand

1988, 2005

Sundarbans National Park

West Bengal

1987

Western Ghats

Maharashtra,


Goa,

Karnataka,

Tamil Nadu and

Kerala

2012

Great Himalayan National Park

Himachal Pradesh

2014


UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Culture

Sites featuring distinctive cultural elements, such as paintings, monuments, architecture, etc., are designated as UNESCO Cultural World Heritage sites.

Below is a list of India's UNESCO-designated Cultural World Heritage sites:



Cultural World Heritage Site

State

Year of Notification

Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas

Karnataka

2023

Santiniketan

West Bengal

2023

Dholavira

Gujarat

2021

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple

Telangana

2021

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement

Chandigarh

2016

Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai

Maharashtra

2018

Historic City of Ahmedabad

Gujarat

2017

Jaipur City

Rajasthan

2020

Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University)

Bihar

2016

Rani-Ki-Van

Gujarat

2014

Hill Forts of Rajasthan

Rajasthan

2013

The Jantar Mantar

Rajasthan

2010

Red Fort Complex

Delhi

2007

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park

Gujarat

2004

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Maharashtra

2004

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Madhya Pradesh

2003

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya

Bihar

2002

Mountain Railways of India

Tamil Nadu

1999

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

Delhi

1993

Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi

Delhi

1993

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi

Madhya Pradesh

1989

Elephanta Caves

Maharashtra

1987

Great Living Chola Temples

Tamil Nadu

1987

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal

Karnataka

1987

Churches and Convents of Goa

Goa

1986

Fatehpur Sikri

Uttar Pradesh

1986

Group of Monuments at Hampi

Karnataka

1986

Khajuraho Group of Monuments

Madhya Pradesh

1986

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

Tamil Nadu

1984

Sun Temple, Konarak

Orissa

1984

Agra Fort

Uttar Pradesh

1983

Ajanta Caves

Maharashtra

1983

Ellora Caves

Maharashtra

1983

Taj Mahal

Uttar Pradesh

1983


Mixed World Heritage Sites by UNESCO

A mixed site includes elements that are significant from a cultural and environmental perspective.

Mixed World Heritage Site

State

Year of Notification

Khangchendzonga National Park

Sikkim

2016


Crucial Information regarding India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites

1.Agra Fort

  • It's the Red Fort of Agra, a 16th-century Mughal monument.

  • Agra Fort includes the Shah Jahan-built Khas Mahal and Jahangir Palace.


2.The Ajanta Caves

  • They are caves carved out of rock.

  • There are 29 caverns in all.


3.The Nalanda Mahavihara Archaeological Site

  • India's oldest university is called Nalanda.

  • This location has the archaeological remnants of a monastic and scholastic establishment that dates from the third century BCE to the thirteenth century CE.


4.Buddhist Structures in Sanchi

  • It includes monasteries, mansions, temples, and monolithic pillars.

  • It is regarded as the most ancient Buddhist sanctuary still in use.


5.Pavagadh Archaeological Park in Champaner

  • It includes properties with living cultural heritage, historic sites, and unexcavated archeological sites.

  • Here are found buildings constructed in the eighteenth and fourteenth centuries, including residential precincts, palaces, religious complexes, fortresses, agricultural buildings, and water facilities.


6.Terminus of Chhatrapati Shivaji

  • CST was formerly known as Victoria Terminus.

  • It is an example of Indian Victorian Gothic Revival architecture.

  • It was created by British architect F. W. Stevens.


7.Goa's Churches and Convents

  • The evangelizing of Asia is symbolized by the churches in the city that served as the capital of Portugal.


8.Caves of Elephanta

  • Elephanta Caves is known locally as Gharapuri Caves.

  • Seven caverns can be found.


9.The Ellora Caves

  • Thirty-four temples and monasteries exist.


10.Fatehpur Sikri

  • Built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

  • For ten years, it served as the capital of the Mughals.

  • Among them is Jama Masjid.

11.Great Living Chola Temples

  • Temples like as the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram, and the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur are included in it.


12.Hampi Monument Cluster

The final capital of the Vijayanagar Empire was Hampi.


13.Collection of Mahabalipuram Monuments

  • The group's most well-known works include Rathas, Mandapas, and enormous outdoor reliefs.


14.Monument Group in Pattadakal

  • Chalukyan art is reflected in the monuments.

  • It includes Jain sanctuaries and Hindu temples.


15.Rajasthan's Hill Forts:

  • These include the forts at Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jhalawar, Jaipur, and Jaisalmer.


16.Ahmadabad's Historic City

  • In the 15th century, the walled city was established by Sultan Ahmad Shah.


17.The Tomb of Humayun

  • Constructed in 1570.

  • It is recognized as the subcontinent of India's first garden tomb.


18.City of Jaipur

  • Observed The city was founded in 1727 by Jai Singh II.


19.Khajuraho Monument Group

  • It has temples constructed during the Chandely Dynasty.

  • There are temples dedicated to two religions: Jainism and Hinduism.


20.Mahabodhi Temple Complex

  • It is among the four sacred locations associated with the life of the Buddha.


21.India's Mountain Railways

  • This site includes three railways: the Kalka Shimla Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.


22.The Qutb Minar and Its Structures

  • 13th-century construction took place on Qutb Minar.

  • It is India's tallest tower.


23.The Queen's Stepwell, or Rani-ki-Vav

  • it is situated along the Saraswati River's banks.

  • The architecture is of the Maru-Gurjara style.


24.Red Fort Complex

  • It was constructed to serve as Shah Jahanabad's palace fort.

  • This compound includes Salimgarh Fort.


25.The Rock Caves of Bhimbetka

  • The Bhimbetka Caves were discovered in 1958 by Dr. V. S. Wakankar.


26.Sun Temple

  • King Narasimhadeva I constructed the Sun Temple in the thirteenth century.

  • It is an illustration of Kalinga architecture.


27.The Taj Mahal

  • Shah Jahan constructed the Taj Mahal.

  • Situated on the banks of the Yamuna river.


28.Le Corbusier's Architecture: A Prominent Contribution to the Modern Movement

  • Three continents are home to 17 locations.

  • This includes the Complexe du Capitole in Chandigarh, India.


29.The Jantar Mantar

  • The astronomical observation station was constructed by Sawai Jai Singh II, Rajput king.


30.Mumbai's Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles

  • This collection includes Art Deco structures in Mumbai and Victorian Neo-Gothic public buildings.


31.Conservation Area and Great Himalayan National Park

  • This Himachal Pradesh conservation area is home to high mountain peaks, alpine meadows, and riverine forests.


32.National Park Kaziranga

  • It is situated in the northeastern Indian state of Assam's Karbi Anglong district, in the towns of Golaghat and Nagaon.


33.National Park Keoladeo

  • This National Park was formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

  • Among the water birds that use this park as a wintering ground are Siberian Cranes.


34.The Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

  • As part of Project Tiger, it was the first reserve added to the network of tiger reserves in 1973.

  • Moreover, it is a biosphere reserve.


35.National Parks of Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers

  • The second-highest mountain in India is called Nanda Devi West.


36.National Park of the Sundarbans

  • It is a component of the Ganges Delta.


37.Ghats in the West

  • These are among the hotspots for biodiversity.

  • Go through the linked article to get detailed notes about Western Ghats.


38.The National Park of Khangchendzonga

  • The third-highest peak in the world is Mount Khangchendzonga.


39.Temple of Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa)

  • Constructed during the 13th century CE, the temple is a remarkable sandstone Kakatiyan work of art.

  • The building features carved granite and dolerite pillars and beams that are embellished with a unique, pyramid-shaped Vimana composed of lightweight porous bricks, often known as "floating bricks," which lessened the weight of the roof structures.


40.Dholavira

  • Named after the settlement in Gujarat's Kutch area, Dholavira was found by archaeologist Jagat Pati Joshi in 1968.

  • It continued to be a center of trade and manufacture in ancient India for almost 1,500 years, until it began to fall about 1500 BC.

  • It was the fifth-largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization, after Rakhigarhi, Mohen-jo-Daro, Ganweriwala, and Harappa.


41.Santiniketan

  • Santiniketan, which means "abode of peace" and is situated in the Birbhum area of West Bengal, was founded in 1901 by Rabindranath Tagore, who also established the groundwork for Visva-Bharati University.

  • It was founded by Tagore Rabindranath.

  • Santiniketan is extremely important for urban planning, landscape design, monumental arts, architectural and technological advancements, and human values.

  • Santiniketan has been the target of UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination efforts since 2010, with the most recent nomination proposal being started in the 2020–21 budget year.

  • In recent years, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been working to restore a number of Santiniketan's buildings.

42.Sacred Groups in the Hoysala Tradition

  • The Karnataka districts of Hassan and Mysuru have the temples at Belur, Halebidu, and Somanathapura.

  • India's Culture Ministry suggested adding the temples, which are sometimes referred to as "poetry carved in stone," to the list in 2022–2023.

  • Included in the ensemble are the following temples: Channakeshava Temple, located in Belur, Hassan district; built by King Vishnuvardhana and devoted to the god Vishnu.

  • King Vishnuvardhana commissioned the Hoysalesvara Temple at Halebidu, Hassan district, which is devoted to the god Shiva.

  • Kesava Temple, Somanathapura, Mysuru district (Dedicated to the god Vishnu and consecrated by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of Hoysala King Narasimha III)


Note for UPSC Aspirants: For UPSC aspirants interested in exploring further, here are some keywords to guide your research: Taj Mahal, Jaipur City, Red Fort Complex, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar, Western Ghats, Hampi Monument Cluster, Ellora Caves, Kaziranga National Park,UNESCO, Khangchendzonga National Park.

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